Butterfly is actually a completely inappropriate name, the French Papillon sounds much more like the magic and grace of these flying creatures, which are among the most beautiful creatures evolution has produced. It is not just the explosion of colors and shapes that has always fascinated people, but also the unique metamorphosis, which has not yet been fully understood biologically and chemically, from the misshapen, often bizarre caterpillar to the rigid chrysalis to the butterfly swinging through the air .
In Munich, due to the pandemic and its consequences, people had to forego a physical encounter with the most beautiful flying gems for three years. Now, more precisely on December 15th, the “Tropical Butterflies” show in the Aquatic Plant House (House 4 of the show greenhouses) of the Botanical Garden will finally open its doors again. Hundreds of more than 50 species flutter freely around the house. A specially trained team of ten outdoor gardeners takes care of the animals, feeding the caterpillars and leading school classes and groups.
Not only can you admire the colorful butterflies in the botanical garden, for example how they suck nectar, but also their caterpillars and pupae.
(Photo: Sebastian Gabriel)
The “main cast” of the butterfly house is bred from the egg in butterfly farms in Malaysia or Costa Rica (“Butterfly Conservatory”). They arrive as pupae, and after the first large delivery, supplies arrive every two weeks, because – what many people don’t know – most butterflies don’t get much older. A short, eventful life that only serves mating and species preservation. The entire cycle from egg to caterpillar and pupation to imago can only be experienced from January onwards. But with a bit of luck you can see the butterflies emerging from the chrysalis right from the start.
The Malaysian bristle butterfly (Cethosia hypsea) is eight centimeters tall.
(Photo: Thomas Zeidler/Botanischer Garten Munich-Nymphenburg)
Touching or even catching the butterflies is forbidden, but if you stay calm, the spectacular creatures will settle on you of their own accord. For example, the giant South American banana butterfly (Caligo eurilochus) with its distinctive eyespot on its underside. The blue iridescent Morpho butterfly (Morpho peleides), which also belongs to the noble butterflies / Nymphalidae, which, as a member of the subfamily Satyridae, is related to our forest porter or velvet butterfly. Or the big brother of our swallowtail, the South Asian peacock swallowtail from the family Papilionidae, i.e. knight butterflies. Pieridae and white butterflies are also represented, although the tropical species flying here are anything but white.
Unlike many species, males and females of the neon sail butterfly (Graphium agamemnon), which also comes from Southeast Asia, look the same.
(Photo: Thomas Zeidler/Botanischer Garten Munich-Nymphenburg)
Because the popular exhibition has not been on display for so long, the Botanical Garden is expected to be very busy. We ask that you allow waiting times in front of the entrance to the water plant house and recommend visiting on weekdays and in the morning. You also need to be prepared with clothing for your winter trip to the tropics. You should wear layers that are easy to remove, because the water plant house is humid and hot and cannot be ventilated.
By the way, the aquatic plant house is worth a visit even before the butterflies arrive. Because of the plants, of course, but also because of the many turtles that also have their quarters there. And because of the large, now 20-year-old Asian threadfish named Anna, who is also looking forward to the butterflies: He then noisily attacks falling caterpillars.
Tropical butterflies, Friday, December 15th to Sunday, March 17th, aquatic plant house in the Botanical Garden, Menzinger Straße 65, www.botmuc.snsb.de