To watch a butterfly emerge from its cocoon is a magical experience, but sometimes nature needs a little nudge.
Today, a new batch of butterflies arrived in envelopes and were released into their new home at the Native Butterflies of Texas Exhibit at the Heard Museum in Mckinney, which opens this week.
"People think of them as being useless things that just fly around and look pretty, but they perform a vital function in that they pollinate a lot of the plants," says Roger Sanderson, head of the exhibit. "In recent years, we've seen so much growth and development. It means less wildlife for insects like butterflies to flourish. So right now it's more important than ever to focus on conservation and education."
Butterflies suck nectar from flowers using their proboscis, or tongue, and pollinate plants when they flutter from bud to bud. "People don't realize that the huge percentage of what we eat as produce are plants that need to be pollinated, so we can get food, he says.
This exhibit shows them in their natural habitat with ample flowers that atrract many different species and offers them a safe place to mate, grow, and flourish.
Catherine Nihem's 4-year old twins are gettting a first hand glimpse into the butterfly life. She says, " they learn more by seeing it in action than just having a teacher talk about it."
Here's more on The Heard Museum.
Today, a new batch of butterflies arrived in envelopes and were released into their new home at the Native Butterflies of Texas Exhibit at the Heard Museum in Mckinney, which opens this week.
"People think of them as being useless things that just fly around and look pretty, but they perform a vital function in that they pollinate a lot of the plants," says Roger Sanderson, head of the exhibit. "In recent years, we've seen so much growth and development. It means less wildlife for insects like butterflies to flourish. So right now it's more important than ever to focus on conservation and education."
Butterflies suck nectar from flowers using their proboscis, or tongue, and pollinate plants when they flutter from bud to bud. "People don't realize that the huge percentage of what we eat as produce are plants that need to be pollinated, so we can get food, he says.
This exhibit shows them in their natural habitat with ample flowers that atrract many different species and offers them a safe place to mate, grow, and flourish.
Catherine Nihem's 4-year old twins are gettting a first hand glimpse into the butterfly life. She says, " they learn more by seeing it in action than just having a teacher talk about it."
Here's more on The Heard Museum.
