Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium?
Our Mission: We wish to promote an appreciation and understanding of insects and their relatives in the Animal Kingdom through public education and the development of an invertebrate education facility.
The facility: We will have a year round tropical butterfly house and an insect zoo with live insects, spiders, etc and hands-on exhibits.
Who is Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium for?
This facility will be designed for our community, for kids of all ages! We will develop strong programming for schools, and we will work with Missoula’s other community programs, involving groups such as artists, writers, seniors, and caregivers to create diverse opportunities for all visitors. The Butterfly House will be a popular destination for tourists, adding to Missoula’s diverse downtown experiences.
Where are you located?
We are looking for a location now. We hope to be close to downtown and other family/entertainment destinations.
When will you open?
We hope to open our doors in about 3-5 years. BUT we will have educational events and exhibits before then so there will always be ways to learn about insects, participate in the organization and take advantage of what we will bring to Missoula.
Can Missoula support a facility like this?
Yes! We just completed a feasibility analysis and the results were very positive. The consultant we worked with is the founder of the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado. The consultant has been in the industry for over 20 years and has helped establish butterfly houses and insect zoos across the country and internationally. Conservative financial estimates were used in the feasibility analysis, making the positive results all the more encouraging.
How much will it cost got get in?
- Less than a movie.
- Comparable to other facilities in town: spectrUM, the Children's Museum, Currents Aquatics Center and Splash Montana.
- There will be membership options that will include reduced or free admission.
Will you provide discounts for school groups?
One of our goals is to provide quality science programs for schools at a reduced or free admission price.
Will this be resource intensive?
Considering we will be housing tropical species of butterflies year-round ...yes. However, we are committed to building and running a facility that is as environmentally friendly as possible; using the best technology we can utilize.
Where do you get the butterflies?
We will receive captive-bred butterflies (actually the chrysalides) from breeders around the world (primarily Central and South America).
The butterfly industry in these areas has a positive economic and ecological impact. While most of the butterflies are bred in captivity, occasionally some are brought in from the wild to enhance the gene pool. Due to the well paying jobs the industry provides, there is increased incentive to protect the butterflies' tropical rainforest habitat.
Are there other facilities like this?
Yes. There are over 100 exhibits like this in the US. Some are in zoos or in children and science museums, and some are independent. The closest exhibits to Missoula are more than 450 miles away -- in Seattle, WA; Vancouver, BC; near Denver, CO; and Sioux Falls, SD. Other locations of northern exhibits include Montreal; New York City; Rochester, NY; Deerfield, MA; Niagra Falls, NY; and several others.
Why does Missoula "need" a butterfly house and insectarium?
Insects play a vital role in the lives of every living creature. And yet, despite their importance, insects and invertebrates are largely feared, undervalued, or ignored by the general public.
Our goal is to educate the public about the fascinating lives of these important creatures through exhibits and educational programs in a family friendly environment. Butterfly houses and insect zoos have proven to be enormously popular with the public wherever they appear and are used to generate increased visitation and revenue for many zoos, museums and other non-profit organizations. By taking advantage of the ever-increasing popularity of these exhibits and by providing a state-of-the-art facility, The Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium will be an educational and recreational resource for the local community as well as visitors to the Missoula area.
What are you doing next?
- Continuing to get the word out by introducing our vision to as many people in the community as possible.
- Continuing to develop outreach programs and exhibits.
- Strengthening and establishing partnerships with other non-profits and businesses in the community.
- Searching for possible locations and designing the facility.
Are you currently doing any outreach or educational events?
In the past two years, we have been actively trying to get the word out about the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium at events such as First Night, Western Montana Fair, Out to Lunch, and Downtown Tonight. A variety of our Invertebrate Ambassadors travel with us to these events, providing excellent opportunities to learn about their life cycles and behavior. Although we are currently focusing our efforts on the development of the facility, we hope to participate in a variety of events throughout the spring and summer. Follow us on Facebook for the most up-to-date news!
How can I help?
- Become a member / donate. Membership slips and reply envelopes are available. We are a tax-exempt organization. Membership benefits include updates on progress and newsletters (2-4/year). In the future, membership benefits will include reduced or free admission to the facility.
- Tell your friends. We need to create a community buzz. If you like the idea of a butterfly house and insectarium in Missoula, please tell your friends about it.
- Get involved. Fill out our online survey and let us know how can help achieve our vision.
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