MOMBASA BUTTERFLY HOUSE

MOMBASA BUTTERFLY HOUSE

The Butterfly House

 

Complementing the Kipepeo Butterfly Project situated 80 Kilometers from Mombasa on Malindi Road, Mombasa butterfly House is a spellbinding Live Butterfly Exhibit showcasing the biodiversity of the coastal region. 

The Evergreen Butterfly Cage

 

Foddplants

The exhibit, a collaboration between the National Museums of Kenya and the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), houses 500 to 600 lovely butterflies. 

The population is replenished after every two weeks which is also the lifespan of a butterfly.

Butterfly Pupae

Green Butterfly Caterpillar

Butterflies have evolved survival strategies to defend themselves against attacks by insectivorous birds. 

Cryptic coloration, mimicry and polymorphism are some of the ways they avoid capture by their predators. Instead of eating, butterflies get their nourishment from drinking. 

One can see them feeding on the ground or wet areas, on leaves and flowering plants. They prefer rotten fruits to fresh fruits.

Butterfly feeding! Do not disturb!

The butterfly flight cage is inhabited by several butterfly species which have distinct wings, antennae and colours. 

They include, Charaxes brutus known as White Barred Emperor, Euphaedra nephron (God Banded Forester), Papilio dardanus (Flying Handkerchief), Salamis parphassus (Forest Mother of Pearl)  and Hypolimnas antervorta (Tanzanian Diadem) just but to mention a few.

Butterflies are cold-blooded. They cannot fly if their body temperature is less than 30 degrees Celsius. 

 

It is for this amongst other reasons that the flight cage has been designed in a special manner to provide a proper environment for the existence of butterflies.

 Aimed at improving the livelihoods of local communities and promoting forest conservation, Mombasa Butterfly house gets its supply of butterflies from farmers abutting key forest areas. 

 The exhibit provides a sustainable local market for farmers whose products were initially exported to the European market.

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

This has been a major boost for the income-earning capacities of a rising number of farmers who breed pupae before selling them. A pupa goes for about sh25-70 in consideration to several factors.

Apart from promoting butterfly farming, Mombasa Butterfly House sensitizes farmers on mangrove tree planting, mushroom growing and beekeeping.

A Morpho Butterfly

The serene surroundings supporting the beautiful butterflies also provides unagitated environment with an earthy garden perfect for photo shoots, picnics, seminars, receptions and research at reasonable charges.

The resplendent view of the Indian Ocean from the amphitheatric-set garden is one that the butterfly house can comfortably boast of. I wouldn’t think twice about visiting the delightful exhibit over and over.

A Fantastic Photoshoot Experience

Special gratitude to Exhibit Curator and Research Scientist Maria Fungomeli. For more information, visit www.museums.or.ke or send an email to fmfungomeli@museums.or.ke or fungomaria@yahoo.com.