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Discover Natural History

Resource Type: Butterflies

A yellow moth with brown patterning on its wings

Research News

25,000 moths from one Florida backyard show how insects change with the seasons

A scientist surveyed moths in his back yard for two years to document some unexpected things about biodiversity.
Monarch butterflies on flowering plant

Research News

A kaleidoscope of monarchs: Marveling at one of nature’s greatest journeys

Journey to the sacred fir forests of Mexico where Monarch butterflies wait for winter to soften into spring.
Emperor Swallowtail butterfly with wings open. Butterfly has ‘swallowtail wings’ that end in a long point. The wings are black with pale-yellow spots and stripes and blue and orange marks where the lower wings meet at the body.

Exhibit Spotlight

Butterflies of the Rainforest Exhibit ID Guide

Colorful photographs of Lepidoptera species found in the Butterfly Rainforest exhibit since it opened in 2004.
insects on a tulip poplar flower

Stories & Articles

Celebrating pollinators

Flowering plants have developed a vast array of features to attract various pollinators.
A small blue and gray Miami blue butterfly feeding from a cluster of white scorpion tail flowers.

Online Exhibit

Endangered Butterflies in a Changing Climate

Risks and challenges facing the Miami Blue Butterfly, one of the most critically endangered butterflies.
Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly on a yellow Cut-leaf Coneflower.

Online Guide

Florida’s Wildflowers & Butterflies

Two useful guides for butterflies and wildflowers in Florida. Discover which wildflowers to grow to attract your favorite butterflies.
White and black wood nymph butterfly on a cluster of pink flowers.

Online Resource

Frequently Asked Butterfly Questions

Questions about butterflies and moths? We’ve got your butterfly basics covered!
drawer of sack-bearer moth specimens

Video Story

Houses of silk, poop and plants: Meet the sack-bearer moths

As caterpillars, sack-bearer moths make houses out of poop, silk and plant material to protect themselves.

Contact Info

Florida Museum of Natural History
Gainesville, FL 32611
352-392-1721 (Research) or
352-846-2000 (Exhibits)

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Museum Info

Exhibits Building Closed for Renovations

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