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Butterfly Pavilion Offering a Safe, Socially-Distanced Trick-or-Treating Experience for Colorado Families this Halloween Season

With only 20 guests allowed in the building every 20 minutes, families can enjoy a safe, well-deserved outing
Guests are required to wear appropriate face coverings or masks with costumes

Media Note: Photos, video and other editorial material is available by request. Rosie the Tarantula, other animals and scientific experts are available for media appearances and interviews by contacting kstewart@butterflies.org

Westminster, Colo. – Oct. 9, 2020 –Colorado’s Butterfly Pavilion announced today the return of Bug-A-Boo, it’s safe, indoor trick-or-treating event, from Oct. 18 through Oct. 31. Halloween revelers can put on a costume and enjoy a trick-or-treating experience that is educational and fun, while adhering to state and local safety guidance. Hours for trick or treating will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with the last entry at 4 p.m.) daily from Oct. 18 through Oct. 29. On Oct. 30 and 31, Butterfly Pavilion will extend its hours and be open until 8:20 p.m. (with the last entry at 7:00 p.m.).

“As a non-profit organization, Butterfly Pavilion prides itself on being a resource for the community,” said Russ Pecoraro, Butterfly Pavilion’s Vice President of Marketing. “A lot of families are looking for some sense of normalcy and something fun and safe to do. We think Bug-A-Boo is the perfect event for family fun this Halloween.”

From a safety standpoint, Butterfly Pavilion has used its expertise in exhibit design to create a safe, physically-distanced trick-or-treating experience where kids can trick or treat traditionally, as well as providing goodie bag stations. Only 20 guests are allowed into the building every 20 minutes, reducing crowds and providing plenty of space to move around. Because of the limitations on guest capacity, reservations are required and can be made at http://bplive.wpengine.com/event/bug-a-boo/. Guests are required to wear appropriate face coverings or masks with costumes to visit Butterfly Pavilion. Halloween and costume masks are not considered adequate protection.

Bug-A-Boo allows kids to explore Butterfly Pavilion, whose many creepy-crawlies make it the perfect backdrop for trick or treating. Butterfly Pavilion will also transform Colorado Backyard into a spooky Halloween adventure. Because it is indoors, Bug-A-Boo is ideal for toddlers having their first trick-or-treating experience because they’re not subjected to the weather, and they don’t have to walk too far.

Bug-A-Boo is included with General Admission and free for current Butterfly Pavilion members. Tickets for Bug-A-Boo will go on sale October 9th and will only be available while supplies last. With limited availability, be sure to purchases tickets online ahead of time at http://bplive.wpengine.com/event/bug-a-boo/.

About Butterfly Pavilion:

Butterfly Pavilion is the world’s only stand-alone, Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited invertebrate zoo dedicated to transforming the way people think about the small but mighty animals that are the hidden heroes of the animal kingdom. As the leader in invertebrate knowledge, inspiration and connection, and as a member institution of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Butterfly Pavilion works to foster an appreciation of these critical animals by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation. Whether it is providing unique, hands-on learning experiences in our exhibits and educational programs, conducting new research that sets the standard for zoos across the country or building innovative solutions for species and habitat conservation in countries around the world, Butterfly Pavilion is leading the way in ensuring invertebrates are protected for the future. Learn more at butterflies.local.

Butterfly Pavilion Media Contact(s):
Kristen Petitt Stewart, Publicist, kstewart@butterflies.org, or 970.389.1561

Russ Pecoraro, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, rpecoraro@butterflies.org or 720.375.9984

• Three Mountain Emerald Dragonflies have reached adulthood in human care, a first for the species
• Dragonfly breeding is one of Butterfly Pavilion’s many global programs advancing invertebrate conservation

Westminster, Colo – Aug. 27, 2020 –Colorado’s Butterfly Pavilion proudly announced today the emergence of three Mountain Emerald Dragonflies, thought to be the first of their kind to be reared from eggs to adulthood under human care. The three males, dubbed Larry, Moe and Curly, represent three years of work by Butterfly Pavilion researchers, as well as the all-important first step in a three-step process to save endangered Colorado dragonflies.

