Opening March 15, 2025

Celebrating Cultural Heritage Through Invertebrates 
Explore Mexico’s deep connection to invertebrates and their essential roles in food, art, medicine, and spirituality, celebrating the rich legacy of Mexico’s indigenous communities through Butterfly Pavilion's new Legacies: Invertebrates of Mexico exhibit.  

Legacies: Invertebrates of Mexico will illustrate how invertebrates were important in Mexico's culture as a food source, for clothing dye and for their interactions with important food crops. The animals and habitats found in the region will be featured including ants, tarantulas, millipedes, and leafcutter ants. Invertebrates’ role in modern Mexican culture, diet and cultural celebrations, such as the monarch butterfly migration will also be highlighted. 

Exhibit Highlights:

• • Live Animals – Millipedes, scorpions, tarantulas, and other invertebrates highlight their vital role in Mexico’s ecosystems, agriculture, and culture.
  • Monarch Tree with Biofacts – A dynamic installation featuring preserved specimens and educational displays.
  • Sensory Elements – Lush soundscapes and natural scents transport visitors into Mexico’s diverse ecosystems.
  • Live Feeding Displays – Witness leafcutter ant colonies farming their own food.
  • Interactive Educational Activities –Hands-on conservation learning opportunities to engage visitors of all ages.