butterfly park (jan-feb) 2009-2010

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Butterfly ParkA GATE Report for the Month of January, February & March 2010

Submitted by:

Bineet chhajer

SPA/NS/LA/422

Session 2009-2010



INTRODUCTION:

The Butterfly Park accommodates different users- the butterfly, the researcher and the visitor. But

the researcher and the visitor both depend on the butterfly. Its the reason why the park would

exist. So understanding how the butterfly functions, which is the life cycle is of utmost importance.

Secondly, why do we need a butterfly park at all? Exploring why there are the existences of suchparks all around the world. Lastly, how the impact of such a park would be socially and culturally.

Whether the architecture of such a building can be a symbolic repre sentation of the place and time;

therefore the key research issues would include the following:

PRIMARY RESEARCH- The butterfly.

y To understand butterflies, their life-cycle, habits and survival

y To understand their needs- ecological, anthropometric and technological

SECONDARY RESEARCH- The Butterfly Park.

y To understand how and why butterfly conservation is important.

The case studies to support these issues are-

y Butterfly World, Florida,

y Butterfly Conservatory, Vienna,

y Butterfly House, St. Louis.

All the case studies are different in their scale as well as context. The first one is the Butterfly World

in Florida. It is a 27 acre site, wholly dedicated to the conservation of butterflies. The Butterfly

conservatory in Vienna is a part of the Hofburg palace complex. The conservatory first served as apalm house or a greenhouse where palm trees are grown. The greenhouse is a good example of

splendid Jugendstil architecture. The palace complex was later renovated and converted into a

museum. The greenhouse was later turned into a butterfly aviary with restaurants inside. Visitors

could visit the museum with the added bonus of the conservatory which was located at the back

lawns of the complex. Lastly the Butterfly House in St. Louis was integrated into Faust Park. The

plan allows for the creative continuation of the present park facilities, including the 1904 World's

Fair carousel. It is built in the old Victorian style architecture.



Butterfly

A butte

¡

¢ y is an insect of the order Le£ idoptera. Like all Lepidoptera, butterflies are notable for

their unusual lif e cycle with a larval caterpillar stage, an inactive pupal stage, and a spectacular

metamorphosis into a familiar and colourful winged adult form. Most species are day-flying so they

regularly attract attention. The diverse patterns formed by their brightly coloured wings and theirerratic yet graceful flight have made butterfly watching a fairly popular hobby. Butterflies comprise

the true butterflies (superfamily Papilionoidea), the skippers (superfamily Hesperioidea) and the

moth-butterflies (superfamily Hedyloidea). Butterflies e ¤ hibit polymorphism, mimicry and

aposematism. Some migrate over long distances. Some butterflies have evolved symbiotic and

parasitic relationships with social insects such as ants. Butterflies are important economically as

agents of pollination. In addition, a f ew species are pests, because they can damage domestic crops

and trees in their larval stage.

Culturally, butterflies are a popular motif in the visual and literary arts.

The four-stage lifecycle-

Unlike many insects, butterflies do not e ¤ perience a nymph period, but instead go through a pupa

stage which lies between the larva and the adult stage (the imago). Butterflies are termed as

holometabolous insects, and go through complete metamorphosis.

Egg

Larva, known as a caterpillar

Pupa (chrysalis)

Adult butterfly (imago)

It is a popular belief that butterflies have very short lif e spans. However, butterflies in their adult

stage can live from a week to nearly a year depending on the species. Many species have long larval

lif e stages while others can remain dormant in their pupa or egg stages and thereby survive

winters.

Butterflies may have one or more broods per year. The number of generations per year varies from

temperate to tropical regions with tropical regions showing a trend towards multivoltinism.

Egg

Egg of Ariadne merione

Butterfly eggs consist of a hard-ridged outer layer of shell, called the

chorion. This is lined with a thin coating of wax which prevents the

egg from drying out before the larva has had time to fully develop.

Each egg contains a number of tiny funnel-shaped openings at one

end, called micropyles; the purpose of these holes is to allow sperm

to enter and f ertilize the egg. Butterfly and moth eggs vary greatly in

size between species, but they are all either spherical or ovate.



