In some cases, it depends on the season in which they emerge. If they first take flight in the spring, they can attend to breeding immediately and will die quickly. A late bloomer, however, may have to find a tree in which to lay dormant for the winter, and then will finish life the next year in the spring. Since the exhibits present optimal conditions for the butterflies, many of them will have short lives. Therefore, curators must constantly purchase new chrysalides, which can cost three to five dollars apiece.
Many butterflies can see ultraviolet in addition to other colors of the spectrum.
Their host flowers have ultraviolet markings that can be compared to airport landing lights. The ultraviolet markings visually guide the butterfly to the nectar in conjunction with the signposts of aroma, form, and visible spectrum colors. If you wanted to attract the butterflies when you entered an exhibit, you could paint yourself in ultraviolet. However, we recommend that you simply wear one of the other colors that butterflies are commonly drawn to, such as pink, red, purple, or yellow. Exhibits typically include detailed information on butterflies, including displays of all the stages of a butterfly's life.