Montezuma (Parides montezuma)

Mystery Butterfly

After leaving the conservatory, and getting back my photographs, I tried to identify this particular species, and could not find it in the Official Guide from Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory. Be warned, there are butterflies flying about that are not in their guide. The staff at the conservatory does post the species that are present at the conservatory at any one time. If you can't readily identify a species before you leave, check out the displays located throughout the area. If you can't find it, ask one of the friendly staff for assistance. I made the mistake of not asking, and therefore am not able to tell you what species the butterfly is. If you know, please send me an e-mail.

Blue Morpho (Morpho spp.)

At first glance this Blue Morpho and the Owl Butterflies look very similar. Upon closer examination, one can see white spots on the upper wing edges that are not present in the Owl Butterfly. The irridescent blue is not a result of pigmentation, but rather by selective light relection from the stiff scales of their wings. Size is 9.5 - 12 cm (3.75 - 4.75 inches)

Blue Cracker (female)

This is another photo of a Blue Cracker. It isn't nearly as colourful as the other individual. That can be a result of different lighting, or the fact that it could be a female. When trying to identify species in your local areas, do not rule out lighting conditions or difference in sexes and age. A new or fresh butterfly may look quite different from an old worn individual.

Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory

The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory pictured above houses a warm, humid, and inviting environment that is ideal for butterflies and tropical plants. The facility is open year round, except for Christmas Day. If you love nature, expect your visit to last at least a couple of hours. Since butterflies have a relatively short lifespan, new generations of butterflies, and additional species are being introduced on a regular basis. There is always 40-60 species present, some of which are present all of the time, others are present only seasonally. The butterflies here are not taken from the wild. They are acquired from tropical butterfly farms, or are bred on site. There are at least 2,000 live butterflies at any one time, with a total of over 120 species than can be seen in the period of a year. In the facility there is also an interactive display area which can be very educational and enjoyable. Prior to entering the live butterfly area, it is recommended that you experience the short video to get a better understanding of the facility and the butterflies. If you plan to go often, and even if you don't, I personally suggest that you purchase the "Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory Official Guide". In addition to most of the species that can be seen in the conservatory, it also has a guide to the Butterflies of Ontario. Overall, this is a very handy guide, and well worth the $9.98 price tag. You can pick this up and many butterfly and nature related gifts in the extensive giftshop upon your departure from the live butterfly area.

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