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The Cockrell Butterfly Center is home to hundreds of different species of insects!
These bright orange butterflies are one of the three species we raise on site.
It's slow, floppy flight makes this one of the showiest species in the Cockrell Butterfly Center.
Native to Malaysia, these fast-flying butterflies perch with their wings open to bask in the sun.
Gingers are famous for the fragrance of their flowers, leaves, stems, and even roots.
Graphium agamemnon is a member of the swallowtail family, and is related to our native Zebra swallowtail.
These are also called Vinegaroons due to their defense: spraying acetic acid, or vinegar.
This is a large, strong butterfly that hovers, much like a hummingbird, when visiting flowers for nectar.
Small but striking, the blue wave is named for the bands of iridescent blue across the upper wing surface.
In the Butterfly Center, the showy flowering branches of this plant are often loaded with butterflies.
Owl Butterflies are named for dramatic eyespots on the underside of the lower wing.
These beetles from tropical Asia are often kept as pets. Their impressive horns are harmless to people.
Heliconias are prized for their large colorful bracts, which attract hummingbirds.
This butterfly does not visit flowers; instead it sips the fermenting juices from overripe fruit.
This is the largest species of katydid in the world! They come from the forested mountain slopes of Malaysia.
In return for cozy shelter and abundant food provided by this plant, ants fiercely defend their host.
The longwing butterflies' slow, lazy, fluttering flight is designed to show off their bright colors.
Several bromeliad species live inside in the Butterfly Center, including some of the terrestrial species.
This grasshopper is native to the United States and is commonly found right here in Houston.
Once in a while we are fortunate to receive a shipment of these spectacular moths, the largest moths in the world.
The ability to hiss is a special adaptation to help protect them from predators.
The name pinktoe was given to this genus because the pads of their feet are pink.
The pods produced on this plant's trunk and branches can grow to be almost as large as footballs.
This species is related to our native Buckeye Butterfly. It frequents the hottest, driest spots in the Center.
Praying mantises are a diverse group of carnivorous insects. They are found all over the world, especially in the tropics.
© 2013 Houston Museum of Natural Science5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston Texas 77030