Behind the Scenes at Butterflies LIVE! — The Emergence Room
by Annie Raup, Assistant Butterfly Curator, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
A question that the Butterflies LIVE! staff gets asked a lot is, “Where do the butterflies come from?” That’s a great question, since most of the butterflies in the exhibit are tropical. Here’s the answer….
![Emergence Room Butterflies LIVE](https://www.lewisginter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/P5290298-300x225.jpg)
We purchase butterflies from brokers who obtain their insects from various sources, including butterfly farms.
![Emergence Room Butterflies LIVE](https://www.lewisginter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/P6260577-225x300.jpg)
To prepare the butterflies for emergence, we attach the rear of the chrysalis, called the cremaster, to a small sheet of paper, which is then glued to the lid of a box.
![Emergence Room Butterflies LIVE](https://www.lewisginter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/P52002341.jpg)
You can see the wings of a Great Orange Tip (Hebomoia glaucippe) inside its chrysalis. It will be emerging soon!
But you better visit us soon — Butterflies LIVE! closes in 2 weeks!