Summer 2024 in the Butterfly Rainforest

butterfly with semi-transparent wings — See if you can spot the Giant glasswing, *Methona confusa*, the next time you are in the *Butterfly Rainforest*. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

As spring warms into the hotter days of summer our Butterfly Rainforest is bursting with new residents just waiting to be discovered. Look closely, you may spot a Giant glasswing and see how this butterfly has earned its name. The nearly transparent panels on the wings help with camouflage in the forests of South America.

Did you know the butterflies in the exhibit are raised on butterfly farms around the world? This form of sustainable agriculture helps protect natural forest habitats from destruction and promote local economic growth.

If you choose a quiet morning to visit, with a little patience you can snap great photos of our butterflies. Maybe you’ll spot a small Clipper butterfly or one of the many longwing species. Don’t forget to look up! You may see Tree nymph butterflies or the little Zebra finches.

small butterfly with busy pattern on its open wings

You never know what you’ll see when you visit. This Clipper paused on some foliage long enough for a great picture. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

large black white and yellow butterfly sitting on green leaves

The Tree nymph is one of the larger butterflies in our Butterfly Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

butterfly with long black wings open to show its orange and white markings

Timareta longwing, one of the many longwing butterflies in the fully-enclosed outdoor exhibit. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

small grey birds with orange beaks sit on thin green stems

The little Zebra finches darting between the leaves are a favorite in the Butterfly Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

White, black and grey butterfly sitting on a stem with white flowers

We have a variety of Cracker butterflies in the Rainforest. Look closely, when their wings are open the mottled pattern is a great camouflage. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black butterfly with the a wide V shaped marking in teal green

Emerald swallowtail, Papilio Palinurus, this eye-catching butterfly has a wingspan of 6-6.5 inches. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

white, tan, and grey butterfly with its wings open

White peacock, Anartia jatrophae, butterflies hae a wing span of 2 to 2.75 inches. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

green and grown butterfly with its wings open

Malachite, Siproeta stelenes, has wingspan of 3.2-4 inches. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Remember, the Butterfly Rainforest is an outdoor exhibit so if an afternoon thunderstorm is predicted plan ahead, if it’s raining, we may have to temporarily close the Rainforest. Your ticket to the exhibit is good for re-entry all day though, so you’re welcome to stroll through again after the rain has passed!

purple flower with droplets of water on the petals

Lignum vitae flowers catch the early summer rain. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

long thin leaves with water droplets along the edge of the leaves

Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

small cluster of white flowers with water droplets

Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

small purple flower at the center of a red bromeliad

Look closely and see if you can spot the little flowers hidden at the center of the bright red bromeliads. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

A variety of bromeliads add beauty to the lush rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black butterfly sitting on small red flowers

Atthis longwing enjoying the psiguria blooms. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

One of our Florida native butterflies, the Common buckeye, Junonia coenia. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

As you wander along the pathways in the Butterfly Rainforest look up and see if you can spot the variety of air plants. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

cluster of white flowers with red centers

Bleeding heart flowers. 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.