ButterflyFest features field trips, behind-the-scenes tours

September 21, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History is offering special field trips and behind-the-scenes tours for butterfly enthusiasts during ButterflyFest on Oct. 13-14. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for these paid activities and must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5.

Biodiversity butterfly scientist and field guide author Jaret Daniels from the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera will lead two separate, half-day field trips to San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park and Morningside Nature Center on Friday, Oct. 12. Guests will experience an array of fall wildflowers and butterflies. During the special event, participants in the ButterflyFest tours will be among the few to see places normally not open to the public.

Guests will see portions of the vast collection of rare butterflies and moths from around the world, some of which have yet to be studied and named. The tour ends in the Butterfly Rainforest where McGuire Center Director Thomas Emmel will answer participants’ questions.

The Florida Museum of Natural History is Florida’s state natural history museum, dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Butterfly Rainforest admission is $8.50 for adults ($7.50 Fla. residents) and $4.50 for children ages 3-12.

For more information or to register for these field trips and tours, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflyfest or call 352-846-2000, ext. 275.