Local Butterfly Sanctuary Hosts Many Species
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 23:54
Many border towns have unique social, cultural and environmental scenes. However, nature sees no boundaries. Butterflies, although particular to certain climates, travel between borders and across country lines.
Tucson, a place filled with unforgiving flora like pointed cacti and extreme dry temperatures, is inhabited by special varieties of butterflies and moths that are also found south of the border.
Many migratory insects fly into Mexico to escape the cold winter months and return to the United States to breed in the spring.
The Tucson Botanical Gardens hosts the Butterfly Magic exhibit every year from October through April that displays hundreds of varieties of butterflies and moths.
Each month, certain breeds emerge from their pupas and are released into a climate-controlled greenhouse where visitors can have an up close and personal encounter with these winged insects.
During the month of November, butterflies and moths from Arizona and tropical regions of the U.S. and Mexico are featured.
By December, a whole new batch of butterflies will emerge and be released, this time featuring species from Australia.
Elizabeth Willott, the Butterfly Curator who runs the exhibit, said that she is currently working on developing a separate greenhouse specifically for local breeds of native butterflies and moths.
"This is something we have wanted to do for some time and since they are native we can breed them here," she said.
Written by Emily Jones
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