National Butterfly Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Butterfly Center |
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| Location | Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park |
| Nearest city | Mission, Texas |
The National Butterfly Center is a special place in Texas where butterflies are protected and can live freely. It's like a big outdoor home for butterflies! This center is next to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, close to a city called Mission in Hidalgo County.
A Home for Butterflies
The National Butterfly Center works hard to protect the many different kinds of butterflies that live in the Rio Grande Valley. There are about 340 types of butterflies found here! The center helps them by bringing back their natural homes, which is called habitat restoration. Because of this, it's known as the most diverse place for butterflies in the whole United States.
What Butterflies Need
The land at the center is filled with plants that grow naturally in the area. These plants are super important for butterflies! They provide sweet nectar for adult butterflies to drink, like a special juice. They also serve as "host plants" for caterpillars. This means the caterpillars can eat the leaves of these plants and grow big and strong before they turn into butterflies.
Amazing Wildlife
More than 200 different kinds of butterflies have been seen at the center. Some famous ones include the beautiful monarch butterfly, the bright Mexican bluewing, and the tiny red-bordered pixie.
By restoring the butterfly habitat, the center has also attracted many birds. Some birds, like green jays and chachalacas, are rarely seen anywhere else in the United States! When you visit the center, you can usually spot over 60 different kinds of butterflies flying around. It's a great place to learn about these amazing insects and the nature around them.
Images for kids
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Sharpshooter - Oncometopia clarior
