Trouble in a Pretty Package

In anticipation of the Pacific Science Center closing the next two weeks, the Tropical Butterfly House is without a pupae shipment, hence no “Fresh Sheet.” This break has Life Sciences manager, Sarah Moore reflecting on her pupae procurement responsibilities.


When I describe my job to people, a common question is whether I get to choose the butterflies we display Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House. The answer is, yes and no. Butterfly rearing, like much sustainable farming, is seasonal, diversified and unpredictable. So although there are tried and true species we nearly always have, we end up getting a unique blend in each shipment. But once in a while, a species of butterfly will distinguish itself in some way, for good or bad, and will go on my short list of “must have” or “don’t send” species.


One example of a “must have” species is Prepona omphale, the blue belly button. It has extremely healthy pupae, powerful flight and not one but two shades of brilliant blue on its wings. In short, it’s a keeper.


A butterfly that has caused more deliberation than the blue belly button is the Idea leuconoe or paper kite butterfly. I almost took these butterflies off my wish list due to poor emergence numbers. Even with the best husbandry practices, we lose a disappointing 20% of the pupae before they emerge. But once emerged, the adult is a unique and gorgeous creature. Add to that its unusual, leisurely flight patterns and an exceptionally long lifespan, and you have a species that nothing else can replace. This butterfly is always welcome in our exhibit.

The harder choices can be identifying those species that are not compatible with our exhibit. Recently, I reviewed the patterns of butterflies that make it into our vestibules and occasionally beyond.


One species stood out as a problem. Colobura dirce, the zebra mosaic, is a personal favorite butterfly. I love its distinctive stripes, its habit of roosting head downward, and its crazy, zigzag flight patterns. What I don’t like is the possibility that one of these butterflies may eventually escape from our museum. Their small size, cryptic coloration and habit of making short flights with frequent rests means that it often lands on people, and is rarely noticed when it does.

The information on this species was compelling enough that I have asked our vendors to stop sending them. While I will miss these fascinating butterflies, I know there will be other favorites ahead. What are your favorite butterflies in our exhibit?

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June Butterfly of the Month

Prepona omphale

Range: Mexico to Amazon Basin

• In the wild, Prepona omphale rarely go to the forest floor, even feeding on fruits in the canopy section of the rain forest. However, in our Tropical Butterfly House they are happy to eat at the fruit dishes near the floor.


• With a unique flight pattern, Prepona omphale's wing muscles are powerful allowing it to make very fast, aggressive swoops when chasing rivals (the male considers nearly anything except female P. omphale to be a "rival") or fleeing danger, yet its normal flight is slow and forceful.


• Although little is known about their lifespan in the wild, we find Preponas to be one of the healthiest butterflies to keep in captivity. Preponas are unfussy, emerging without complication. Although displaying for visitors, they rarely land on people or fly around faces. Best of all, Preponas almost never try to hitchhike out on people.


• Preponas have two colors of blue on its wings, one lighter powder blue and one almost cobalt - which is rare. On the underside the wings are camouflaged and sport false eyes. Can you think of other butterflies that have false eyes on the outer sides of their wings?
  

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