Butterflies - Disney Animals

Butterflies can be found on every continent except Antarctica, in a wide range of habitats. You’ll find butterflies in wetlands, lowlands, temperate and tropical forests, mountains, farmlands—even in your own backyard!

Butterflies aren’t just beautiful, they’re an important part of the ecosystem. Almost a third of the foods we eat come from plants that depend on butterflies and other pollinators.

Many of our parks and Disney Resort hotels grow flower gardens specially designed to attract local butterflies—and it’s working! Walt Disney World Resort is home to more than 70 butterfly species.

Come see how many native species you can spot at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park! Take the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch—which features an alluring pollinator garden where butterflies abound.

Butterflies make their homes where the plants are just right for their caterpillars to feed on and where the flowers have nectar the adults prefer. So different gardens attract different butterflies. At Walt Disney World Resort, host plants like milkweed and passion vines and nectar plants like firebush and wild petunia attract local Florida species like the zebra longwing, while others are home to less common species like the Dukes’ skipper. If you see milkweed—a favorite of the monarch butterfly—take a moment to look for eggs, caterpillars, a chrysalis or even a brightly colored adult.

Here are more butterfly species you might see around the Resort:

• Swallowtails: The eastern tiger swallowtail is one of the most recognized butterflies in North America, thanks to its large yellow wings, black stripes and wingspans of up to 6 inches (15 cm).
  
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• Whites and Sulphurs: Sulphur butterflies, which are usually yellow, orange or white can be found year-round in Florida.
  
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• Brush-Footed: These butterflies often have hairy forelegs that resemble tiny brushes. Species include monarchs, gulf fritillaries (long, narrow orange wings with silvery spots) and the zebra longwing (black with yellow stripes)—the state butterfly of Florida.
  
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• Skippers: Skippers are not as colorful as other butterflies, but they sure are fast. Look for tropical checkered skippers (dark brown wings with small white spots) or long-tailed skippers (bluish-green iridescent body).
  
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• Gossamer-Winged: These are often small and dainty, with brightly colored iridescent wings.