Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium (Closed) List Of Species On Exhibit 4/4/18

This is an attempt to list every species on exhibit at the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium in New Orleans, Louisiana during my visit on 4/4/18. I am including species for which there is a sign on each exhibit, and using the named zones according to the general order in which they are encountered along the visitor path.

ENTRANCE: (0 Exhibits)
The Butterfly Garden and Insectarium is located in a ground floor suite of rooms within the historic U.S. Custom House located along the city's grand boulevard, Canal Street. The first room is typical of most in the attraction with high vaulted ceilings. It has no exhibits since it is occupied by a security screening area (the rest of the building is still in governmental use), ticketing, and a photo backdrop.

Exterior of U.S. Custom House by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 12:55 PM

Exterior Entrance by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 12:55 PM

Entrance Lobby - Ticketing Area by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 12:58 PM

 

MAIN HALLWAY: (19 Exhibits)
This long hall runs the length of the attraction and other rooms branch from it; it is not named on the map so Main Hallway is my name for it. It's theme is a general introduction to arthropods. About halfway down the hall is a side room called Field Camp with displays on collecting equipment and a docent station with rotating temporary terrariums for animals to be discussed.

Pedestal terrarium:
Giant Cave Cockroach

Pedestal aquarium against wall:
Everglades Crawfish

Pedestal aquarium against wall:
Apple Snail

Pedestal terrarium against wall:
African Millipede

Pedestal terrarium against wall:
Dead Leaf Mantis

Cluster of 3 pedestal terrariums, containing 1 species in each:
Medium Long-legged Katydid
Walking Leaf Insect
White-eyed Assassin Bug

Large tall terrarium with tube network connecting smaller terrarium chambers:
Leafcutter Ant

Wall terrarium in simulated giant dung ball:
Dung Beetle

Cluster of 3 pedestal terrariums, containing:
Atlas Beetle
Flower Beetle and Sun Beetle
Frog Beetle

Pedestal terrarium against wall:
Giant Centipede

Pedestal terrarium against wall:
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Pedestal terrarium against wall:
Death-feigning Beetle

Pedestal aquarium against wall:
Sunburst Diving Beetle

Cluster of 2 pedestal terrariums, containing 1 species in each:
Chinese Praying Mantis
Convergent Lady Beetle

Main Hallway by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 12:58 PM

Main Hallway by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:05 PM

 

UNDERGROUND GALLERY: (0 Exhibits)
This dark cave-like room has several chambers with oversized props of simulated environments and animals, such as a trapdoor spider that bursts out suddenly; it acts as a sort of playroom to be explored.

Underground Gallery by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:14 PM

 

INSECTS OF NEW ORLEANS: (8 Exhibits)
Local animals are in focus here along a simulated French Quarter street facade.

Wall terrarium:
Yellow Fever Mosquito

Wall terrarium themed as a bay window:
Acridid Grasshopper

Small-sized round pedestal terrarium themed as a trash can lid:
Blow Fly

Wall terrarium themed as a bay window, with visitor pop-up bubble inside:
American Cockroach

Wall terrarium:
American Cockroach

Cluster of 3 small-sized pedestal terrariums, containing 1 species in each:
Greater Angle-wing Katydid
Huntsman Spider
Milkweed Leaf Beetle

Insects of New Orleans by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:14 PM

Insects of New Orleans - American Cockroach Exhibit with Popup Window by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:22 PM

 

BUG APPETIT: (4 Exhibits)
This room has vending machines for visitor snacks and drinks, but the main attraction is a kitchen counter where staff cook insects for visitors to taste! Recipes made the day of my visit included Hoppin' Herb Dip (with roasted crickets), Mango Chutney (with waxworms), Six-legged Salsa (with mealworms), Chocolate Chirp Cookies (with crickets), Cinnamon Bug Crunch (with waxworms), etc.

