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New Butterfly Exhibit Opens at Smithsonian Museum

Posted on: Thursday, 14 February 2008, 00:30 CST

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History will open a new butterfly pavilion this Friday. 

The exhibit, called “Butterflies and Plants:  Partners in Evolution”, will be a permanent part of the museum and will provide visitors the opportunity to interact with the colorful monarchs up close and learn about their close relationship with plants over millions of years. 

The pavilion will be located next to the insect zoo, and will contain tropical gardens, brightly colored plants, hundreds of butterflies flying freely among visitors in the pavilion’s warm, humid temperatures. 

"It's breathtaking and magical," said Elizabeth Duggal, museum associate director, at a preview of the exhibit on Wednesday.

The main hall of the pavilion will be open to all museum visitors, and displays the story of the interdependence and co-evolution of butterflies and plants over the past 200 million years, said entomologist Ted Schultz. Butterflies were around in the Jurassic era and have outlived the dinosaurs. 

Today there are thousands of species of butterflies and moths around the world, he added. On average, butterflies have an average lifespan of two to four weeks. 

The 1,200 square foot butterfly pavilion is essentially a large, controlled tropical garden with about 400 butterflies at any given time.

Exhibit manager Nate Erwin estimates the pavilion's operating costs will be about $1 million a year, and will be funded through ticket sales to the exhibit.   A staff of 10 will care for the plants and butterflies, and new butterflies will be purchased from around the world constantly, Erwin said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits the museum from breeding nonnative species, and those in the pavilion come from Asia, Africa and North and South America. Pesticide-free tropical plants for the pavilion will be grown in a dedicated greenhouse developed by the Smithsonian horticultural division.

Butterflies will be kept from escaping by bursts of air just outside the pavilion’s doors.  Staff members will also check visitors as they leave to make sure no butterflies inadvertently accompany them when they exit.

Admission to the exhibit is $6, with discounts available for children, seniors and groups.  Free admission to the garden is available on Tuesdays.

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Smithsonian Institute

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