2: Pupa house
When the next glass door closes behind you, you will find yourself in the butterfly’s kingdom. Please be careful and respect the animals. Butterflies do not want to be touched because they are very delicate and sensitive beings. Now turn right to the display cases. In our “pupa house“ you will see hung up pupas (chrysalides). Some of them look like pieces of wood or leaves, and others shine like gold. Something very mysterious happens in these structures: the metamorphosis, which is the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. You may be lucky, and a butterfly will hatch while you watch. This usually happens in the early hours of the morning. The pupa breaks open, and the butterfly slowly climbs out. After this strenuous birth, he pumps “blood” into his wings, which lie crumpled against his body. Slowly, the wet wings spread until they finally unfold to their full size. Now, the butterfly can recover from the exertion while its wings dry. Only then can he fly, and we let him out of the display case and into the garden. Did you know that a tropical butterfly only lives for three to six weeks? That’s why we receive 200 to 400 pupae weekly from butterfly breeders in tropical countries. Like that we are sure you can experience the fairy tale of 1001 butterflies with us every day of the year. Catherine and other small animals are awaiting you at the next showcase. Catherine is the name of one of our tarantulas. When the gardener Jürgen feeds her, she tiptoes lightly up his arm like a ballerina. Please don’t disturb Catherine; „my sweetie,” as Jürgen calls her, she loves to be left in peace!