Winter 2022 in the Butterfly Rainforest

Even with the cooler days, we have plenty to see here at the Butterfly Rainforest. As you stroll through the exhibit, you may see some clippers, swallowtails, or even a Blomfild’s beauty sunning themselves to warm up. It’s the perfect opportunity to snap some great photos. It might take patience or luck, but sometimes one of our residents will sit for a great close-up!

Four clipper butterflies warming themselves in the morning sunshine. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

large black and yellow butterfly with its wings open

We have Florida butterflies too, like this Tiger Swallowtail. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

butterfly on a pathway rail. Butterfly is orange yellow and black.

Blomfild’s Beauty, Smyrna blomfildia. This species is originally from Central & South America. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

two butterflies sitting with their wings open

Atthis and Isabella longwing butterflies warming themselves in the sunshine. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

large black and pale yellow butterfly on a cluster of pink flowers

Tree Nymph butterflies have a wingspan of 4.5 to 6.0 in, they’re one of our larger butterflies. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Longwing butterfly on a rich red impatient flower. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Brown butterfly with its wings open. The upper wing has a wide orange stripe the lower wing has a thinner white stripe

Smooth-banded Sister, Adelpha Cytherea. This species is originally from Central & South America. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

brown butterfly with its wings open the upper wing has a blue stripe and the lower wing has a yellow stripe

Magnificent Owl, Caligo Atreus, is one of our larger butterflies with a wingspan of 5.5-6.3 in. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black butterfly with wings open sitting on a stone path. The black wings are scattered with blue spots

Starry Night Cracker, Hamadryas laodamia, has a wingspan of 2.5-3.4 in. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

blue and black butterfly sitting with its wings open

Blue-banded Swallowtail sits on a blooming firespike. plant. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Look closely and you may spot some of your other residents like this little fire finch. Our exhibit keepers work hard to maintain a wide variety of plants for the exhibit residents and our visitors to enjoy. Many thanks to Ingrith for sharing her daily photos with us.

small red bird sitting on a rock next to millet seed

See if you can spot some of our other residents, like this little make fire finch. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

We have a variety of orchids in the Butterfly Rainforest. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Cardinal’s guard flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

brown and blue butterfly with white stripes

Female cruiser, Vindula dejone. This species is originally from southeast Asia. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Tagetes flower. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Matchstick bromeliad flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

black butterfly with red markings on the lower wing

Cattleheart butterflies are black with a bright spot of red in the hind wings. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Clerodendron flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Palm fruit. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

blue black and white butterfly on a red flower

Sara Longwing, Heliconius sara. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Sun shining through the begonia leaves. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

butterfly sitting on a green leaf with its wings open

Sara Longwing, Heliconius sara. This species is originally from Central & South America. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Bright yellow mahonia flowers. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez

Pagoda flowers. Our exhibit keepers work hard to maintain a wide variety of plants for the exhibit residents and our visitors to enjoy. Florida Museum photo by Ingrith Martinez