In addition to helping manage mosquito and other insect populations, dragonflies are an important “indicator species” whose presence signals overall health of wetland ecosystems. While the Mountain Emerald Dragonfly isn’t imperiled, it is a close relative to the Hudsonian Emerald Dragonfly, which is.

“Butterfly Pavilion will be able to take what we’ve learned rearing Mountain Emeralds and transfer that knowledge to helping save the Hudsonian Emerald,” said Sara Stevens, Butterfly Pavilion’s Aquatics manager and the lead researcher on the study. “This proactive approach to conservation sets us up to have a large toolkit to help other species.”

Butterfly Pavilion’s three-stage plan for breeding dragonflies is:

Rear as many Colorado species of dragonfly from egg to adulthood as possible and release them back into the wild
Get two of these adults to successfully reproduce
Rear those eggs to adulthood successfully

“Rearing these dragonflies under human care represents an important advancement in the research and conservation of these important and charismatic animals, and demonstrates Butterfly Pavilion’s leadership,” said Richard P. Reading, Ph.D., Butterfly Pavilion’s Director of Research and Conservation. “Our goal is to breed and rear dragonflies to release back into the wild, as well as to display at Butterfly Pavilion. This is another example of Butterfly Pavilion working to protect our ecosystems here in Colorado, as well as the rest of the world.”

Dragonfly breeding is just one of the many programs and projects Butterfly Pavilion manages all over the world, making a global impact in invertebrate conservation. Active projects include: Parnassian Butterfly conservation in Mongolia; managing protected areas in Saudi Arabia; butterfly farming in Indonesia; and reducing human and elephant conflicts through the use of honey bees in Tanzania and Nepal. Domestically, Butterfly Pavilion manages numerous citizen science programs that include butterfly and dragonfly monitoring, as well as open space habitat restoration to better support pollinators.

Community members interested in supporting these programs can make a tax-deductible donation to Butterfly Pavilion’s Resiliency Fund, or give directly to the Research and Conservation Department. Those interested in joining a citizen science program can find more information at Butterfly Pavilion’s website.

About Butterfly Pavilion:

Butterfly Pavilion Media Contact(s):

Kristen Petitt Stewart, kstewart@butterflies.org or 970-389-1561
Russ Pecoraro, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, rpecoraro@butterflies.org or 720.375.9984

By Patrick Tennyson, CEO, Butterfly Pavilion

In its May 2020 edition, National Geographic asks “Where have all the insects gone?,” bringing much-needed global awareness to the soon-to-be catastrophic loss of insects. The sheer diversity of insect species and their astonishing bio mass is unfathomable – almost indomitable – and yet, they represent the largest percent of loss in biological diversity worldwide. Nevertheless, for many people, these incredibly important animals remain rather obscure and commonly forgotten. This crisis, if left unchecked, will immeasurably impact our very existence. It’s a crisis I believe the Association of Zoos & Aquariums has the opportunity, resources and responsibility to impact.

The question is “How?” What if I told you there’s something you can do today, at your zoo or aquarium, it would add another layer to your guest experience, and it’s a lot easier than you think?

Humans and insects are inextricably linked – the nature that surrounds us is because of them and their very existence guarantees ours. Beyond their economic importance and value to critical environmental services we have come to rely on, invertebrates spur endless inspiration and curiosity. There is so much about these foundational species that we have yet to discover or understand. The culprits to their rapid decline are the very same challenges that we and so many other animals on our planet face: Climate change, indiscriminate and unregulated pesticide and herbicide use, and habitat loss and degradation.

Over the last few years, and really for the first time in my long career in conservation, we are witnessing an awakening of the public’s perception of the term “wildlife.” A broadening connection to the world in which we live, and the types of animals we share our world with. Our dedicated work in zoos, aquariums, museums and nature centers around the world has effectively created much more meaningful connections to ALL animal life, as well as a greater rationale for the need for conservation, now, more that than ever before. This progression of conservation ethics and values has opened the door for a very real opportunity to expand our zoos’ conservation work for a far greater number of species – namely, insects.

For a moment, put yourself in your guests’ shoes as they walk from exhibit to exhibit. Don’t focus on the exhibits themselves, but on their experience moving between them. Chances are you’re seeing traveling Lego exhibits, art installations, wayfinding signage and advertisements. What if they could experience more wild animals? Butterflies, native bees and other insects, as well as native plants serving as another animal exhibit, a delight for guests at a fraction of the cost, and another reminder that your zoo takes conservation seriously.

I call this a Zoo Within a Zoo.

Utilizing our partnerships and networks within the AZA, the Zoo Within a Zoo program will integrate international horticultural and zoological practices to make zoos and aquariums around the world an insect sanctuary promoting regional insect population growth, increasing native habitats for insects and, best of all, engaging our guests in small but meaningful ways to contribute to grassroots conservation efforts emerging before their eyes.

The goal is simple: We will use zoo and aquarium grounds to create zoological sanctuaries for native insect populations and tell the conservation story for our guests as they wander and interact with our grounds. The Zoo Within a Zoo program will easily and almost naturally expand every zoo and aquarium’s capacity for advancing their local conservation efforts and expanding their contribution to insect diversity and population health. In many cases this may already be happening unintentionally, so the idea will be to work as partners to make the effort more intentional top to bottom. Again, this will inspire all zoos and aquariums to collaborate more intimately as AZA partners on husbandry, horticulture, education, interpretation, and citizen science data collection and compilation.

Butterfly Pavilion will happily orchestrate this effort and provide guidance and assistance in appropriate habitat development, program creation and collaborative data collection. We will create a database to facilitate following trends and impacts. For almost two decades Butterfly Pavilion has led habitat restoration and citizen engagement programs through programs like Senior Habitat Gardening, the Urban Prairies Project and our Pollinator District Program. Each program engages citizens, businesses and corporate partners in habitat improvement efforts via mutual goals and aspirations. We are well equipped and inspired to team up with each of you to protect insects and help them prosper!

Albert Einstein famously stated, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” The challenge we face with habitat loss is an uphill battle against human growth and development. We have to stop pointing fingers and reverse these trends using the assets at our disposal. Ultimately, the Zoo Within a Zoo program will help develop a cascading evolution of perception of what wildlife conservation can look like today and resonate loudly during a point in time that many scientists consider the tipping point for international conservation work. I believe it’s time we begin engaging our guests and global citizenry as allies in the race against extinction in ways where they can meaningfully contribute, and moreover be inspired to do more to save wildlife. And now is the time to acknowledge and protect the animals that have, until recently, been denied charismatic relevance. Our guests can witness foraging bumblebees first-hand and even better, they can do something to help them. This makes conservation not an abstract, pie-in-the-sky notion, but something that is active, community building and hopeful for everyone on all parts of the planet.

The awakening we see among our public is real, and we must take advantage of this opportunity for zoos and aquariums to elevate our image and perpetuate our guests’ belief in our intent by creating something tangible – an everyday experience. This will ignite an introduction and an engagement into our already established and successful global impacts in conservation. Through the Zoo Within a Zoo Program we will continue to orchestrate the growing appreciation of all wildlife, wildlife that comes in all shapes and sizes. We will do this by advancing the future of conservation awareness – one zoo, one flower bed, one park space, one acre at a time.

About Butterfly Pavilion:

Since 2016, Butterfly Pavilion has served approximately 38,250,000 pollinators.

Westminster, Colo. – December 27, 2019 – Pollinators such as honey bees, native bees and butterflies are vital to the human production of food and the reproduction of native plants. So much so, that bees were recently named the most important living beings on the planet by the Earthwatch Institute. Over the past few decades habitat destruction, pesticide use, parasites and pathogens have significantly decreased their numbers. In response to these challenges, Colorado’s Butterfly Pavilion created the Pollinator Awareness through Conservation and Education (PACE) initiative in 2016, with the goal of serving 20 million pollinators by 2020. Today, due in large part to a partnership with Local Hive™ Honey, a Greeley, Colo.-based manufacturer of local, raw and unfiltered honey, as well as other individual donors, Butterfly Pavilion announced it has smashed that goal, serving over 38 million pollinators as 2019 comes to a close.