Butterfly eggs are fixed to a leaf with special glue which hardens rapidly. As it hardens it contracts,

deforming the shape of the egg. This glue is easily seen surrounding the base of every egg forming a

meniscus. The nature of the glue is unknown and isa suitable sub ject for research. The same glue is

produced by a pupa to secure the setae of the cremaster. This glue is so hard that the silk pad, to

which the setae are glued, cannot be separated.

Eggs are usually laid on plants. Each species of butterfly has its own host plant range and while

some species of butterfly are restricted to just one species of plant, others use a range of plant

species, often including members of a common family.

Caterpillars

Some larvae, especially those of the Lycaenidae, form mutual associations with ants. They

communicate with the ants using vibrations that are transmitted through the substrate as well as

using chemical signals. The ants provide some degree of protection to these larvae and they in turn

gather honeydew secretions.

Some caterpillars have the ability to inflate parts of their head to appear snake-like. Many have

false eye-spots to enhance this eff ect. Some caterpillars have special structures called osmeteria

which are everted to produce smelly chemicals. These are used in def ense.

Host plants often have toxic substances in them and caterpillars are able to sequester these

substances and retain them into the adult stage. This helps making them unpalatable to birds and

other predators. Such unpalatibility is advertised using bright red, orange, black or white warning

colours. The toxic chemicals in plants are often evolved specifically to prevent them from being

eaten by insects. Insects in turn develop countermeasures or make use of these toxins for their own

survival. This "arms race" has led to the co evolution of insects and their host plants.

Pupa

Caterpillars of Junonia coenia.

Butterfly larvae, or caterpillars, consume plant leaves and spend practically all

of their time in search of food. Although most caterpillars are herbivorous, a

f ew species such as Spalgis epius and Liphyra brassolis are entomophagous

(insect eating).

Chrysalis of Gulf Fritillary

When the larva is fully grown, hormones such as prothoracicotropic hormone

(PTTH) are produced. At this point the larva stops f eeding and begins

"wandering" in the quest of a suitable pupation site, often the underside of a

leaf.

The larva transforms into a pupa (or chrysalis) by anchoring itself to a substrate

and moulting for the last time. The chrysalis is usually incapable of movement,

although some species can rapidly move the abdominal segments or produce

sounds to scare potential predators.



The pupa transformation into a butterfly through metamorphosis has held great appeal to

mankind. To transform from the miniature wings visible on the outside of the pupa into large

structures usable for flight, the pupa wings undergo rapid mitosis and absorb a great deal of

nutrients. If one wing is surgically removed early on, the other three will grow to a larger size. In the

pupa, the wing forms a structure that becomes compressed from top to bottom and pleated from

proximal to distal ends as it grows, so that it can rapidly be unfolded to its full adult size. Several

boundaries seen in the adult color pattern are marked by changes in the expression of particular

transcription factors in the early pupa.

Adult or imago

The adult, sexually mature, stage of the insect is known as the imago. As Lepidoptera, butterflies

have four wings that are covered with tiny scales. The fore and hindwings are not hooked together,

permitting a more graceful flight. An adult butterfly has six legs, but in the nymphalids, the first pair

is reduced. After it emerges from its pupa stage, a butterfly cannot fly until the wings are unfolded.

A newly-emerged butterfly needs to spend some time inflating its wings with blood and lettingthem dry, during which time it is extremely vulnerable topredators. Some butterflies¥ wings may

take up to three hours to dry while others take about one hour. Most butterflies and moths will

excrete excess dye after hatching. This fluid may be white, red, orange, or in rare cases, blue.

External morphology

Adult butterflies have four wings ¦ a forewing and hind wing on both the left and the right side of

the body. The body is divided into three segments ¦ the head, thorax, and the abdomen. They have

two antennae, two compound eyes, and a proboscis.

Scales

Butterflies are characterized by their scale-covered wings. The coloration of butterfly wings is

created by minute scales. These scales are pigmented with melanin that give them blacks and

browns, but blues, greens, reds and iridescence are usually created not by pigments but the

microstructure of the scales. This structural coloration is the result of coherent scattering of light by

the photonic crystal nature of the scales. The scales cling somewhat loosely to the wing and come

off easily without harming the butterfly.

