Atlas Moth picture taken at Key West Butterfly Conservatory

This past weekend we visited Key West and the Butterfly Conservatory there. I took the picture of the Atlas Moth. Last week our local garden club (the South Fla Galloping Gardeners) visited Butterfly World where I saw and took pictures of another Atlas Moth. This picture came out better. The moth was mating when I came upon it so it made a willing subject.
If you look at the lower left wing you will see the wing tip of the moth it was matting with. This moth is supposed to have the largest wing area of any North American moth. It's really a huge, very attractive moth.

Enjoy!
Art

What a wonderful shot! Gorgeous moth :-)

-Julie

That's a beautiful picture. That's really something to catch them mating. Here's one I took at Butterfly World in Coconut Creek last Dec.
I really love that place. It was so neat to have all the hummingbirds in with all the butterflys. Do you know if there is something like that in the Tampa area? We will be visiting there in mid- Sept. Gotta see the Red Sox beat the Devil Rays!!

This message was edited Aug 23, 2005 4:53 PM

Too beautiful for words! Wow!

Here are a few for you
Fla Panhandle www.navarrefl.com/butterfly.html

St Augustine http://www.visitoldcity.com/interests/nature/festival/butterfly.php

Cypress Gardens in WinterPark Fla has a butterfly conservatory also. I couldn't find information about it though.

There is Butterfly World here in Pompano Beach and the Key West Butterfly Conservatory at the base of the keys.
The place in St Augustine is actually a butterfly farm.

Good luck

There is also the butterfly museum in Gainesville. We went there July 4 w/e and were impressed. I got a GREAT book there. It was printed in Japan and the color plates are beautiful! Available on Amazon for $5 less.
Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants: Minno, M; Butler, J;and Hall, D 2005
University Press of Florida.

Since I've never been to one of these before, I have no comparison. If you're interested, I know some great restaurants at all price points and cuisines.

Maggie

Thank you both, Maggie and Art. I appreciate all your ideas. Maggie, that book sounds great, I will definately have to track one down. Do you know the ISBN number? It's usually on the back above the bar code. I have a friend who works in a small local bookstore and I like to support them rather than use Amazon or the big chains. If I give her the ISBN number she can order it in a flash. If not, I'll give her the information you sent above.

Thanks again, and Art, keep those photos coming!!

Pajarito,

The ISBN is 0-8130-2789-6. glad to see someone else supports local bookshops too. Amazon is great though foor those in rural areas.

Maggie

Pajarito, Back in may I visited the Key West Butterfly Conservatory for my firtst time. I took a bunch of pictures that are in a string here on Dave's. The link is http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/509700/

As I sort out the pictures I took this trip, I will post new pictures of butterflies that I missed the first trip to that link, rather than start a new thread.

Glad you are enjoying the pictures.

Art

Maggie, my friend just called to say they got the book in for me. Fast, huh? I can't wait to get my hands on it. I'll make sure I bring it with me when we come to Tampa in a few weeks. I can't wait! Thanks so much,
Heidi

You're welcome! I know you'll enjoy it.

Maggie