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    • Mariposario

    MONTEZUMA BUTTERFLY GARDENS

    About Él Mariposario

    Learning through direct observation how interconnected all life is affects you in profound ways.

    Displaying several varieties of butterfly host plants, new foliage and a koi pond, the Montezuma Butterfly Gardens are located adjacent to the brewery. 

    We are open from 12pm to 5pm Tuesday – Saturday.

    We ask for a small donation when you enter the garden. We pledge 100% of these profits, and the profits from our special fund raising events, to support the needs of our community.

    The life cycle of a butterfly

    The life cycle of a butterfly includes four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. The female lays her eggs on host plants. After hatching, the caterpillars, which often have distinctive patterns and colors for camouflage, feed voraciously and grow rapidly, shedding their skin multiple times.

    Once fully grown, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis, undergoing a complete transformation. Emerging as an adult butterfly, it displays vibrant wings and patterns for various functions such as camouflage or defense. The adult butterfly, now capable of flight, completes the life cycle by seeking mates and laying eggs to start the process anew.

    The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly using its long proboscis to extract the sweet nectar from a flower, which provides it with essential nutrients.

    What To Look For

    All of the photos and videos you see on this website, unless otherwise noted, were taken here on our property.

    Heliconius charithonia, the zebra longwing or zebra heliconian, is a species of butterfly belonging to the subfamily Heliconiinae of the family Nymphalidae

    Heliconius charithonia, the zebra longwing or zebra heliconian, is a species of butterfly belonging to the subfamily Heliconiinae of the family Nymphalidae

    Morpho achilles, the Achilles morpho, blue-banded morpho, or banded blue morpho, is a Neotropical butterfly.

    Morpho achilles, the Achilles morpho, blue-banded morpho, or banded blue morpho, is a Neotropical butterfly.

    The monarch butterfly or simply monarch (Danaus plexippus) is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae.[6] Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown.

    The monarch butterfly or simply monarch (Danaus plexippus) is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown.

    Giant Swallowtail is a generally southern species that sometimes ranges as far north as Canada. The caterpillar closely resembles a large bird dropping, which would serve to deter birds and other predators

    Giant Swallowtail is a generally southern species that sometimes ranges as far north as Canada. The caterpillar closely resembles a large bird dropping, which would serve to deter birds and other predators

    A Monarch butterfly, easily identifiable by its bright orange wings with black and white spots, is feeding on the flower's nectar with its proboscis.

    A Monarch butterfly, easily identifiable by its bright orange wings with black and white spots, is feeding on the flower’s nectar with its proboscis.

    A pair of Zebra Longwing butterflies (Heliconius charithonia) on a vibrant orange flower. The Zebra Longwing butterflies are easily recognizable by their distinctive black and white horizontal stripes, which give them their name.

    A pair of Zebra Longwing butterflies (Heliconius charithonia) on a vibrant orange flower. The Zebra Longwing butterflies are easily recognizable by their distinctive black and white horizontal stripes, which give them their name.

    A Blue Morpho butterfly (Morpho menelaus) with its wings fully open. This butterfly is renowned for its iridescent blue wings, which are vividly displayed in the image. The upper side of its wings is a bright, metallic blue, which appears due to the microscopic scales that reflect light. The edges of the wings are dark brown with a few white spots near the tips.

    A Blue Morpho butterfly (Morpho menelaus) with its wings fully open. This butterfly is renowned for its iridescent blue wings, which are vividly displayed in the image. The upper side of its wings is a bright, metallic blue, which appears due to the microscopic scales that reflect light. The edges of the wings are dark brown with a few white spots near the tips.

    The underside of Blue Morpho's wings are brown with intricate patterns, including several eye-like spots that help deter predators. The body is black with a few red and white markings near the head, and the antennae are long and thin.

    The underside of Blue Morpho’s wings are brown with intricate patterns, including several eye-like spots that help deter predators. The body is black with a few red and white markings near the head, and the antennae are long and thin.

    The only species in it's entire genus, the Banded Orange Butterfly has several nicknames such as the Orange Tiger and Banded Orange Heliconian. Banded Orange Butterflies have been spotted in the wild sipping the tears of crocodiles for their salt.

    The only species in it’s entire genus, the Banded Orange Butterfly has several nicknames such as the Orange Tiger and Banded Orange Heliconian. Banded Orange Butterflies have been spotted in the wild sipping the tears of crocodiles for their salt.

    The monarch butterfly letting it's wings dry after hatching. You can see it hanging from the chrysalis it just hatched from. Typically they will rest for a few hours before they are ready for flight.

    The monarch butterfly letting it’s wings dry after hatching. You can see it hanging from the chrysalis it just hatched from. Typically they will rest for a few hours before they are ready for flight.

    Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas). This species is recognizable by its dark wings adorned with distinctive colored markings.

    Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas). This species is recognizable by its dark wings adorned with distinctive colored markings.

    An Owl Butterfly (Caligo sp.) and other butterflies feeding on watermelon and pineapple. The Owl Butterfly is recognizable by the large, prominent eyespots on the underside of its wings, which resemble the eyes of an owl and serve to deter predators.

    An Owl Butterfly (Caligo sp.) and other butterflies feeding on watermelon and pineapple. The Owl Butterfly is recognizable by the large, prominent eyespots on the underside of its wings, which resemble the eyes of an owl and serve to deter predators.