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PLEASE LEAVE THIS GUIDE IN THE TROPICAL BUTTERFLY HOUSE.

©2010 Pacific Science Center

FAMILY: PAPILIONIDAE — SWALLOWTAILS These butterflies have a distinctive flight. Though their front wings flap quickly, their hind wings barely move.

Morpho peleides Common Blue Morpho

Mexico through northern South America This large butterfly drinks juices from rotting fruits. Look for its jade green chrysalis in the emerging window.

FAMILY: MORPHIDAE — MORPHOS

BUTTERFLY IDENTIFICATION GUIDE The Tropical Butterfly House features butterflies from around the world. As many as 100 species sometimes live here. Use this guide to identify some of our favorite residents.

Please look with your eyes and do not touch. Even a gentle touch can harm a butterfly.

Graphium agamemnonTailed Jay

Southeast Asia. These butterflies like sunny areas

where they sip nectar while hovering with wings in constant motion.

Parides iphidamas Pink Heart

Central America

Parides erostratus Dusky Swallowtail

Mexico and south to Belize Exhibits both sexual dimorphism

and mimicry. Male Papilio erostratus mimic the unpalatable Battus

philenor. Females resemble the poisonous Parides photinus.

(both sexes -underside)

Papilio rumanzovia Scarlet Swallowtail

Southeast Asia. These butterflies often roost

together in the ficus trees in the southeast corner of the Tropical

Butterfly House.

(male-top) (female-top)

Pachliopta kotzebuea Pink Rose

Southeast Asia Can be distinguished from similar

species in the Tropical Butterfly House by its red abdomen. Look for its reddish brown, fungus-shaped chrysalis in the emerging window.

Caligo memnon Owl Butterfly Central America

Like all insects, the owl butterfly has six legs. However, the two tiny front legs are usually hidden. There are several species of owl butterfly in the Tropical Butterfly

House — all love rotting fruit.

FAMILY: BRASSOLIDAE — OWL BUTTERFLIES

FAMILY: PIERIDAE — WHITES & SULFURS

Phoebis philea Orange Barred Sulfur

Southern United States to Argentina This butterfly flies fast, and for good reason. Some butterflies don’t taste

good to predators, but this one is a tasty treat.

(underside)

(underside)

Papilio cresphontes Giant Swallowtail

Southern Canada to Colombia The caterpillars of this species eat

citrus leaves and can be a crop pest in some areas.

Papilio polytes Common Swallowtail

Southeast Asia Look for these fast-flying butterflies

drinking nectar in sunny spots.

(female) (male)

Battus polydamusPolydamus Swallowtail

Southern United States through Central America

All of our butterflies are responsibly raised on butterfly farms. We do not purchase wild-caught butterflies

During your visit, look in the chrysalis window. You might even see a butterfly emerge. We purchase our butterflies in the chrysalis stage.

Butterflies are shown at approximately half size.

PLEASE LEAVE THIS GUIDE IN THE TROPICAL BUTTERFLY HOUSE.

©2010 Pacific Science Center

FAMILY: HELICONIIDAE — THE LONGWINGS These butterflies taste terrible to birds, who are warned not to eat the butterflies by their coloration. One exceptional characteristic of longwings is that they can eat pollen. Because of this they are long- lived —for butterflies!

FAMILY: DANAIDAE — MONARCHS or MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES

FAMILY: NYMPHALIDAE — BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES This and related families (Morphidae, Brassolidae, Danaidae and Heliconiidae) have only two pairs of walking legs. The front pair is reduced and sometimes brushy and feathery and is used to detect plant chemicals when choosing an egg-laying site.

Heliconius charitonius Zebra Longwing

Southern United States into South America

Dryas julia Julia

Southern United States through Central America

and the Caribbean

Cethosia biblis Lacewing

Southeast Asia Named for the lacy pattern

on its underside.

Hypolimnas bolina Great Egg Fly

Southeast Asia, Australia & the south coast of Africa

This is another butterfly whose folded wings hide

bright color inside.

Heliconius hecale Golden Helicon

Mexico to PeruSeveral other species in this exhibit resemble this one. When several

bad-tasting butterflies mimic each other, it is called the

Müllerian mimicry.

Myscelia ethusa Royal Blue

Central America The blue on this small

butterfly’s wings is one of the most intense colors in

the Tropical Butterfly House.

Catonephele numilia Numilia

Central America through Brazil With wings open, the male is one

of the most striking butterflies in this exhibit. Males and females

have very different coloration. This is called sexual dimorphism.

(underside)

(underside)Dryadula phaetusa Oak Tiger or

Banded Orange Mexico to Brazil

Lycorea cleobaea Large Tiger

Central America Compare this butterfly with

Heliconius hecale. They mimic eachother. Even the butterflies themselves become confused

when looking for mates.

Danaus plexippus Monarch

The Americas and Southeast Asia The monarchs in this exhibit are not the population famous for migrating

to Mexico. Ours are from tropical environments where they are usually sedentary throughout their life cycle.

Idea leuconoe Rice Paper or

Paper Kite Butterfly Southeast Asia

Its large, yellow-and-black chrysalis is very noticeable in

the emerging window.

(female)

Parhenos sylvia Clipper

Southeast Asia This butterfly is often seen

around the pond areas, resting with open wings.

(male)

Prepona omphale Blue Belly-Button

Mexico & south to the Amazon Basin.

Like many butterflies, this species has two vastly different appearances — a flashy color on the top of the wings and a camouflaged underside.

(underside)(underside)Siproeta stelenes Malachite

Southern United States to the Amazon Basin

Although brightly colored, this butterfly can successfully hide among the green leaves in the

Tropical Butterfly House.

Heliconius melpomene H. cydno H. eleuchia H. doris Red Heliconius doris Blue Heliconius sara