Make the Most of Your Visit

When Life Sciences Manager Sarah Moore wore a bright red sweater to the Tropical Butterfly House, she noticed that she was mobbed by butterflies trying to land on her. This got her thinking about what a first time visitor's experience must be like. The following are her thoughts.




When you walk into Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House, you are entering the full time home of the butterflies that live there. From the time they emerge from the pupa, until they reach the natural end of their life cycle, the butterflies live, eat, sleep, attract each other and defend their territories inside the exhibit. We have some tips for visiting them, to help you be a good guest and enjoy them to their fullest.



First, there are some things we ask you not to do. You probably already know not to touch the butterflies. It can damage their wings and other body parts. But did you know that chasing butterflies can also harm them? Butterflies are small and have only a limited supply of energy. Being chased can cause them to use up their stored energy, even to the point where they lack the strength to fly to a flower and drink more nectar.


Speaking of flowers, we are proud of the fact that our butterflies enjoy long lives without artificial nectar supplements. They get all the food energy they need from the flowers and fruits we provide. But if our guests pick flowers, the nectar supply is limited, and the butterflies lack their most important food source. Please leave those lovely flowers for everyone.

While most people love butterflies, a few folks find their unpredictable flight to be unpleasant or even scary. If this is you, you are in good company, but please know that you have nothing to fear. Butterflies do not sting, bite or scratch. If other members of your group are frightened, please remain calm, and let them know that they are safe. Sometimes stepping out the exit and regrouping can help them become relaxed enough to try again.

Now – some suggestion for what you can do to enjoy the visit even more.


Leave winter outside. You will enjoy your visit more if you leave coats, heavy bags and anything else you can outside of the exhibit. The temperature is warm and relaxing – leaving your winter things behind helps you get into the mood. Food, flowers and all beverages but water must also stay out.

Experiment with color. Have different members of your group wear different bright colors. Do the butterflies seem to like one more than another?


Watch them eat. Butterflies drink nectar from flowers or juices from fruit. Nectar eating is fast. Butterflies approach the flower, unroll their proboscis, sip the tiny drip and move on. But you can watch them flitting from flower to flower for many minutes at a time. Drinking fruit juices takes much longer, and gives you a great chance for an up close view of a butterfly at rest. As long as you do not get to close, you will not disturb them.


Visit at different times of day. Come at opening time to watch newly emerged butterflies leave the chrysalis and dry their wings. Mid-day, the whole room is busy with the flight of brightly colored longwings and swallowtails. As the late afternoon comes, owls and morphos become more active, and longwing butterflies settle onto branches to sleep for the night.

Use the picture guide. Not only will this guide help you identify some of the butterflies and plants in the exhibit, it contains fun tidbits about the species and families of butterflies you are spotting.