The Amazing Cockrell Butterfly Center, 7/27/2018

The Houston Museum of Natural Science was so fantastic, that we returned to see the Cockrell Butterfly Center (located next to the natural science museum) a few days later. Parking in one of the free, three-hour, Hermann Park lots, we walked through this lovely part of the park to get to the butterfly center. The statue is of historic local hero, Sam Houston. 

A three-story glass structure of the Rainforest Conservatory can be seen from the entrance of the Cockrell Butterfly Center. 

We entered through the Brown Hall of Entomology that has interesting interactive activities (the kids were loving it), huge insect models, living insects, and mounted specimens. 

Below are four types of wasp nests and hissing cockroaches. 

A giant rhinoceros beetle, tiger beetles, and lots of other beetles of various sizes are on display.

These glass panels display butterflies in one and moths in the other. Many of these can be seen in the Rainforest Conservatory.

At the end of the hall is the Chrysalis Corner. This is where the butterflies emerge and are subsequently set free in the Rainforest Conservatory. If you have the patience, you can watch it happen!

A 50’ waterfall and exotic plants in the Rainforest Conservatory provide the perfect environment for hundreds (thousands?) of butterflies, moths, and exotic insects. 

I have never seen so many butterflies in one space in my life. This place is incredible! So many were flying about that it took us some time to take it all in. I started snapping photos and here are some of them.

Tawny Owl

Rice Paper Tiger Glasswing

Variegated Fritillary

Red Postman butterflies

Lacewing and Red Postman (I think)

Blue Morph

Yellow Tiger Long Wing and Blue Morph

Zebra Longwing and Fritillary

This butterfly really enjoyed this visitor’s colorful backpack. And all of the butterflies seemed to love the red balls hanging in various locations throughout the Conservatory

A conservatory volunteer was allowing visitors to hold this Australian walking stick, What an interesting insect it is!

We thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Tickets are $9/adult, $8/senior and is in addition to the Museum admission tickets. There was so much to see in the Museum, that we visited the Butterfly Center on a different day (and were glad we did). Highly recommended!

For additional information about hours of operation and special programs, go to www.hmns.org/cockrell-butterfly-center.