The Butterfly House has 20 species of flora from the butterflies’ native countries, as well as “artificial feeders” filled with a honey/water mix, and other feeders with slices of pineapple and orange. With no native butterflies bred in the UAE, the creatures are transported in pupae form from overseas, wrapped in gold foil inside special containers. More than 400 pupae arrive each week, but only about 350 usually make it to maturity.
“We provide a carefully controlled environment for them, with temperatures ranging between 27°C to 32°C, and humidity at 50 to 60 per cent, with mist from a misting system released regularly,” says Wright.
“Butterflies like to sit in tiny puddles of sweet water, and sip water, because that is where they get their minerals from.”
The staff are always careful not to allow “any toxins or chemicals” such as window or floor cleaners to be used in the Butterfly House.
“We educate people about how to handle butterflies and what makes them special, because some [people] come here fearing these winged beauties,” he says.
“Never touch the wings, but put your finger near them, near their legs, and see if they slowly walk onto your finger. We are here to help you have the best and most memorable experience. Just ask us,” says Wright.
The life cycle of a butterfly
Known as metamorphosis, the lifecycle of the butterfly begins with an encounter between an adult male butterfly and adult female. After finding a leaf on which to lay her eggs, the female curves her long body in the direction of the leaf and lays her very tiny eggs, usually in spring. The eggs are made of a sticky substance so they stick to the leaf.
Around five to six days later the larva (young stage) has developed inside the egg. This is the butterfly’s caterpillar stage. The caterpillar chews its way out from the egg – a process which can take several hours. It feeds on its egg first and then moves on to eat from the plant on which it was hatched.
The caterpillar grows quickly, the more it eats the bigger it gets. Eventually it sheds its first skin and grows a bigger one. A caterpillar has no time to sleep, as it only has a few weeks to store the energy it needs to change into a butterfly.
When ready, the caterpillar makes a chrysalis/ pupae (for butterflies) or a cocoon (for moths). It must find a sturdy branch and spin sticky silk threads to secure itself in place. It spins thread around its middle section (called the belt) and produces a patch of coiled thread at its tail end (called the pillow). Its skin will be shed for the last time and a shell will form underneath the shed skin. This shell hardens into a protective case which is the chrysalis. The caterpillar turns into a soft, jelly-like blob.
It takes a few weeks for the caterpillar to transform into a beautiful butterfly. When the chrysalis turns clear it is time for the butterfly to break free, but its
wings are wet and crumpled. It pumps blood into its wings to help them to dry out and to expand. Once the wings are dry, the butterfly is ready to fly away and search for flowers for food. Not all butterflies hatch out of their chrysalis right away, some spend the winter months inside and hatch out in the springtime. Most butterflies have a short life (about a month) so it must find a mate quickly to start the life cycle all over again. The adult will eventually return to the plant or tree where it hatched and will lay its own. The full process can take up to five weeks.