Scales on the wing give

the colours

Closeup of the scales of the

Inachisio.

A Monarch butterfly with the scales

rubbed off a section of the wing.



Pol§ ̈

o©

phis̈

Many adult butterflies exhibit polymorphism, showing differences in appearance. These variations

include geographic variants and seasonal forms. In addition many species have females in multiple

forms, often with mimetic forms. Sexual dimorphism in coloration and appearance is widespread in

butterflies.

Genetic abnormalities such as gynandromorphy also occur from time to time. In addition many

butterflies are infected by Wolbachia and infection by the bacteria can lead to the conversion of

males into females or the selective killing of males in the egg stage.

Mi ̈ i ©

§

Batesian and Mullerian mimicry in butterflies is common. Batesian mimics imitate other species to

enjoy the protection of an attribute they do not share, aposematism in this case. The Common

Mormon of India has female morphs which imitate the unpalatable red-bodied swallowtails, the

Common Rose and the Crimson Rose. Mullerian mimicry occurs when aposematic species evolve toresemble each other, presumably to reduce predator sampling rates.

Wing markings called eyespots are present in some species; these may have an automimicry role

for some species. In others, the function may be intraspecies communication, such as mate

attraction. In several cases, however, the function of butterfly eyespots is not clear, and may be an

evolutionary anomaly related to the relative elasticity of the genes that encode the spots.

Seasonal pol § phenis ̈

Many of the tropical butterflies have distinctive seasonal forms. This phenomenon is termed

seasonal polyphenism and the seasonal forms of the butterflies are called the dry-season and wet-season forms. How the season affects the genetic expression of patterns is still a subject of

research. Experimental modification by ecdysone hormone treatment has demonstrated that it is

possible to control the continuum of expression of variation between the wet and dry-season

forms. The dry-season forms are usually more cryptic and it has been suggested that the protection

offered may be an adaptation. Some also show greater dark colours in the wet-season form which

may have thermoregulatory advantages by increasing ability to absorb solar radiation.

Habits

Butterflies feed primarily on nectar from flowers. Some also derive nourishment from pollen, tree

sap, rotting fruit, dung, and dissolved minerals in wet sand or dirt. Butterflies are important as

pollinators for some species of plants although in general they do not carry as much pollen load as

the Hymenoptera. They are however capable of moving pollen over greater distances. Within the

Lepidoptera, the Hawkmoths and the Noctuidae are dominant as pollinators.



As adults, butterflies consume only li

uids and these are sucked by means of their proboscis. They

feed on nectar from flowers and also sip water from damp patches. This they do for water, for

energy from sugars in nectar and for sodium and other minerals which are vital for their

reproduction. Several species of butterflies need more sodium than provided by nectar. They are

attracted to sodium in salt and they sometimes land on people, attracted by human sweat. Besides

damp patches, some butterflies also visit dung, rotting fruit or carcasses to obtain minerals and

nutrients. In many species, this Mud-puddling behaviour is restricted to the males and studies have

suggested that the nutrients collected are provided as a nuptial gift along with the spermatophore

during mating.

Butterflies sense the air for scents, wind and nectar using their antennae. The antennae come in

various shapes and colours. The hesperids have a pointed angle or hook to the antennae, while

most other families show knobbed antennae. The antennae are richly covered with sensillae. A

butterfly's sense of taste is coordinated by chemoreceptors on the tarsi, which work only on

contact, and are used to determine whether an egg-laying insect's offspring will be able to feed on

a leaf before eggs are laid on it. Many butterflies use chemical signals, pheromones, and specialized

scent scales (androconia) and other structures (coremata or 'Hair pencils' in the Danaidae) are

developed in some species.

Vision is well developed in butterflies and most species are sensitive to the ultraviolet spectrum.

Many species show sexual dimorphism in the patterns of UV reflective patches. Color vision may be

widespread but has been d emonstrated in only a few species.

Some butterflies have organs of hearing and some species are also known to make stridulatory and

clicking sounds.

Many butterflies, such as the Monarch butterfly, are migratory and capable of long distance flights.

They migrate during the day and use the sun to orient themselves. They also perceive polarized

light and use it for orientation when the sun is hidden.

Many species of butterfly maintain territories and actively chase other species or individuals that

may stray into them. Some species will bask or perch on chosen perches. The flight styles of

butterflies are often characteristic and some species have courtship flight displays. Basking is an

activity which is more common in the cooler hours of the morning. Many species will orient

themselves to gather heat from the sun. Some species have evolved dark wingbases to help in

gathering more heat and this is especially evident in alpine forms.

Fli

ht

Like many other members of the insect world, the lift generated by butterflies is more than what

can be accounted for by steady-state, non-transitory aerodynamics. Studies using Vanessa atalanta

in a windtunnel show that they use a wide variety of aerodynamic mechanisms to generate force.

These include wake capture, vortices at the wing edge, rotational mechanisms and Weis-Fogh 'clap-

and-fling' mechanisms. The butterflies were also able to change from one mode to another rapidly.



Mi

ation

Many butterflies migrate over long distances. Particularly famous migrations being those of the

Monarch butterfly from Mexico to North America, a distance of about 4,000 to 4,800 kilometres

(2500-3000 miles). Other well known migratory species include the Painted Lady and several of the

Danaine butterflies. Spectacular and large scale migrations associated with the Monsoons are seenin peninsular India. Migrations have been studied in more recent times using wing tags and also

using stable hydrogen isotopes.

Butterflies have been shown to navigate using time compensated sun compasses. They can see

polarized light and therefore orient even in cloudy conditions. The polarized light in the region close

to the ultraviolet spectrum is suggested to be particularly important.

It is suggested that most migratory butterflies are those that belong to semi-arid areas where

breeding seasons are short. The life-histories of their host plants also influence the strategies of the

butterflies.

Def ense

The wings of a butterfly become increasingly damaged as it ages, and do not repair. Butterflies are

threatened in their early stages by parasitoids and in all stages by predators, diseases and

environmental factors. They protect themselves by a variety of means.

Chemical defenses are widespread and are mostly based on chemicals of plant origin. In many cases

the plants themselves evolved these toxic substances as protection against herbivores. Butterflies

have evolved mechanisms to se uester these plant toxins and use them instead in their own

defense. These defense mechanisms are effective only if they are also well advertised and this has

led to the evolution of bright colours in unpalatable butterflies. This signal may be mimicked by

other butterflies. These mimetic forms are usually restricted to the females.

Eyespots on the hind wing of this butterfly are part of the animal's defense

Cryptic coloration is found in many butterflies. Some like the oak leaf butterfly are remarkable

imitations of leaves. As caterpillars, many defend themselves by freezing and appearing like sticks

or branches. Some papilionid caterpillars resemble bird dropping in their early instars. Some

caterpillars have hairs and bristly structures that provide protection while others are gregarious and

form dense aggregations. Some species also form associations with ants and gain their protection.

Behavioural defenses include perching and wing positions to avoid being conspicuous .

Eyespots and tails are found in many lycaenid butterflies and these divert the attention of

predators from the more vital head region. An alternative theory is that these cause ambush

predators such as spiders to approach from the wrong end and allow for ear ly visual detection.

A butterfly's hind wings are thought to allow the butterfly to take, swift, tight turns to evade

predators.



Symbolism

According to the Butterflies chapter in Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, by

Lafcadio Hearn, a butterfly is seen as the personification of a person's soul; whether they be living,

dying, or already dead. One Japanese superstition says that if a butterfly enters your guestroom

and perches behind the bamboo screen, the person whom you most love is coming to see you.However, large numbers of butterflies are viewed as bad omens. When Taira no Masakado was

secretly preparing for his famous revolt, there appeared in Kyoto so vast a swarm of butterflies that

the people were frightened -thinking the apparition to be a portent of coming evil.

The Ancient Greek word for "butterfly" is (psch), which primarily means "soul", "mind".

According to Mircea Eliade's Encyclopedia of Religion, some of the Nagas of Manipur trace their

ancestry from a butterfly.

In Chinese culture two butterflies flying together are a symbol of love. Also a famous Chinese folk

story called Butterfly Lovers. The Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi once had a dream of being a butterflyflying without care about humanity, however when he woke up and realized it was just a dream, he

thought to himself "Was I before a man who dreamt about being a butterfly, or am I now a

butterfly who dreams about being a man?

In some old cultures, butterflies also symbolize rebirth into a new life after being insi de a cocoon

for a period of time.

Jose Rizal delivered a speech in 1884 in a ban

uet and mentioned "the Oriental chrysalis ... is about

to leave its cocoon" comparing the emergence of a "new Philippines" with that of butterfly

metamorphosis. He has also often used the butterfly imagery in his poems and other writings to

express the Spanish Colonial Filipinos' longing for liberty. Much later, in a letter to Ferdinand

Blumentritt, Rizal compared his life in exile to a weary butterfly with sun -burnt wings.

Technolo

ical inspi ation

Researches on the wing structure of Palawan Birdwing butterflies led to new wide wingspan kite

and aircraft designs.

Studies on the reflection and scattering of light by the scales on wings of swallowtail butterflies led

to the innovation of more efficient light-emitting diodes.

The structural coloration of butterflies is inspiring nanotechnology research to produce paints that

do not use toxic pigments and in the development of new display technologies. Furthermore, the

discoloration and health of butterflies in butterfly farms, is now being studied for use as indicators

of air uality in several cities.



Butterfly conservation

Butterflies are the most attractive than most other insects. They have been referred to as flagships

and honorary birds. They are valuable pollinators when they move from plant to plant gathering

nectar. Butterflies are one of the important food chain components of the birds, reptiles, spiders

and predatory insects . They are also good indicators of environmental

uality as they are sensitiveto the changes in the environment. They are good candidate materials for the study of genetics,

insect-plant interactions and co-evolution.

Threats to butterflies

Threat to butterflies largely arises from the human exploitation of forestry, agriculture and other

resources. These threats include succession overgrowing of fields, pastures and grasslands,

agricultural practices , urbanization , over grazing, change in climate , air pollution , ditching and

draining of wet forests , swamps and bogs in the forest landscape , forest plantation practices such

as cutting of broad leaved forests and plantations of conifers , monoculture of tea , coffee and

other commercial crops, over collection, cutting of bushes and trees along edges of fields and

grasslands , opening forests for non- forest activities such as mining , road laying and industrial

activities , and clearing large forest areas for construction of dams . All these activities have put

enormous pressure on the wild life including butterflies.

Conservation

The great richness of the butterflys species in the tropics, together with extensive and accelerating

loss of tropical habitat, such as rain forest warrants taking up of butterfly conservation immediately

in our country.

Butterfly habitat protection should be giving the first priority in any conservation programmed.

Attempts should be made to initiate conservation of butterflies in the national parks and

sanctuaries. Research effort should be stepped up to gather basic information on the biology and

ecology of all butterflies in any area as these are lacking in most cases. It will provide a sound basis

for effective management programmes.

Butterfly collection should be regulated. While doing so, a distinction should be made between

personal and commercial collecting. Suitable criteria should be evolving to know whether collecting

causes any change to butterfly populations as butterflies vary widely in their susceptibility to

collecting. Not all butterflies are at risk uniformly due to collection. Weak flying, conspicuous,

sedentary species are much more at risk than active, inconspicuous, agile ones. So tolerant, but not

different, attitudes towards collecting should be fostered and emphasis should be given to

photography, butterfly watching, scientific recording and other non -destructive activities. Dealers

should be licensed to trade only in species that are common and not threatened. The endangered

/rare species of butterflies can be suitably cultured and released back into the environment

through butterfly farming and butterfly ranching .These are also useful for educating the public,

research activities and commercial purposes.



Conservation butterflies can be made more effective by involving all in the conservation movement.

Conservationists should attempt to use the prestige of national entomological societies more

effectively. These societies have large memberships with a wide range of interest and expertise.

