Spring 2024 in the Butterfly Rainforest

This sunny spring, the exhibit is bursting with blooms! There’s always something new to see when you visit the Butterfly Rainforest!

Zebra longwings and Grecian shoemaker butterflies are showing off their stripes and spots, while the tiger leafwing butterflies practically disappear into the foliage when their wings are closed. Sometimes you see the most unexpected things if you sit still and look carefully. You may spot a group of butterflies (sometimes called a kaleidoscope) roosting in the branches early in the morning, or even a little finch hiding among the leaves.

cluster of purple flowers with a black and yellow striped butterfly sitting with its wings open

Zebra longwing, one of our Florida native butterflies. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black butterfly with six large orange spots in a row across its wings

Grecian Shoemaker, Catonephele numilia, has a wingspan of 2.3-3”. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Butterfly with its wings closed. Butterfly wings look like a dried brown leaf

With its wings closed the tiger leafwing, Consul fabius, is camouflaged to look like a leaf. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

cluster of yellow and black butterflies handing from a branch

Longwing butterflies roosting. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

small yellow bird sitting behind a plant in the shade

Look closely you may spot a Fire finch. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Look closely and you’ll see the little canaries in the Butterfly Rainforest Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

The plants are loving this warm, sunny spring. The large fatsia and monstera leaves are spreading across the canopy and the Vriesea scalaris, a type of epiphyte from South America, drop down and add a splash of color.

Looking up, large fatsia leaves with the sun shining through the leaves

Large fatsia leaves in the sun. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Looking up, large monstera leaves with the atrium roof in the background

The large leaves of a monstera plant. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

pink orange and green flowers on a long pink stem

Vriesea scalaris flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

long green and white leaves growing from a center point

Dwarf palm leaf begonia, one of many begonia species in the Butterfly Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

The red cloak flowers added a splash of color. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

cluster of orange flowers with yellow-orange tips

Narrow leaf aechmea. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Many thanks to keeper Ingrith for sharing her photos with us while she and the team work to keep the exhibit lush for guests and residents.

small white and purple flower blooming from a center stem

Little Tilo flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

green and brown butterfly sitting with its wings open

Malachite, Siproeta stelenes, have bright green markings. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

small black butterfly with one large red spot at the base of the tale and small blue spots scattered in a row across the wings.

The little Atala butterfly, a favorite in the butterfly rainforest and a native to South Florida. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Magenta fire spike flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black and white butterfly with its wings open

Angola White Lady, Graphium angolanus, has a wingspan of 2.6-3.0”. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Trailing begonia flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Bleeding heart vine puts on a show in the spring. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

The sweet fragrant begonia flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

white butterfly sitting with its wings open

The Great Southern White, Ascia monuste, is a species from the Southern United States, Central and South America. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Harmony’s fire woman begonia. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

The white morpho, Morpho polyphemus, a species from Central America has a wingspan of 5-6.5” one of our large butterflies in the Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

The large clusters of Dombeya flowers are a favorite with the butterflies. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

butterfly with brown pale green and cream colored markings

Large-striped Swordtail, Graphium antheus, is a species from Central & Southern Africa. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black and cream colored butterfly with its wings closed

Magnificent Swallowtail, Papilio garamus, has a wingspan up to 5”. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

cream, yellow and black butterfly with a long tail

Zebra Swallowtail, Protographium marcellus, has a wingspan up to 4”. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

bright pink flower at the center of long yellow and green leaves.

The sunpatiens are a colorful addition to the Butterfly Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Winter blue sage, just starting to bud. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

orange and black butterfly sitting on green leaves

Heliconius numata, Variable Longwing, has a wing span of 2.5-3.4” wide.

Red Coleus, one of several varieties you may see in the butterfly Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

several butterflies with a busy pattern on their wings

We have a few lacewing species in the Butterfly Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Tropical ironweed flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black and read butterfly sitting with its wings open on a rock

The great mormon, Papilio memnon, a species Southeast Asia has a wingspan of 4.7-5.5” one of our large butterflies in the Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Red-spot Diadem, Hypolimnas usambara. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez