Photo Flashback ~Flower & Garden Butterflies

It's Photo Flashback Friday! Time to once again dust off our Walt Disney World photo albums and take another look at some of our favorite photos from vacations past.
Continuing the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival theme from the last two weeks, I am sharing photos today that were taken in Bambi's Butterfly House. Many you've seen here before but they are oldies but goodies to me.
I've also included a few fun butterfly facts because a trip to The Butterfly House is also an educational experience.
This attraction is exclusive to The Flower & Garden Festival each year. I always try to plan enough time to see all the displays and to snap a few (dozen;) shots. 

There are over 1,000 native butterflies representing up to 10 species.

© Focused on the Magic.com

Peter has had very good luck with butterflies landing on his shirt because he usually wears lighter colors. They're attracted to yellow shirts or any bright colors. Once they are on you, you can't brush them away which leads to a lot of laughs and attracts attention from everyone around as you kind of wait for them to move on.
I've had them softly land on my head because they were attracted to the scent in my hair care products or perfume. I don't wear a lot of perfume, just a light dusting of powder in the morning is enough to attract them. Colorful hair ribbons and bows are very attractive to them. Juice boxes and fruit as well.

Great Southern White Ascia monuste

Butterflies have pretty good eyesight and can see a single color image in the ultraviolet end of the spectrum. Some butterflies and many flowers have ultraviolet patches that are visible to butterflies. These patches help guide them to the nectar on plants. 

As you can see from these pics you really get to see all the life stages up close and personal. 

A Queen and a caterpillar

Moths
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Fly by night
Rest with wings open
Have straight or feathery antennae
Are fat and hairy

Butterflies

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Fly in daylight

Rest with wings closed

Have club-tipped antennae

Are slim-bodied

Zebra Longwing Heliconius charitonius

This Zebra Longwing butterfly is the official state butterfly of Florida. It enjoys shade and doesn't stay long in open sunny locations. It lays its eggs on passion vine leaves. Passion vines just happen to contain a toxin that are consumed by the caterpillars, making the adult butterflies poisonous to predators.

Queen Danaus gilippus

© Focused on the Magic.com

Photo opportunities abound in the butterfly house. Butterflies move quickly flitting from flower to flower gathering nectar. 
To help freeze the action and increase your chances of getting a sharp picture, use a fast shutter by increasing your ISO to 400. These were taken with an ISO of 400. If you use a tripod, leave the head loose so you can quickly readjust it as the butterfly moves. I don't use a tripod in the butterfly house. It seems to me it would be a tripping hazard for kids preoccupied with looking at the butterflies.

Most butterflies make no sound, but some in Florida and Texas make a loud clicking sound with their wings. 

The Common Buckeye is one of the most easily identified butterflies. The large target-shaped eyespots help deter predators. It's fond of open, sunny locations with low-growing vegetation. Unable to withstand freezing temperatures in any life stage, the Buckeye annually heads south during the fall wintering in warmer Gulf Coast locations including Florida. 

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness and riches

Today, tomorrow and beyond.

~Irish Blessing

Butterfly Information Source: http://www.butterflydatabase.com/

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I hope you enjoyed my 
Flashback Friday Post! 
Would you like to join us & link up your 
Disney Flashback Photo Post?

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Have a Magical Day!  

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