Winter 2021 in the Butterfly Rainforest – Exhibits

There’s something new to discover every day while you stroll along the walkways through the lush surroundings. Florida winters are generally mild but when we expect an overnight freeze, we sometimes close the Butterfly Rainforest exhibit to put up protection for our residents to stay warm. The butterflies don’t fly when it’s very cold, so you’re likely to find them sunning themselves on a cool morning before taking to the air.

This winter we were delighted to host atlas moths, starry-night crackers, and many zebra longwing butterflies in the exhibit.

Weekday tip: If you are looking to enjoy a serene morning with the butterflies and birds, we often recommend visiting on the weekdays when there are fewer people in the exhibit.

Many thanks to Ingrith for sharing her daily photos with us.

A large black and green butterfly with its wings open sits on a pink flower. Next to it two brown and green butterfly of the same species sit with their wings closed.

Three tailed jay butterflies. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

orange, tan, red, and black butterfly on small purple flowers

Leopard lacewing butterfly on tropical ironweed flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

looking up at the butterfly exhibit glass ceiling, thin branches covered in pink flowers with blue sky behind them

Pink trumpet tree in bloom. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

close up of the blue, black and yellow pattern of an emperor swallowtail butterfly wing

Emperor swallowtail butterfly wing. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Lantern mallow flower. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

many green fan-like leaves

Maidenhair fern. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

cluster on black and yellow butterflies on a leaf

Roosting zebra longwing butterflies. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Queen’s tears flower. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

large brown moth with its wings spread

Atlas moth. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black butterfly with a white stripe and many small blue spots

Starry night cracker butterfly sits on a begonia leaf. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

three butterflies of different species sit on green leaves.

A malachite, great orange tip, and a longwing butterfly. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

three butterflies with semi-transparent wings sit on a red puff-ball like flower

Three giant glasswings butterfly on a powder puff flower. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Blue and black butterfly with its wings open sits on yellow-green leaves.

Blue spotted-charaxes butterfly. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

cluster of pale pink flowers and a tan and brown butterfly

Pink Dombeya flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black butterfly with vivid green markings

Emerald swallowtail butterfly. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Three black and pale-yellow butterflies with intricate patterned wings sitting on a wooden rail

Trio of mosaic butterflies. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

three white flowers

Amazon lilies. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

butterfly sitting on gravel path with its wings spread. The pattern on the butterfly's wings blend into the pattern of pebbles in the path.

One of the many cracker butterflies you can find in the Butterfly Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black and green butterfly sitting on a branch and looking directly at the camera

Tailed jay butterfly. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez