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!
Butterfly Net
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 Brimstone Butterfly!
The Brimstone Butterfly has angular wings, veining, and spots that mimic tree leaves, making it blend perfectly with green foliage!
Its leaf-like appearance is so convincing that predators often fly right past it!
This one is also near the top-left. Look carefully among the bark and leaves!
This is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail!
This butterfly's yellow wings with black markings blend perfectly with yellow flowers, making it hard for predators to spot!
While most are yellow with black markings, some females have a dark brown or black form that mimics the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail!
This last one is hiding near the top-left too. Can you find it among the lichen?
This is a Gray Cracker Butterfly!
The Gray Cracker's gray and brown coloring helps it blend perfectly into tree bark, making it nearly invisible to predators!
When it opens its wings, the underside reveals colorful patterns that surprise and startle potential predators!
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!
Monarch
Blue Morpho
Painted Lady
Swallowtail
Red Admiral
Viceroy
Click any butterfly to learn more about it!
Monarch
Blue Morpho
Painted Lady
Swallowtail
Red Admiral
Viceroy
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 discovered some amazing butterfly species in the gallery. Head back to the meadow to try more activities!
There's still so much to discover!
Head back to the meadow to discover more about butterflies and moths.
Butterflies and moths are both members of the order Lepidoptera, which means "scale wing." But how can you tell them apart?
Bright colors, slim body, active during the day
Neutral colors, furry body, active at night
Let's spot the differences!
Click on each body part to learn how butterflies and moths differ!
Butterflies have slender antennae with clubbed ends — like little knobs at the tips.
Moths have feathery antennae that look like tiny ferns or combs. They use them to detect scents in the air!
Butterflies have a long, slim abdomen. Their bodies are smooth and streamlined for daytime flying.
Moths have a thick, furry abdomen. Their plump, fuzzy bodies help them stay warm during cool nights.
Butterflies usually have bright, colorful wings. When resting, they hold their wings upright over their bodies.
Moths usually have dull, neutral-colored wings. When resting, they fold their wings flat against their bodies like a tent.
You can tell butterflies and moths apart by looking at their antennae, body shape, and wings. Keep an eye out next time you're outdoors!
All butterflies go through 4 stages of metamorphosis:
Can you match the caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly to the correct species?
Are the caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly all from the same species?
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
Butterfly
Look more carefully at the caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. Do they all belong to the same species?
The chrysalis and butterfly are both Monarchs, but the caterpillar is actually a Blue Morpho! Great eye for noticing they don't all match.
Blue Morpho ❌
Monarch ✓
Monarch ✓
Are the caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly all from the same species?
Butterfly
Take another look. Do the caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly all belong to the same species?
The chrysalis and butterfly are both Tigerwings, but the caterpillar is not. Nice detective work!
Are the caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly all from the same species?
Hmm, look again carefully. Do all three really belong to the same species?
The caterpillar and butterfly are both Spicebush Swallowtails, but the chrysalis is not. In fact, it's not a chrysalis at all — it's a cocoon!
Moths make cocoons from silk. Butterflies form a hard chrysalis. That's another way to tell them apart!
Last one! Are the caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly all from the same species?
Caterpillar
Butterfly
Look at the colors and patterns one more time. Do they match?
They are ALL Blue Morphos! Great job matching all those butterfly species!
Blue Morpho ✓
Blue Morpho ✓
You've explored camouflage masters, compared butterflies and moths, learned about metamorphosis, and discovered the amazing adaptations these creatures 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!
Your metamorphosis is now complete! You have transformed into a Junior Lepidopterist. You now know about host plants, camouflage, butterfly vs moth differences, metamorphosis, and so much more.
Thank you for visiting the Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens virtual meadow.
It looks like you flew too far!