4 dining tables, each with a terrarium beneath its glass tabletop, containing 1 species in each:
Atlas Beetle
Bell Cricket
Mexican Fireleg Tarantula
Silkworm

Bug Appetit - Kitchen Counter for Edible Insect Samples by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:25 PM

Bug Appetit - Cafe Table with Atlas Beetle Exhibit by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:22 PM

 

TERMITE GALLERY: (2 Exhibits)
This room recreates a typical Southern wooden house and the damage done by termites.

2 small-sized round terrariums, containing 1 species in each:
Formosan Subterranean Termite
Native Subterranean Termite (off display)

Termite Gallery by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:25 PM

 

BAIT SHOP: (10 Exhibits)
This room recreates a swamp shack and could be considered a thematic precursor to the next larger gallery.

Cluster of 2 pedestal terrariums, containing 1 species in each:
Green Treefrog
Gulf Coast Toad

Small-sized round pedestal aquarium:
Empty

3 metallic tray displays built into a counter:
Eastern Hercules Beetle and Triceratops Beetle
Eyed Click Beetle and Harlequin Flower Beetle
Patent-leather Beetle

Round pedestal terrarium:
Cellar Spider
Cobweb Weaver
Spitting Spider

Cluster of 3 small-sized pedestal tanks, containing 1 species in each:
House Cricket
Mealworm
Mosquitofish

Bait Shop by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:28 PM

 

LOUISIANA SWAMP GALLERY: (18 Exhibits)
This large room is dominated by a central simulated swamp cypress and extensive swamp theming around the perimeter.

Terrarium set in a simulated log:
Beetle Larvae (unspecified)
Millipede
Pillbug

Small-sized pedestal terrarium:
Velvet Ant

Medium-sized terrarium with underground chamber view and back window view to outside street:
Bumblebee

Pedestal terrarium:
Lubber Grasshopper

Pedestal aquarium:
Red Swamp Crawfish

2 small-sized terrariums set in simulated tree trunk, containing 1 species in each:
Cuban Cockroach
Fire Ant

Long shallow shelf aquarium set in simulated cypress swamp:
Fish (unidentified species)

Pedestal terrarium:
Two-striped Walkingstick

Round pedestal aquarium with visitor pop-up window:
Predaceous Diving Beetle

2 small-sized terrariums set in simulated log, containing 1 species in each:
Brown Widow
Southern Black Widow

Small-sized metal box attached to wall:
Crevice Weaver

Medium-sized round open-topped aquarium surrounding simulated cypress tree in middle of room:
American Alligator

3 small-sized curved aquariums with abovewater tubes, attached to previous round aquarium, containing 1 species in each:
Fishing Spider
Water Scavenger Beetle
Whirligig Beetle

Louisiana Swamp Gallery by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:32 PM

Louisiana Swamp Gallery - Fish Exhibit by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:36 PM

Louisiana Swamp Gallery - American Alligator Exhibit by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:41 PM

 

SUCCESS STORIES GALLERY: (11 Exhibits)
This bright modern room serves as the waiting area for visitors to the theater and has unique modern terrarium fixtures scattered around the edges.

9 pedestal terrariums, scattered around room, containing 1 species in each:
Darkling Beetle
Deerhorn Stag Beetle
Empty (unsigned)
Flesh Fly
Giant Asian Mantis
Goliath Beetle
Pinktoe Tarantula
Red-spotted Assassin Bug
White-spotted Longhorn Beetle

Cluster of two wall terrariums, containing 2 species in each:
Giant Malaysian Katydid and Giant Prickly Stick
Jungle Nymph and Spiny Devil Walking Stick

Success Stories Gallery - Interior by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 1:45 PM

 

TERMINIX IMMERSION THEATER: (0 Exhibits)
The small theater has 5 rows of seats that look like cut logs and are set in a simulated forest. The short film that plays is called 'Awards Night' and features animated bugs getting awards for their unique characteristics. During the film, the seats move and vibrate in unison with action on the screen and several scents are dispersed in the room.

