Asian Butterfies Will Soon Flutter At The Indianapolis Zoo

By Maura Giles 

Indianapolis, IN - Fluttering, colorful and much-anticipated—the very popular “Butterflies” show returns to the Indianapolis Zoo’s White River Gardens Hilbert Conservatory for an 11th season beginning March 21, 2009, and continuing through September 7. Thousands of free-flying exotic and native butterflies, combined with the gentle sounds of flowing water and soothing music, create a calming ambiance inside the Hilbert Conservatory. It’s a unique experience in beauty and relaxation, right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.

There are around 15,000 different species of butterflies found throughout the world, and during “Butterflies” at the Indianapolis Zoo, visitors can encounter as many as 300 of them from Florida, Costa Rica, Africa, and this year, Asia. Visitors will be able to discover a wide variety of incredible species such as the Glasswing and Atlas Moth and uncover the truth about these remarkable insects, as well as how to attract butterflies to their own yards.

“Butterflies” is free for Indianapolis Zoo members and included with regular Zoo admission of $14.00 for adults and $9.00 for Seniors 62+ and Youth 2-12. Children one and under are free, and parking is $5.00. The Indianapolis Zoo is open 9am to 4pm Monday-Thursday and 9am to 5pm Friday-Sunday from March 13 to May 21. From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, May 22 to September 7, Zoo hours are 9am to 5pm Monday through Thursday, and 9am to 6pm Friday through Sunday plus holidays.

More About Butterflies at the Indianapolis Zoo’s White River Gardens
Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 butterflies will be in free flight at any given time. Some featured “regulars” of the butterfly exhibit include the common Julia, the Blue Morpho, the Giant Owl, Postman, Admiral, Zebra Longwing and Giant Swallowtail.

Guests will be mesmerized by the butterflies’ aerial acrobatics as they soar over a varied assortment of tropical plants selected by the White River Gardens staff. These plants provide a lush setting for the butterflies as well as supplying them with a generous supply of nectar-like syrup. The keepers supplement the butterfly diets with fruits such as bananas, watermelon, grapes, kiwi and apples. The butterflies love to gather at the fruit feeding dishes, giving guests great viewing and photographic opportunities.

White River Gardens exhibits butterflies under a rigorous permit from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Throughout the show, thousands of butterflies complete their adult life cycles inside Hilbert Conservatory, which range from one week up to three weeks depending on the species. They are tended to daily by keepers and volunteers who provide them with everything they need—with one important exception. Among all the beautiful plants there are no “host” plants to stimulate laying eggs or support larval feeding, as mandated by USDA permit. Only the adult butterflies and their chrysalises are on display.

New shipments of chrysalises arrive every week so the visitor experience of these beautiful creatures is always changing. The keepers take special care that none of the permitted exotic species escapes from the Conservatory, eliminating the potential of non-native butterflies threatening the well-being of native Indiana species.

Visitors to “Butterflies” also see the outdoor DeHaan Tiergarten blossom through its 11th summer season. The floral displays change constantly, inspiring gardeners to use ideas and information available at White River Gardens in their own home gardens. Guests are greeted by thousands of spring blooming plants and trees in the Gardens, starting in late March and into April and May. The annual tulip display is especially stunning, as thousands of bulbs bloom in the Allen W. Clowes Water Garden and other areas. Summer flowers come into season from May through August.

The Conservatory shows are supported through an endowment funded by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, Inc. The Indianapolis Zoo Art and Nature programming is supported by the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the City of Indianapolis.

Located in White River State Park downtown, the Indianapolis Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden. The Indianapolis Zoo inspires local and global communities to celebrate, protect, and preserve our natural world through conservation, education, and research, and by providing an enriching and wondrous environment for our visitors and the animals in our care. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.

Photo credits:

#1 Stacy Lastinger

#2-3-4  Don Reynolds