Butterflies Until April 25, 2010

Montréal’s Nature Museums invite you to join them from February 18 to April 25 and enjoy a fascinating, delightful time during the 13th edition of Butterflies Go Free, presented by the Insectarium in the Main Exhibition Greenhouse at the Botanical Garden. During the International Year of Biodiversity (2010), come celebrate Biodiversity on the Wing and admire dozens of local and exotic butterfly species.

Biodiversity, an endless source of wonder

Butterflies Go Free invites you to learn more about 50 to 75 butterfly species from around the globe. Of the some 1.8 million plant and animal species inventoried to date, two-thirds of them are insects, and close to 175,000 of that number are butterflies. And since some estimates suggest that there may be as many as half a million of them, it means that there are still thousands more species to be discovered. Given that the species extinction rate has increased a thousandfold in recent years as a result of human activities (pollution, species overexploitation, etc.), it is vital that we act to protect biodiversity.

Amazingly adaptable

Did you know that butterflies (or Lepidoptera) appeared on Earth back in the days of the dinosaurs? They have since developed features allowing them to adapt to a vast range of conditions and environments. For instance, some of them feed on nectar from orchids with very deep nectaries, while others sport wing colours and patterns that protect them from predators. Co-evolution, or the way a particular butterfly has adapted specifically to a given plant – whether it feeds on it or pollinates it – has also led to the emergence of new species. These fascinating butterfly species are of special interest to scientists, to many cultures and to some communities which operate butterfly breeding farms as a way of protecting their often threatened habitat.

For more information : http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/insectarium/en/index.php?section=paplib_biodiversite2010_c.htm