Classroom Extension
Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Welcome to Blooms & Butterflies! Here's how to explore:
Select a section below to explore resources for your classroom.
Explore these videos and documentaries to learn more about butterflies:
Hello there, young explorer! I'm Larry, and I study butterflies. Today, we're going on an adventure through a beautiful meadow filled with amazing butterflies and the plants they love.
Are you ready? Let's go!
In the meadow, you'll find different areas to explore. Click on the butterfly icons to learn about different butterfly species and their fascinating world.
Each area will teach you something new about butterflies — from the plants they depend on, to how they hide from predators!
Click any area to begin exploring. Click the net when you're finished!
Did you know that each butterfly species has a special plant where it lays its eggs? These are called host plants.
The caterpillars eat the leaves of their host plant as they grow. Without the right plant, the butterflies can't survive!
Click the arrow to explore which plants match with which butterflies.
Click the plant to reveal which butterfly species depends on it!
Some butterflies are masters of disguise! They use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings and hide from predators.
Can you spot a hidden butterfly in the next scene? Look closely — it won't be easy!
Look carefully at the scene below. Click where you think the butterfly is hiding.
This is a Dead Leaf Butterfly (Orange Oakleaf).
When the wings are closed, they look exactly like a dead, brown leaf — complete with veins and even spots that mimic decay!
When the wings open, they reveal beautiful bright orange and blue colors that surprise predators!
This amazing adaptation helps the butterfly hide in plain sight among fallen leaves on the forest floor.
You've learned about how butterflies use camouflage to survive. The Dead Leaf Butterfly is just one example of nature's incredible disguises.
Head back to the meadow to continue exploring!
You've learned about host plants, camouflage, and the amazing world of butterflies.
Keep exploring nature — there's always something new to discover!
A butterfly is hiding near the top-left of this scene. Can you spot it?
This is a Comma Butterfly!
The Comma Butterfly has jagged wing edges that look like torn leaves. When resting on a branch, it becomes nearly invisible!
It gets its name from a tiny white comma-shaped mark on the underside of its hindwing.
This one is also near the top-left. Look carefully among the bark and leaves!
This is a Leaf Wing Butterfly!
The Leaf Wing's brown, textured underwings perfectly mimic tree bark and dried leaves. Predators walk right past!
When it opens its wings, bright orange and red patterns flash to startle predators. It's a defense called "flash coloration."
This last one is hiding near the top-left too. Can you find it among the lichen?
This is a Peppered Moth!
The Peppered Moth's speckled wings blend perfectly with lichen-covered bark. Its pattern matches the background so well that birds can't see it!
During the Industrial Revolution, dark-colored Peppered Moths became more common because pollution darkened tree bark. This is one of the most famous examples of natural selection!
You've found all three hidden butterflies! Now it's time to learn more about different butterfly species up close.
In the next section, you'll explore a butterfly gallery and discover fascinating facts about six different species.
Welcome to the gallery! Here you'll meet six incredible butterfly species. Click on each one to discover what makes it unique.
Visit all six butterflies to complete your exploration!
Click each butterfly to learn about it. Visit all six to continue!
The Monarch is one of the most recognized butterflies in North America.
Monarchs travel up to 3,000 miles to overwinter in Mexico. They are the only butterfly known to make such a long two-way migration!
Their bright orange color warns predators: "I taste terrible!" Toxins from milkweed make them poisonous to birds.
The Blue Morpho is one of the largest and most dazzling butterflies in the world.
The Blue Morpho's brilliant blue color isn't from pigment — it's caused by microscopic scales that reflect light! This is called structural coloration.
When its wings are closed, the brown underside helps it blend in with the forest floor. When it flies, the flashing blue confuses predators!
The Painted Lady is the most widespread butterfly species in the world!
Painted Ladies are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. They migrate long distances, sometimes crossing the Sahara Desert!
Unlike most butterflies, Painted Ladies can feed on over 100 different host plants, including thistles, mallows, and sunflowers.
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is known for its striking yellow and black tiger stripes.
The "tails" on their hindwings look like antennae, tricking predators into attacking the wrong end. The butterfly escapes while the predator gets a mouthful of wing!
Young caterpillars look like bird droppings to avoid being eaten. Older caterpillars have large eye spots that make them look like a small snake!
The Red Admiral is a common and boldly patterned butterfly found throughout North America and Europe.
Red Admirals are known for landing on people! They are territorial and often return to the same perching spot day after day.
Unlike many butterflies, Red Admirals prefer tree sap, rotting fruit, and even animal droppings over flower nectar!
The Viceroy is famous for looking almost exactly like a Monarch — but it's a completely different species!
The Viceroy copies the Monarch's orange-and-black pattern. Predators who've learned Monarchs taste bad avoid Viceroys too — even though Viceroys are also distasteful!
Look for a black line crossing the hindwing veins. Monarchs don't have this line, but Viceroys always do!
You've explored all the butterflies in the gallery!
You've explored camouflage masters, learned about incredible species, and discovered the amazing adaptations butterflies use to survive.
The natural world is full of wonders — keep your eyes open, and you might spot some of these butterflies in your own backyard!
You've completed the Blooms & Butterflies adventure! You now know about host plants, camouflage, butterfly mimicry, and so much more.
Thank you for visiting the Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens virtual meadow.
It looks like you flew too far!