It’s another beautiful week in our butterfly pavilion! If you’ve already been to SOAR – Tropical Butterflies, you’ve probably seen this week’s butterfly of the week. And if you haven’t been yet, what are you waiting for?!
This week’s Butterfly of the Week is the cattleheart butterfly! These butterflies have a wingspan of 3-4 inches and live for about two weeks. While both males and females have clusters of red on their hindwings, males have shorter, broader white spots on their forewings. Below are some more fun facts about this Garden family member. After you read about them, make sure to come meet them in person.
Fun Facts
- Many people believe that the cattleheart butterfly got its name because the red markings on its hindwings look like a cow’s heart.
- They can be found in the Americas, from Mexico all the way to Costa Rica.
- As caterpillars they eat toxic plants that make them poisonous and protect them from predators. As adult butterflies, some of the toxins stay in their bodies, making them unpleasant to eat.
- Cattlehearts are part of the family Papilionidae which means they are a type of swallowtail even though they’re missing the “tail” part of their hindwings.
Visit SOAR-Tropical Butterflies to say hello to our cattleheart butterflies and feed them a yummy treat! For tickets, click here.
