Butterfly Pavillion

[tamrock]

Had a good day taking the grandson to the Butterfly Pavillion today. The little guys mind was very stimulated over seeing all these beautiful butterflies fluttering all around. He tried to catch the ones he saw flying by close. Bummer he can't tell me what he thought of it all, but he sure acted as if he was very delighted.

 

[ToddsPoint]

You've got some neat butterflies out there. I've never seen any of those before. Gary

 

[PetesPockets55]

Fun to watch their reacton as they are seeing and learning new stuff.

Did the Pavillion have an herb and spice garden for the butterflies to lay there eggs on ?

 

[tamrock]

Fun to watch their reacton as they are seeing and learning new stuff.

Did the Pavillion have an herb and spice garden for the butterflies to lay there eggs on ?

Yeah I believe they've got it down to a science at creating an indoor butterfly habitat of a verity of species of butterflies by their breeding cycle and food support, which is on going because of the butterflies short life cycle. My youngest daughter volunteered two summers there, years ago. She showed and talked about the class of araneae aka spiders on display where she'd hold in her hand Rosie tarantula and talk to the many grammar school age kids on summer field trips. I did see a verity of flowering plants and hanging fruit, that were most likely there to support the life of the butterflies. It's a hot and humid tropical environment. I haven't been there in a while, but it's always interesting to see.

 

[PetesPockets55]

Yeah, I never realized the butterflies like herbs until I was about 40. I noticed a swallowtail butterfly kept dive-bombing my father's fennel plant. In and out, in and out.
Then about two weeks later I noticed green caterpillars munching on the plant and the lightbulb went off in my head when I put 2 and 2 together.

I recently learned that they actually control the number of eggs deposited, depending on the size of the plant, so their larvae don't all die when they hatch. Momma doesn't want the little buggers to hatch and die from starvation because of too many mouths.
Nature is so much smarter than humans.

 

[A2coins]

Awesome they disapeared around here havent seen one in 20 years. Thanks for the pic

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Awesome place, thank you for sharing!

 

[ToddsPoint]

I saw a milkweed plant that had several Monarch caterpillars munching away. They were tiny, less than an inch long. Later, I went back and couldn't find them. Was looking at other milkweed plants when I saw this little wasp hunting around the leaves. Here he comes out with a Monarch caterpillar and flies away! Those Monarchs just can't catch a break. Gary

 

[creskol]

Wow..Those are some beautiful photographs!
Glad to see that things are still thriving in spite of the smoke and fires.