The Christmas Butterfly at the Butterfly Farm

The Christmas Butterfly. Photo courtesy of the Stratford Butterfly Farm.

Escape the cold for tropical conditions at Stratford Butterfly Farm this Christmas. With temperatures of 25°C, the popular family attraction is the perfect place to take family and friends for a fabulous day out and the chance to see two new residents - the Christmas Butterfly and the Hercules Beetle!

The stunning Christmas Butterfly, also known as Papilio demodocus, is making another appearance in time for Christmas! This beautiful butterfly, which is primarily black and yellow, is native to Africa and has an average wingspan of 9 – 11cm. The caterpillars feed on citrus trees and hence are also known as the ‘Citrus Swallowtail’.

Also new on display is the Hercules Beetle, the most famous of the Rhinoceros Beetles. Native to the rainforests of Central and South America, they can also be found in coastal regions of North Carolina. Their title is well deserved with some males reaching 18cm in length, making it one of the largest beetles known. The Hercules beetle is also said to be the strongest creature on earth for its size, able to carry 850 times its own body weight!

The Hercules Beetle. Photo © Stephen Bayliss.

Butterfly Lifecycle, Mini-Beast, Beetle, and Pupae Demonstrations will take place daily at 11am in the Discovery Zone from 27 December - 7 January. The team of experts will demonstrate from egg through to adult, the amazing stages of the butterfly life cycle as well as giving visitors the opportunity to handle a variety of Stick Insects.

Jane Kendrick, Marketing Manager at Stratford Butterfly Farm said, “Our stunning Christmas Butterfly, and the Hercules Beetle are a must see this Christmas! Along with thousands of tropical butterflies and insects, lifecycle demonstrations, plus browsing in our Gift Shop, we have all the ingredients for a truly tropical Christmas this year!”

The Butterfly Farm’s Gift Shop is a treasure trove of ideas and a wonderful place to buy stocking fillers and nature inspired presents. Gift vouchers for admission and season tickets are a lovely way to treat family and friends to a tropical rainforest experience and can be purchased from the website.

To see hundreds of spectacular butterflies, insects, reptiles, and spiders visit the Butterfly Farm from 10am to 5:00pm, last entry 3.30pm. Open every day of the week except Christmas Day. For more information including purchasing gift vouchers, admission prices and group rates, please visit the website at www.butterflyfarm.co.uk or telephone on 01789 299288.