Although Pacific Science Center's Tropical Butterfly House provides a great immersive learning experience, it is a hard place to focus on an individual butterfly or species. Everything is in motion, nothing is highlighted. To help our visitors better understand the many fluttering insects they encounter, we present our Butterfly of the Month!
Myscelia
Range: Southern United States to tropical South America.
- Although there are 24 different species in the genus Myscelia, our Tropical Butterfly House only flies two: M. ethusa (Royal Blue) and M. cyaniris (Blue Wave). M. ethusa is notably brighter with a very intense, iridescent blue coloration.
- The males of this genus are often found perched on tree trunks. They may also mistake people for tree trunks and land on them as well. Females are quite active during the middle of the day. However, neither male nor female are capable of flying long distances.
- If you're able to spot a Myscelia at rest, you may notice that they close their forewings into their hindwings, forming a trianle. These butterflies are so compact that they are almost invisible! This is another good reason to check yourself closely before you leave the Tropical Butterfly House.
In the coming months, look for a diverse group of species. We try to highlight a different aspect of butterflies each month. Sometimes we focus on behavior, such as courtship or energy use. Other months we will showcase less colorful butterfly species with fascinating adaptations. Occasionally, species may only be available seasonally, and we will try to show them off while they are here.