If you’ve been in our butterfly pavilion recently you may have seen something that looks like an owl seemingly staring straight at you. Those butterflies are either the Owl (Caligo telamonious memnon) or forest giant owl (Caligo eurilochus). These butterflies are big, with wingspans ranging from 2.5 – 8 inches and while they may look like owls while they’re perched in the feeding trays, they are a vision of blue and yellow while flying.  Here are some fun facts about this member of the Garden family. 

Fun Facts 

  • Owl butterflies and forest giant owl butterflies are both part of the Nymphalidae family. Nymphalidae are also known as “brush-footed” because their two front legs have “brush” like feet that the butterfly uses for tasting and smelling. 
  • These butterflies only live for about 2 weeks, so come see them soon!
  • Their natural habitats are agricultural areas ranging from Mexico to the Amazon Rainforest in South America. 
  • They feed on the juice of rotting tropical fruits, like oranges, bananas, pineapple and mango.
  • These butterflies are camouflaged to look like owls to scare away predators like toads and lizards.

Want to see one for yourself? Make sure to get your tickets to SOAR today!