Devil's Tongue Flowers

The Devil's Tongue has just come into bloom.  A relative of the Titan Aroid, it has rubbery, brown vase-like spathe and a 'tongue' that has glistening secretions that mimic putrefying flesh.  A bad smell goes along with the ruse and it attracts hundreds of flies. These fall down the vase and get dusted with pollen before they are released.  The flower lasts just three days.

A neon blue butterfly

The new butterflies from Surinam are now emerging.  There is the neon-blue of the Nessaea and a lovely blue sheen on the Scarlet Peacock.  Carrying on the blue theme, we have  a new species of Blue Morpho that is just starting to emerge.  Come and see them now as this is a one-off order for this year. 

Moths emerging: Rothschildia and Cricula

Two moths have emerged this week at the butterfly house; a Rothschildia lebeau from Costa Rica and a Cricula fenestrata that we bred through last year. The Rothschildia moth belongs to the Emperor moth family.

New butterflies from Surinam on their way

We are expecting a delivery of pupae from Surinam which should be emerging from around the middle of April onwards.   This is the first time we are trying these pupae and we're looking forward to seeing the different forms.  Included in the mix are the Purple Mort Bleu, a relative of the Owl butterfly; the Achilles Morpho, as well as new forms of the Postman which vary radically from country to country.

A flower that mimics a mushroom!

Arisaema sikkokianum has come into flower.  This stately Aroid, a relative of the Cuckoo Pint, flowers once a year in Spring, lasting just a few days.  The curious white spadix looks just like a mushroom and it is thought to attract mushroom flies that fall down the trap.  These are later released albeit with a dusting of pollen, ready to find another flower.  See here for picture.