Visit the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory this summer season!
Open 7 days a week 10 am till 5 pm from now until September 2nd, 2024
Enjoy the wonderful world of butterflies and other incredible insects. This free-flying butterfly conservatory is a beautiful site you and your family won’t want to miss!
What is a butterfly?
Unlike many other insects, butterflies are widely embraced and celebrated for their beauty and charisma. In addition to their cultural significance and aesthetic charm, they make a very valuable contribution to ecosystems worldwide and are important study animals for ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. All butterflies and moths are insects (Class: Insecta). Insects are the most abundant and diverse group of animals, making up over 58% of the world’s known biodiversity. They can be found living on land, in the air, and underwater – thriving almost everywhere except for the open ocean. Insects are an important part of our ecosystems, and we still have much to learn about them! Butterflies and moths belong to the insect Order Lepidoptera, which is a word that comes from the Greek words for “scale” and “wing.” This is because all the patterns and colours on the wings and bodies of butterflies and moths are made up of tiny coloured scales. Along with their distinctive coiled proboscis (mouthpart) and big showy wings, these features make butterflies and moths different from all other insects. The order Lepidoptera contains an estimated 150,000 described species (mostly moths) and there are an estimated 18,000 described butterfly species found globally. The earliest known butterfly fossils date to the mid Eocene epoch, between 40–50 million years ago.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GOING:
Timed tickets are required for all general admission visitors.
Timed-Entry: Timed ticket holders must arrive within the 30-minute entry window indicated on their ticket.
Walk-Ins: All available tickets are visible online; in real-time. When online tickets are sold out, walk-ins will be denied entry.
Annual Members do not need to reserve tickets in advance. Become a Member now!
Tickets must be reserved for Children 2 & under (FREE)
The last timed entry is 1 hour before closing. Hours of operation may vary. See hours here.
Timed Tickets are non-refundable. If required, tickets may be transferred before the entry time on the ticket. See all Terms & Conditions.
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