Tropical Butterfly House
Step Into a World of Wonder
Experience hundreds of breathtaking butterflies in their tropical habitat. Practice your powers of observation with our butterfly and plant identification guides.
(Atlas moth)
(Clipper)
(The Giant Owl)
Did you know?
All of our butterflies come from sustainable farms around the world.
Curiosity Takes Flight
New Butterflies Emerging Weekly
- Agraulis vanillae – 10
- Archaeoprepona demophon – 10
- Brassolis isthmia – 8
- Caligo atreus – 5
- Caligo eurilochus – 10
- Caligo memnon – 86
- Catonephele numilia – 45
- Colobura dirce – 10
- Consul fabius – 27
- Dryas iulia – 13
- Greta oto – 47
- Heliconius charitonius – 20
- Heliconius cydno – 15
- Heliconius doris – 25
- Heliconius hecale – 42
- Heliconius ismenius – 20
- Heliconius melpomene – 17
- Heliconius sara – 7
- Heraclides anchisiades – 14
- Hypna clytemnestra – 10
- Morpho peleides – 135
- Myscelia cyaniris – 25
- Opsiphanes tamarindi – 5
- Papilio thoas – 10
- Siproeta stelenes – 59
A Tropical Wonderland
Have you ever examined the trees that give us coffee, cocoa, and cinnamon up close? The plants in our Tropical Butterfly House delight the senses with unique colors, textures, and smells.
Did you know?
Some plants feed the butterflies with nectar-rich flowers, or give them resting spots when they take a break from flying.
Sourcing Our Butterflies
All of our butterflies are sustainably raised by farmers in tropical locales around the world, and they’re sent to us in their chrysalis stage. The farmers we choose to work with focus on native butterfly conservation and sustainable farming practices—butterflies are never taken from the wild for our exhibit.
If you raised butterflies at home or in your classroom and are looking to find them a good home, chances are we can welcome them into our kaleidoscope—yes, that’s what a group of butterflies is called! If you’d like to donate butterflies to PacSci, please fill out the Butterfly Donation Form, and our Living Exhibits team will get back to you.
Help Keep Our Butterflies Safe
- Butterflies are completely harmless to people, but they are very delicate. Please watch your step and take care not to touch any butterflies.
- The Tropical Butterfly House walkways are too narrow for strollers, and strollers could harm our winged friends. Please leave strollers in the parking area outside the habitat.
- If a butterfly lands on you, wait patiently for it to be on its way. Please help us check for accidental hitchhikers as you leave.
- For the health and safety of our butterflies, organic materials are not allowed in the Tropical Butterfly House.
More to Explore
Discover the magic behind the scenes
360° Videos by Ernie Flowers
Our Supporters
Generous support provided by The Pendleton & Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation.
Additional support comes from more than 1,500 individuals, companies and foundations that donate to Pacific Science Center each year, as well as more than 13,000 member households from every corner of Washington State and around the country. Learn more about ways you can support the Tropical Butterfly House and Pacific Science Center.