Well since I have only seen one butterfly of note so far this year, and it didn't stop by for a visit. I thought I'd post a few pictures from my holiday vacation visit to the University of Florida butterfly "zoo". These first two are of a Morpho butterfly, both the "camouflaged" state and the open winged state. First we have the open winged shot.
And here's what a Morpho butterfly looks like when its wings are closed.
This message was edited May 11, 2005 4:13 AM
And here's a tropical beauty who landed on my dear Hubby's arm so that I could take his picture.
Those are incredible photos!! Just beautiful.
Thanks for sharing ,
MsC
Can anyone tell me what the red one is?
Lovely pics Night Bloom!! Thx for sharing!
Night_Bloom - Very lovely butterflies! Though I wonder if they are native to Florida? If so, I have never seen either around my area.
Wow, that Morpho butterfly is amazing. : )
Here is alittle info on the Morpho.
http://entweb.clemson.edu/museum/buttrfly/exotic/bfly7.htm
The butterflies in the Butterfly Rainforest exhibit up at UF are mostly imported.
When I went up there to attend the Florida butterfly festival last Oct. one of the tours I took was a tour of the Rainforest. We were told that about 90% of the butterflies in there were from other countries. They are classified as a USDA containment facility so they have to be extra cautious that none of the butterflies escape.
It was an amazing place. The butterflies would just land all over you. The guy giving the tour was literally being swarmed by Blue Morphos. If you ever get up to Gainesville you have to go. They are supposed to be doing another butterfly festival next Oct.
That's probably more information than you asked for.
8*D
