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Wings of Fancy
Questions Frequently Asked About Wings of Fancy
How do the butterflies get to Brookside Gardens?
Our butterflies are raised by suppliers in the United States, Central and South America, Asia and Africa. The pupae are carefully packed and shipped using the fastest method possible. Once the pupae arrive, they are identified and evaluated for health before they are mounted onto boards for emergence. The pupae are kept in enclosed cases to ensure that they are not removed form the exhibit and that are parasitic insects that might be traveling with them are not released into the outside environment.
How long do the butterflies live?
The best answer is: it depends. Every butterfly species has a different life span, from one week to several months, depending on the time of year, food sources and other factors. Two or three weeks is our best estimate of the average life span for the butterflies in our exhibit.
What happens to the butterflies at the end of the exhibit?
After the exhibit closes, we have a "Butterfly Round Up," when a group of staff and volunteers capture all the butterflies and place them into thin paper envelopes with their wings folded behind them. The envelope keeps them from spreading and damaging their wings. The butterflies are also cooled with ice packs, reducing their activity. Each butterfly is identified and counted. Finally they are packed into boxes and sent overnight to a butterfly exhibit that operates all year. We have been very successful with this method and shipped more than 700 butterflies last year.
Why can't the butterflies be released from the exhibit?
In order to receive butterflies from outside of Maryland, we must have a permit from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Butterflies are considered potential plant pests, and the USDA regulates their movement through the permit process. Our permit describes all the conditions and procedures Wings of Fancy must comply with in order to have our exhibit. The permit specifies that no butterflies in any life stage are allowed to leave the exhibit, intentionally or not, because the butterflies could become pests in the local environment.
How can butterflies become pests?
Foreign butterflies and caterpillars could become pests in several ways:
* They could escape into the environment and displace natives or become invasive.
* They could cause damage to economically important crops.
* They could carry a fungus, bacteria, virus, or parasite with them which could be released into the environment and cause problems in native plants or animals (like West Nile Virus).
How does Wings of Fancy comply with the USA permit?
* Our building is inspected by an agent from the Maryland Department of Environment to make sure that all physical features are in place to prevent the release of butterflies. This includes the two sets of doors at each entrance to the flight house, the ceiling net, the screens over the doorways and darkening film on the doors.
* Our permit includes a list of species that we are allowed to accept. Each shipment is checked at receipt and when the adult butterflies emerge. Butterfly shipments are handled in a special sealed room and pupae are kept in enclosed boxes until they emerge. Dead butterflies and anything that contacts butterflies is disinfected.
* A staff members is required to be stationed at each entrance whenever the exhibit is open to the public. This person is trained in methods for preventing butterfly release and is required to ensure that anyone exiting performs a thorough self-check for butterflies. |