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Celebrating 20 years in 2021

In Conservatory, News by dfiik

For 20 years Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory has fulfilled its mission to educate visitors about  butterflies and to foster a better appreciation for the important role that butterflies and other insects play in nature. Thanks to our dedicated team of professionals, immersive exhibits, special events, curriculum-based educational programming, and endangered species conservation work, we continue to align with this mission and ...
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New Additions to our Arthropod Family

In Conservatory, News by dfiik

It’s an exciting time at The Conservatory. The sun has been shining, the skies are clear and blue but the skies are not the only blue we’ve been seeing!  In addition to our renewed Health and Safety Commitments which have guided our reopening, we have also welcomed a variety of new species to our family, including some Blue Poison Dart ...

Help! It’s February and there’s a butterfly in my house!

In News by dfiik

This time of year we get frantic calls from the public: "There's a butterfly in my house! How did it get here?! What do I do with it?!" Some species of butterfly overwinter in the chrysalis stage, and often the chrysalis has somehow made its way inside - perhaps on a plant that's been brought in for the winter or ...
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A Conservatory Love Story

In Weddings and Events by dfiik

With Valentine’s Day approaching we’re feeling extra mushy and couldn’t help but share this cute story. For Emily, it was just another Friday afternoon and just a normal visit to the Butterfly Conservatory. She and Dylan arrived with their sweet little girl just before closing and with the exception of one other person, they were all alone in the greenhouse. …

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What’s the buzz? How Insects Communicate

In News by dfiik

Because of their unique anatomies, insects communicate in very different ways than humans. In contrast to humans,  insects rarely rely on sight to communicate. Insects are particularly reliant on smell and taste and are attuned to the fine chemical differences in their environment. Also, they often sense sounds and vibrations that we humans cannot. Why do insects need to communicate, ...
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4 Reasons to Visit the Conservatory in Wintertime

In News by dfiik

1. Come warm up here! The weather outside is frightful, and our entire facility is indoors! The Conservatory temperature ranges from 24°C (75°F) to 28 ºC (82°F) with high humidity. We have the perfect mini tropical getaway - make sure you dress in layers. 2. Meet an Insect  Visit our insect galleries to see a variety of amazing insects and ...
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Cheecho Turns 11!

In Conservatory by dfiik

If you’ve been to the Conservatory, you’ve likely seen our Green-cheeked Conure, Cheecho. Cheecho has called the Conservatory home for close to a decade and he’s celebrating his 11th birthday this weekend! Green-cheeked Conures are small parrots known for their outgoing personalities. Cheecho is always curious, spunky, (and sometimes mischievous!) and because he loves social interaction, our staff spend time ...
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Monarchs and Milkweed

In Conservatory by dfiik

The Ontario Monarchs are off! They've felt the environmental cues - colder weather, shorter days, and fewer milkweed plants - and they've packed their bags and headed south. They have a two-month, 4000+ kilometer journey ahead of them before they arrive in the Sierra Madre Mountain range in Central Mexico where they will spend the winter. After their long hibernation, ...
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Monarch Tagging Weekend

In News by dfiik

Summer is coming to a close, and that means that the Monarch butterflies are beginning their 5000 km journey south to overwinter in Mexico. Most adult Monarch butterflies that you see in the summer only live 2-5 weeks, but the migratory generation (those that emerge from their chrysalides in late August and early September) lives an exceptional 6-8 months. A ...