San Antonio Zoo 6/12/08

The San Antonio Zoo has been well-planned in several ways. My favorite is their smallish butterfly house. Like many enclosed butterfly habitats, this one is stocked with Central and South American staples: Tiger Mimic Queen, Morpho, Postman, and so on.

Unlike many habitats, the butterflies are up close, and children are taught and encouraged to let a butterfly crawl onto the finger (without damaging the butterfly!). As a result, the butterflies are no longer a hands-off, eyes only experience. Instead, my daughters became interested in their behavior: How can I get this butterfly to land on me? And, Daddy, can I get a Blue Morpho to land on me? (Thanks, Diego!)

Click for shots

Cattleheart (Parides sp.)


Dryadula phaetusa


Papilio androgeus with tails missing


The Grecian Shoemaker (Catonephele numilia)


C. numilia underside


Anartia fatima


Unidentified Nymphalid


underside


Same being shared between friends




Morpho sp. on Homo curiosa


Heliconius sapho pair. The female is uninterested and the male hasn't quite figured that out yet.


JRC