Butterflies are one of the most beautiful and delicate creatures on earth. Their striking colors of orange, blue, yellow, and black with equally interesting markings make them special creatures to watch.

Butterflies range in size from an 1/8th of an inch to almost 12 inches in wingspan. They can fly 12 miles per hour and moths, that sometimes resemble butterflies, can fly up to 25 miles per hour. Some butterflies, such as the Monarch, migrate each year up to 2000 miles.

All butterflies have complete metamorphosis growing into an adult through four development stages: egg, larva, pupa and butterfly. Each stage has a different goal - for instance, caterpillars need to eat a lot as many gardeners know and adults need to reproduce.

Depending on the species, the life cycle of a butterfly may take one month to an entire year. Butterflies pollinate flowers and crops and are an essential contributor to our ecosystems. Most butterflies prefer flowers that are pink, red, purple or yellow and that are open all day.

Each area of the U.S. has only a few species of butterfly that are native. The most colorful and largest butterflies are not native to the U.S., but reside in rainforests. However, you can see these wonderful creatures of nature at a Butterfly Center such as the Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston, Texas. The Cockrell Butterfly Center is located at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It is a living exhibit that showcases hundreds of live butterflies in a naturalistic setting.  During a typical visit, you can see 50 to 60 different species of the world’s largest and most colorful butterfly species.

Centers typically buy their butterflies from farms in tropical Asia and North, Central, and South America. They are shipped to the Center in their chrysalis or pupa form.  You should seek out a butterfly center in your town or on your vacation for a splendid day of nature viewing. Plan ahead in terms of dress as butterfly centers are usually in rainforest like conditions - so it will be warm and humid.

If you want, you can photograph the butterflies in their indoor habitat - example photos on the butterfly center's website. To improve your chances of getting really great souvenir pictures, you should checkout the chrysalis centers where the butterflies are just emerging and will be less active and therefore easier to photograph. The Ehow website offers suggestions on how to photograph butterflies.

Posted by Barbara.