Help may also be sought from the international organization like the Lepidoptera Specialist group of

the world Conservation unions (IUCN) special survival commission. This group is mainly concerned

with conservation in the tropics. National insects conservation bodies may also be established in

our country. Non- government bodies such as the (IUCN) the world wide fund for the nature

(WWF), the Bombay natural history society, Ornithological societies and nature clubs also be

involved.

Butterfly conservation efforts such as teethed with suitable legislation are only one aspect of

conservation but it has achieved greater importance in several countries. The aim of legislation

should be to conserve the butterflies while placing the mini mum of necessary restrictions on study

and enjoyment. Greater attention should be given to endangered species rather than to protected

one as the former are more at risk. Greater use could also be made of the Conservation on

Wetlands of International Imp ortance especially as wild fowl habitat

A special effort should be put in to using the Ramsar Convention for butterfly conservation in our

country. Strict and effective implementation of the Conservation on International Trade in

Endangered species of wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will help in checking the illegal butterfly trade.

The wildlife protection Act 1972 of India has enough provisions for conservation of natural

resources including butterflies. Under the Act, nearly 120 species and sub species of butterflies

and moths are in schedule 1 and nearly 292 species and sub -species are in the Schedule 2. Among

Indian butterflies, the kiser-1-Hind, Teinopalpus imperialis found in the north east from Sikkim

eastwards is the rarest and is listed in the Red Data Book: Threatned Swallotail Butterflies of the

World. The Bhutan Glory Bhutanitis Lidderdalei is also listed in the Red Data Book. Red data booksfor Indian butterflies may be prepared as resource materials.

Butterfly conservation depends not just on com mited conservationists, scientists and teachers put

on an informed and interested public. Butterflies even though forming a conspicuous part of

nature, have virtually no practical use to man unlike other plants and animals. Despite the stiking

appearance, their diversity of shape and color and their co-existance with human habitats, the

world of butterflies is not classified linguistically. It is rare for a culture to have more than one word

to describe all the variation species of Lepidoptera. It describes only the flight of butterflies

/Lepidoptera. People also are aware of the metamorphosis of butterflies as many people in several

countries associate butterflies with the souls of the dead, new plant growth, the heat of fire, thelight of the sun and relevant sacrificial rites. So our interest in the magical world of butterflies and

moths does not focus upon their diversity of form and color.

So efforts should be made to change the peoples perception of butterfly from a cultural object to

the common resource through education.



Butterfly Conservatory, Vienna

Project: Butterfly Conservatory, Vienna.

Size: 128 meters long

Built: 1822, renovated in 1901

Architect: Friedrich Ohman

y Hofburg palace is located in the middle of Vienna .

y In 1822 a 128 meter long greenhouse was erected, in the Hofburg palace gardens,

incorporating part of the old city wall.

y In 1901 the architect Friedrich Ohman was commissioned to build the splendid Jugendstil

palmhouse which stands on the site today, which replaced the original structure.

y The 2050 s

m. Building houses plants used to decorate official functions, one of Viennas

most popular restaurants and the tropical butterfly house

Following the restoration of the Hofburg's elegant glass greenhouses, an indoor/outdoor restaurant

was established along with an ex uisite butterfly house with free -flying butterflies of many species

flitting amongst flowers and greenery.

The glass greenhouses sit overlooking the English gardens of the Hofburg.

The glass greenhouses are filled with e uipment like screening installations, heating, cooling, and

lighting and may be automatically controlled by a computer.



The Butterfly House, St. Louis.

y The Butterfly House, a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.

y The Butterfly Conservatory Park is an indoor living environment which has been carefully

designed for the propagation and development of some of natures most colorful livingcreations.

y Size: 8,000 s ! .ft conservatory, 8,500 s ! .ft education center

Status: Completed 1998

y To plan for the integration of the Butterfly House into Faust Park, Christener developed a

park Master Plan. The plan allows for the creative continuation of the present park facilities,

including the 1904 World's Fair carousel.

y The orientation of the building is to the south to maximize solar collection through the

laminated insulating glass panels that clad the structure.

y The atrium area is maintained at a temperature of approximately 80 degrees, considered

ideal for meeting the warmth re"

uirements of the butterflies

y A distinctive feature reminiscent of Victorian greenhouses, the curved roof minimizes thechance of butterflies (which cannot fly backwards) getting caught in corners.

y Covering the interior glass, a layer of clear, nylon mesh keeps the butterflies' delicate wings

away from the humid surface of the enclosing glass.



