Butterflies in Flight at the Canadian Museum of Nature

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Outside, Ottawa has started what’s expected to be at least a week of super-chilly weather.

But inside the Canadian Museum of Nature’s Butterflies in Flight show, which will run until January next year, visitors wandered through a steamy solarium atmosphere surrounded by innumerable brilliantly colourful butterflies in various shapes and sizes.

The show’s stars were brought in from sustainable farming operations in Costa Rica and the Philippines in chrysalis packages, then moved to a tiny nursery where visitors could get close enough to watch them hatch.

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“They just fly out when they’re ready. They’re only going to live between, you know, one and five weeks,” museum science interpreter Anne Cheng said. The average lifespan is about two weeks.

Blue Morpho, Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
A Blue Morpho butterfly sits on a leaf. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA

Cheng said the only caution to visitors was not to touch the butterflies’ wings.

“They have powder on them, especially the inner side of the wings. Once that powder is gone, they can’t fly, so it’s very sad,” she said.

Visitors were asked not to chase or grab the butterflies.

“If they land on you, it’s kind of like they’re saying hello and they can’t hurt you,” said Cheng.

Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Eight-year-old Edie Morrissette was all smiles as a beautiful butterfly enjoyed a moment on her toque. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA

The constant hatching makes it impossible to keep track of the insects, Cheng said.

“If you look up, there’s like a net on the ceiling, so some of them are on the net, some of them are under the leaves.”

The museum previously put on the Butterflies in Flight show in both 2017 and 2019.

The museum will be closed from Monday, Jan. 6, to Thursday, Jan. 16, for annual maintenance.

PHOTOS BY ASHLEY FRASER:

Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Carol Ann Reid was having a fantastic time capturing photographs of all the beautiful butterflies and moths in the exhibit Saturday morning. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Butterflies land on little dishes with fruit. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Atlas Moth, Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
A large Atlas Moth sits and rests on a stone wall. Moths, unlike butterflies, are nocturnal and rest during the day. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The museum welcomes dozens of new pupae from Costa Rica and the Philippines every week. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Pupae, Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The museum welcomes dozens of new pupae from Costa Rica and the Philippines every week. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Sharon Smith with her grand daughter four-year-old Lily Sarda were having fun watching all the butterflies Saturday morning. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Atlas Moth, Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
A large Atlas Moth sits and rests on a stone wall. Moths, unlike butterflies, are nocturnal and rest during the day. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
A Monarch lands on a visitors hands. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Three visitors enjoyed a butterfly landing on their hands. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Six-year-old Florence Proulx stood patiently waiting for a butterfly to land on her. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
A Forest Giant Owl butterfly sits on a staff members fingers. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and a wonderful spot to visit and warm up on a chilly day. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Six-year-old Florence Proulx stood patiently as a museum staff member tried to relocate a butterfly to her hand. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
An Atlas Moth rest in a plant. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Tiger Longwing, Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
A Tiger Longwing butterfly sits on a leaf. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Anne Cheng, a science interpreter with the museum was talking with visitors explaining details about the butterflies. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Sharon Smith with her grand daughter four-year-old Lily Sarda were having fun watching all the butterflies Saturday morning. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Sharon Smith with her grand daughter four-year-old Lily Sarda were having fun watching all the butterflies Saturday morning. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
The butterflies have a spectacular home in the museums solarium that is filled with tropical plants, a waterfall, and many spots to rest and snack. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA
Canadian Museum of Nature, Butterflies in Flight exhibit
Butterflies are drawn to bright colours and often land on visitors clothing. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA

For ticket information and hours contact the Canadian Museum of Nature at https://nature.ca/en/visit-us/plan-your-visit/admission-fees/

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated when the butterfly exhibit will close. The exhibition will run until Jan. 4, 2026.

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