The zoo, with assistance from the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, is preparing a 3,000 square foot shade-cloth butterfly house. There are 151 types of butterflies native to Mississippi. The 25 to 30 kinds in the exhibit were chosen because they are commonly found in Mississippi gardens. Butterflies from a meadow outside the house will be added inside the house in addition to the stocked butterflies. Plants depend on the butterflies for pollination so this is a beneficial environment for both.
Butterflies live anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
The house will be stocked each week with chrysalises and young butterflies, but organizers hope the butterflies will reproduce on the host plants used in the exhibit. Designers expect many school children to visit the butterfly house, and exhibits will give children a chance to see the different stages of metamorphosis they are learning about in school. The house is 12 feet tall and is covered with an insect netting to keep the butterflies in and wasps out. Visitors must go through two doors to get inside the house and there are fans placed above the doors to blow the butterflies back. Rushing custom developed a fog system for the house designed to keep butterflies and people cool.