More Marvelous Morphos

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More Marvelous Morphos

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 by viviennemackie

This March (2010), the Butterfly House in St Louis hosts the 3^rd annual March Morpho Mania. At the entrance we pick up a pamphlet, which states “You are about to begin a wondrous journey that will bring you face to face with some of the world’s most interesting animals.” These butterflies, these beautiful ephemeral creatures, certainly fit that description, and every year we wander in the Tropical Conservatory of the Butterfly House and wonder anew at the awesome attraction of these gorgeous flitting animals (Morphos and many others).

This year, the format of the Morpho Mania is a little different, as there is no dramatic release of Morphos at set times each weekend (as in the previous two years). The staff at the Butterfly House felt it was better to have many Morphos already released and flitting in the Tropical Conservatory. In one way we missed the rush of blue wings when hundreds of Morphos suddenly fly out from the cage, but realized that the stampede of people at that time was not safe for the butterflies, especially as some of them are still a little weak and cannot fly up high, leaving them vulnerable to being trampled on the paths.

Fly-out or not, the experience is still magical. There seemed to be even more Morphos, and our eyes had trouble keeping up with all the swooping shimmering blue. They flit up and down, often alighting on someone, especially if wearing something blue. I had a turquoise-patterned scarf, which the Morphos loved—not sure if it was the color (or perhaps the perfume) that attracted them. No matter, we took turns wearing the scarf, and the Morphos kept coming. What an honor, to have such a fragile creature briefly part of our lives.