Activities
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.
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 places. The vibrant colors and patterns on the wings of the insects have earned them the fanciful nickname "flying flowers".
One should wear a light floral perfume and wear bright-colored or bright-white clothing to encourage the butterflies to land upon oneself, but one should never touch a butterfly. Butterflies are attracted to a bright Hawaiian print shirt for the same reason they are attracted to flowers, but a person's touch will cause damage to their sensitive wings because of the oils in people's skin and their easily damaged scales.
Many species of adult butterfly live only one to two weeks, during which time they must produce a new generation. Some species, such as the familiar Monarch butterfly, however, can live as long as six months or even longer in the wild.
Read more about this topic: Butterfly Zoo
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