From the backyards and open spaces of Westminster and Broomfield, Colo., to the villages of Nepal and Tanzania, PACE is a global initiative aiming to introduce new pollinators to areas, as well as creating new habitat for the pollinators that are already in an area. Since 2016, Butterfly Pavilion has served approximately 38,250,000 pollinators through the following programs:

In partnership with the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, Butterfly Pavilion is solving the human-elephant conflict in Nepal and Tanzania by installing bee fences around villagers’ farms which scare elephants away: 2M
Butterfly Pavilion installs and maintains hives in conjunction with local businesses like hotels and restaurants, including the Westminster Marriott: 3.7M
Butterfly Pavilion’s Beekeeping Bootcamps, which teach community members how to keep bees in their own yards: 4.65M
The Urban Prairies Project, a partnership between Butterfly Pavilion, the City and County of Broomfield, the City of Westminster, Denver Botanic Gardens and the Broomfield Open Space Foundation, aimed at improving ecological health of urban and suburban open spaces for pollinators: 27.9M
Butterfly Pavilion recently announced that it is creating Pollinator Districts, communities designed to conserve and improve habitat for pollinators in all aspects of real estate development and operation. Pollinator Districts engage all of the people that live, work and play in these spaces, encouraging them to experience nature and build a greater appreciation for these critical species and their habitats.

“Protecting pollinators helps achieve multiple conservation goals: encouraging the protection of public green spaces, highlighting urban and rural interdependence, promoting the use of native plants in residential landscaping, and advancing environmental education at schools, communities and with the general public,” said Patrick Tennyson, president and CEO of Butterfly Pavilion. “Butterfly Pavilion is uniquely positioned to leverage our expertise in pollinators to change the way people think about our communities and how we can protect these incredibly important creatures. And thanks to the generosity and partnership from Local Hive™, we’re able to advance these programs quicker and further than we’d originally hoped.”

Since 2018, Local Hive™ has donated a portion of proceeds from every bottle sold around the world to the PACE initiative to promote and protect the prosperity of pollinators worldwide. Local Hive™ implemented a 360-degree campaign featuring PACE on all initiatives including a new label design, launch of a new website, digital advertising and social media.

“Since 1924, Local Hive™ has been committed to the health and prosperity of bees,” said Tony Landretti, Chief Executive Officer. “Bees are obviously critical to providing natural, delicious, local honey to our customers, but more than that, they’re critical to health of our communities and planet. Our partnership with Butterfly Pavilion and the PACE initiative is just the right thing to do on a number of levels.”

PACE is a key initiative on Butterfly Pavilion’s journey to becoming the global center for invertebrate conservation, research and education. In 2017, Butterfly Pavilion announced its plans for a new $40 million state-of-the-art facility located in Broomfield, Colorado. This new 81,000-square-foot facility will be home to world-class research lab with an accredited zoological facility to serve as the preeminent local, national and global hub for invertebrate knowledge, conservation, inspiration and connection.

Learn more about Butterfly Pavilion’s permanent exhibits, important education, research and conservation work at www.butterflies.local or by calling 303-469-5441. Butterfly Pavilion is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 6252 West 104^th Avenue in Westminster, Colo.

About Butterfly Pavilion:

About Local Hive™ Honey™:

Since 1924, Local Hive™ has been passionate about making honey one way; locally. We only partner with American beekeepers to provide authentic, local, U.S.A. Grade A raw and unfiltered honey. Every drop is straight from the hive, made by hardworking bees – nothing added, nothing removed – preserving the natural nutrients in every bottle. Visit www.localhivehoney.com to learn more about our 17 different local raw honey varietals, which are an artisan blend of floral types by region and state. Local Hive™ has partnerships with over 200 local beekeepers across the U.S. to provide its unique local raw and unfiltered honey varietals.

