Visitors to the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing in the next month will have the opportunity to observe the Orange Tiger (Dryadula phaetusa). Native to Central America and South America, the Orange Tiger is in the Heliconiinae subfamily which makes them a close relative to the Longwing (Heliconius) butterflies also found in the Butterfly Wing. The general shape of the Orange Tiger is similar to that of most of the Longwings except they typically have a shorter and broader wing. Within the Butterfly Wing, the Orange Tigers are very active butterflies often observed moving from one flower to the next. Typically, Orange Tigers do not land on visitors, but they are not shy when it comes to getting their photo taken.
As of this month, a newcomer now calls the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing home. On May 8th a butterfly shipment arrived containing fifteen New Guinea Birdwings (Ornithoptera primus), which is divided up into several subspecies. They go by several common names such as, Common Green Birdwing, Cape York Birdwing, Cairns Birdwing and the Richmond Birdwing to name a few. Since this butterfly is new to the Wing, I don’t currently have any photos of the adult. New Guinea Birdwing is a large butterfly. They are often green, but occasionally you’ll find a blue one. On most individuals, the scales on the wings are slightly iridescent which adds to their beauty. The New Guinea Birdwing is so large and stunning you may not even notice the Rhamphorynchus, a flying prehistoric dinosaur, in the Butterfly Wing.
If you enjoy seeing the Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides) flying in the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, you’ll want to find time to see the White Morpho (Morpho polyphemus) in action. Native to Central America, the White Morpho is similar in size to the Blue Morpho, but instead of a metallic blue coloration it is iridescent white. In the sun the White Morpho is a beautiful mother of pearl. White Morphos don’t typically visit flowers, but they can be observed visiting fruit dishes or sunning themselves on a tropical plant. Typically, we only receive White Morphos in the spring, so if you want an opportunity to see this amazing butterfly visit soon.
On March 23, 2009, the first butterflies of the year will be on their way to ReimanGardens. To start things off with a bang, I will be receiving three shipments that week, two from tropical suppliers and one from my United States supplier. The Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing will take flight with butterflies from all over the world. Of the two tropical suppliers, one is our broker, which will send us butterflies from Central and South America, Asia, and Africa. The other tropical box due to arrive will be coming from a butterfly farmer in Malaysia. Finally, I will be getting a box from my U.S. supplier which will be full of native species similar to those found in Iowa during the summer months. Whether you are looking forward to the tropical or the native species, the Butterfly Wing will be a good reminder that winter is almost over and spring is just around the corner.
It won’t be long and the Butterfly Wing will again be filled with hundreds of beautiful butterflies. Currently, there are under a hundred individuals remaining in the Butterfly Wing. All of the remaining individuals are longer lived species and several will probably live until the end of March. Right now the majority of work being done in the Wing has to do with the plants. Several plants have been pruned due to the large amount of growth they experienced over the last year. Other spaces in the Wing have been cleared to make room for the new nectar plants which will be planted in late March. Everything is shaping up, and the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing will definitely be worth a visit in April when it is in full swing.