Terminix Immersion Theater - Interior by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 2:00 PM

 

HALL OF FAME GALLERY: (0 Exhibits)
The theater exits into this large room that has an impressive display of mounted specimens in freestanding upright cabinets.

Hall Of Fame Gallery by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 2:00 PM

Hall of Fame Gallery by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 2:02 PM

 

METAMORPHOSIS: (6 Exhibits)
This room features a staffed window counter called 'Metamorphosis Lab' and acts as the introduction to the 'Butterflies In Flight Gallery'.

Cluster of 3 round pedestal terrariums, containing 1 species in each:
Orange-headed Cockroach
Shining African Stag Beetle
Unicorn Katydid

Cluster of 2 wall terrariums, containing 1 species in each:
Milkweed Bug
Tobacco Hornworm

Medium-sized wall terrarium split in 4 sections, titled 'Pupae Room':
Butterfly (unsigned emerging species, will be identified in next section)

Metamorphosis - Pupae Room by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 2:08 PM

 

BUTTERFLIES IN FLIGHT GALLERY: (5 Exhibits)
This large room is themed to a Japanese Garden and has details such as bamboo fencing, lantern-like lights, a koi pond, and traditional-looking teahouse. Live plants are interspersed in beds for the inhabitants.

Large walk-through room with high ceiling for free-flight butterflies:
Banded Peacock
Blue and White Longwing
Blue Clipper
Blue Morpho
Brown Clipper
Brown Page
Cattleheart
Common Birdwing
Common Indian Crow
Common Mime
Common Sergeant
Doris Longwing
Great Egg-fly
Grecian Shoemaker
Ismenius Tiger
Leopard Lacewing
Owl Butterfly
Paper Kite
Pink Rose
Plain Tiger
Royal Blue
Sapho Longwing
Scarlet Mormon
Spotted Tiger Glassywing
Starry Cracker
Tailed Jay
Tiger Longwing
White-barred Charaxes

Small-sized room behind glass, for emerging:
African Moon Moth
Atlas Moth
Orizaba Silkmoth

Medium-sized pond:
Koi

Small-sized open-topped fence enclosure:
Red-footed Tortoise

Small-sized cage:
Lady Gouldian Finch

Butterflies In Flight Gallery - Interior by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 2:08 PM

Butterflies In Flight Gallery by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 2:11 PM

 

FLEA MARKET GIFT SHOP: (0 Exhibits)
The exit of the butterfly room is this narrow room crammed with insect-themed merchandise, and then visitors exit the attraction adjacent to the entry door.

Flea Market - Shop Interior by geomorph posted 22 Apr 2018 at 2:12 PM

 

SUMMARY:

By my count, the total number of exhibits currently at the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium is: 82
By my count, the total number of species in permanent exhibits with identification signs is: 116
The number of species I counted can be broken down into the following categories:
Mammals: 0
Birds: 1
Reptiles: 2
Amphibians: 2
Fish: 3
Invertebrates: 108

 

Thanks very much for the tour. This place has a reputation as Disneyland for invertebrate enthusiasts because of the quality of its exhibits and interpretation. In your opinion does it live up to that reputation?

 

Yes, it was an absolute delight to tour even though it was crowded with Spring break families on the day I was there. I was impressed with all the large beetles especially, and innovative ways to display the animals in themed settings. It is the best bug facility I have seen!

 

Thanks very much for the extensive species list, the photo tour and your write-up about what is surely the best 'Bug Zoo' in North America. Cincinnati has a fantastic Insect House, Saint Louis has approximately the same number of species as Audubon but it lacks the themed exhibits, and other great insect facilities are Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and the Montreal Insectarium. However, from your photos it appears that the Audubon Butterfly Garden & Insectarium is clearly #1.

 

I missed the Montreal Insectarium when I was there in 2008...I was so close since I went to the Botanic Garden! Have you visited it?

 

I think I should mention that the photos embedded from the gallery in this thread are not the only ones I took; there are many more I added to this attraction's gallery.