The Mariposario del Drago is a tropical garden where hundreds of butterflies belonging to exotic species from all parts of the world fly in total freedom. You will be able to observe each phase of its biological cycle ( egg, caterpillar, pupa ) and take pictures of the biggest and most spectacular butterflies.

Metamorphosis

The butterfly starts its life as an egg, grows as a caterpillar, and after a transformation stage called pupae or chryisalis, it emerges as an adult.

Butterflies are insects which build the order of LEDIDOPTERA. With 250.000 known species, they represent the second biggest animal group diversity of species on earth. There are butterflies ( 15.000 species ) and moths ( 235.000 species ).

What is the dust that covers the Butterfly Wings?

They are tiny scales which is the reason for the color and design of the wings. These scales give the name to the butterfly ( LEPIDO - Scale and PTERON - Wing ). There's no other insect that has got scales.

The average age is between 1 and 3 weeks.

There mainly feed on the flower' nectar. they also like to suck the juice of ripe fruits, as well as some trees' sap and even animal secretion such as sweat to tears or urine, from which they obtain salts and minerals.
Some month species do not feed, therefore they don't live more than between 3 to 6 days.

Ornithoptera priamus

Papilio glaucus

There are two sexes, male and female. After the mating act,which normally lasts about 24 hours, the female lays between 50 to 1.000 eggs. Each species has got their own specific plant on which they lay their eggs and the female needs to find it, as the caterpillars can only feed on that certain plant. The female butterfly will only mates once in her life.