Tropical flowering plants provide essential elements of suitable habitats for the butterflies, which

are on display year-round.

The building systems create the warm, high-humidity environment re# uired by the butterflies and

tropical plants. Placed atop the center vault, a mechanically controlled ridge vent system releases

hot air during the summer.

Structural elements above the display area and gift shop echo the butterfly wing shapes of the

conservatory. Nearby display areas include both permanent and temporary displays for educational

purposes.

An outdoor butterfly garden (added in a later phase) expands opportunities for special events.

The curvilinear forms of the roof/ dome minimizes the chance of butterflies (which cannot

fly backwards) getting caught in corners.

The orientation of the building is to the south to maximize solar collection through the

laminated insulating glass panels that clad the structure.

The atrium area is maintained at a temperature of approximately 80 degrees, considered

ideal for meeting the warmth re$ uirements of the butterflies

Covering the interior glass, a layer of clear, nylon mesh keeps the butterflies' delicate wing s

away from the humid surface of the enclosing glass.

The glass greenhouses are filled with e% uipment like screening installations, heating,

cooling, and lighting and may be automatically controlled by a computer. Placed atop the

center vault, a mechanically controlled ridge vent system releases hot air during the

summer.



Butterfly World Florida

Both simple and elegant, the dome will be set into the existing slope of the site, echoing the

contours of the landscape. With an overall height of 17meters and a 100 meters diameter, the

largely transparent structure will emerge from the ground, resembling a giant bubble swelling up

through the flower-studded hillside.

The shell-like carapace will occupy a vast 7,850 square metres and will comprise translucent foil

pillows in a lightweight aluminum framed structure. The system is designed to minimize materials

and maintenance and maximize translucence, allowing the greatest transmission of light. This is

now a tried and tested formula for such exhibitions, and has similarities to the system successfully

employed by the Eden Pro ject.



The tropical dome is designed to represent a perfect mix of function and beauty and we hope it will

become an iconic landmark for conservation.

BUTTERFLY WORLD is designed to be great fun, very exciting and an inspiring place for the payingpublic to visit especially children. But beneath its compelling, entertaining style lies a set of deeply

serious aims and objectives.



We believe that butterfly world will become the worlds leading dedicated butterfly centre: a focus

for conservation issues, for cutting-edge scientific research and above all a valuable educational

experience for schools, colleges, community groups and families.

Whilst doing so, it will have the added benefits of:

being financially self-sustaining, supporting itself through ticket sales an d special events, and thus

making no demands on Britains public and charitable funding sources

generating substantial financial surpluses every year which will be deployed in numerous ways,

and to numerous organizations, that address allied aims and obj ectives.

providing a regenerating, life-enhancing resource to local community groups of all kinds by

offering free use of facilities to a network of community partners.

Butterfly World Project Limited heartily welcomes support, suggestions and donat ions - both

financial and in kind - each one of which will help us bring to fruition this enriching and valuable

project.

Sir David Attenborough is leading a support group for the project, which will be 300ft wide and be

home to 10,000 tropical butterfl ies. It has been designed by Chrysalis Architects, an architecture

and design practice, which has been uni& uely formed to meet the re& uirements of the Butterfly

World project.

The scheme, which will be built just off the M25 near St Albans, will open in st ages between June

1009 and March 2011. So far J Breheny Contractors Ltd and HS Jackson & Son (Fencing) Ltd have

provided initial enabling work

The house will take the form of a walk-through dome, set to attract one million visitors a year.

Almost half of these are estimated to be children.

The project was initiated as an attempt to counter the decline of butterfly species. Botanist David

Bellamy said: Every kid in the world has butterflies living near them, and from this starting point

we make kids think about whats happening on a world scale.

butterfly park (jan-feb) 2009-2010

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