Butterfly zoo

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Butterfly ZooMonsanto Insectarium
Butterfly Zoo
Monsanto Insectarium

A butterfly zoo is a zoo which is specifically intended for the breeding and display of butterflies. Some zoos do also deal animals with private customers.


Butterfly Zoos are open to the public. A double-entry door is usually used to ensure that no butterflies escape.

Exploration of such zoos may be with a guide or on one's own, at leisure. Guided tours may last about fifteen minutes as the guide points out all the species of butterflies that are in the greenhouse that day (new shipments usually arrive weekly, and stocks vary). Guides may also show butterfly eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalids, and identify specific plants that are favored by each species. Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. is usually the best time to see butterflies emerging from their pupae.

Butterflies are most active on warm and sunny days with little wind, because they require the heat of the sun to aid in their digestion. On rainy days, they usually hide in the flowers and leaves.

Paper Kite attracted to black & white Monsanto insectarium
Paper Kite attracted to black & white
Monsanto insectarium

There are often many different species in such zoos, with stock including butterflies from Africa, Malaysia, South America, Thailand, New Guinea, Costa Rica, the Philippines, and other countries. The vibrant colors and patterns on the wings of the insects have earned them the fanciful nickname, "flying flowers."

Wear a light floral perfume, and wear bright-colored or bright-white clothing, to encourage them to land upon you, but never touch a butterfly. Butterflies are attracted to a bright Hawaiian print shirt for the same reason they are attracted to flowers, but your touch will cause damage to their sensitive wings because of the oils in our skin and their easily-damaged scales.

Adult butterflies live only one to two weeks, on average, during which time they must produce a new generation. Some species like the familiar Monarch butterfly, however, can live as long as six months in the wild.

Contents

[edit] List of butterfly Zoos or gardens

Monsanto insectarium
Monsanto insectarium

[edit] USA

[edit] Canada

[edit] Costa-Rica

San Jose Butterfly Farm, San José, San José Province, Costa-Rica

[edit] Europe

[edit] Asia

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links

Languages