Butterfly Pavilion Media Contact(s):
Kristen Petitt Stewart, kstewart@butterflies.org or 970-389-1561
Russ Pecoraro, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, rpecoraro@butterflies.org or 720.375.9984

By Alyssa O’Brien, Horticulture Manager at Butterfly Pavilion

Spring is here and with it comes wonderful sunshine and new growth. But is there something sinister to notice as well? Imagine you are out on a walk. Birds are singing. Flowers are blooming. The grass is green. Suddenly your eyes begin to water. What has happened? Has the beautiful scenery moved you to tears? Possibly, but you may be reacting to a substance that is floating through the air: pollen.

While bringing beauty to the landscape, flowers also serve as a tool for plant reproduction. To produce offspring, plants must transfer male genetic material, which is contained within pollen, to the female part of the plant in the stigma. This process is called pollination and, if successful, results in a seed that will contain the genetic material to create a new plant.

In the case of self-pollination, the entire process of pollination only requires one plant. But often, a plant needs to transfer it’s pollen to a different plant for successful pollination to occur, this is called cross-pollination. Since plants can’t move their pollen on their own, they rely on other means, like animals (bees, butterflies), water, and wind to carry their precious genetic material to another plant.

Bee covered in pollen.

To be successful, plants release billions of pollen grains in the hopes that some will land upon the correct plant and pollination will occur. Sometimes this pollen is inhaled by people, which may cause the body to overreact and produce antibodies in an allergic reaction. The symptoms can range from itching nose, eyes, mouth, ears or skin, stuffy or runny nose, rashes, and sore throat. To combat this, people can proactively use allergy medication in advance, take something to manage symptoms when they occur or avoid being exposed to pollen.

Despite the discomfort many feel from allergies, there are many reasons to be thankful for pollen.

As mentioned previously, pollen is essential to plant reproduction.
Pollen in the fossil record is used to help scientists determine what plants grew in the past.
Pollen helps solve crimes. Each plant has its own unique pollen composition and palynologists (pollen and spore scientists), use these “pollen prints” as forensic evidence to find crime scenes and identify evidence. You cannot wash away a pollen print!
Many animals eat pollen, including humans! There are several Korean dishes like Ganheong and Dasik that are prepared using pine pollen. If you are curious as to what this tastes like, visit pollenranch.com for recipes with pollen.
Many arthropods eat and rely on pollen as a food source, including Heliconius butterflies (which you can see in the Wings of the Tropics), many bees, mites, beetles, and many others.

Heliconius butterfly eating pollen.

Now that your appreciation for pollen has grown, how can we live in better harmony with it?

Know that grasses or trees, which rely on wind dispersal, produce large amounts of lightweight pollen. However, feel free to smell as many colorful and fragrant flowers. They rely on insects to spread their pollen and, as a result, produce heavier pollen that is less likely to land on you and blow in the wind.
Be aware of the times of the year when pollen is more prevalent. Tree pollens are often produced in early spring and grass pollens are usually produced in early summer. Windy or dry days increase the likelihood of pollen being in the air. However, calm or rainy days keep the pollen on the ground and away from you. There are many helpful websites and apps that look at what plant species is producing pollen and what the weather conditions are to provide you with a risk assessment.
Proactively use allergy medication and take a decongestant. Given that many of us don’t want to limit our exploration of the great outdoors (and here at Butterfly Pavilion, we would strongly advise you to get outside as often as possible!), you can easily prevent and manage symptoms as they occur.
Enjoy local honey. It’s often said that eating local, raw honey, which contains pollen from the local environment, may reduce allergies. Though this is still being assessed in scientific studies, what we do know is that honey is high in antioxidants, which are great for overall health, and that honey can be very helpful in soothing cough symptoms you may be experiencing during allergy season. Our partner, Rice’s Honey, is a great option here in Colorado!

Want to learn more about our native plants in Colorado and what you can do to conserve them? Visit Butterfly Pavilion today to grow in your appreciation of the great outdoors. Click here to learn about habitat gardening.

We Are Butterfly Pavilion

At Butterfly Pavilion, we are committed to changing the way people thing about invertebrates. The truth is, we are inextricably linked with these tiny giants.

Our Vision:

Butterfly Pavilion is the premier invertebrate research, conservation and education institution in the world.

Our Mission:

To foster an appreciation of invertebrates by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation.