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February Half Term

This half term, 15 – 23 February, sees the return of the fascinating ‘Leaf-Cutter Ants’ in Minibeast Metropolis at Stratford Butterfly Farm!
Leafcutter Ants

The colony of Atta cephalotes arrived at the Butterfly Farm in August 2024 and have been settling into their new environment.

Atta cephalotes originate from an area in Southern Mexico down to Bolivia and are ruled by a single Queen.

The Queen will lay millions of eggs over her 15-year lifespan. Colonies can grow to have ten million workers, all of which are sterile females.

  • Atta cephalotesAtta cephalotes

The Butterfly Farm team who are looking after the ants have been busy during the last few weeks preparing their new home.

They have built the overhead ropework and laid a trail of honeysuckle and privet to encourage the ants along the rope into a viewing area so that visitors can see close-up the ants going about their daily business!

  • Atta cephalotes colonyAtta cephalotes colony

New to the Butterfly Farm and on display in Minibeast Metropolis, is an exquisite ‘Orchid Mantis’, Hymenopus Coronatus, which are native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.

These mantises are specifically adapted to camouflage themselves on orchid flowers where they prey on flying insects looking to feed on the flower’s nectar.

Females are much bigger than the males and are highly cannibalistic. The females sometimes eat the smaller males, especially when they come together to mate!

  • Orchid MantisOrchid Mantis
  • Life Cycle DemonstrationLife Cycle Demonstration

Meet the Mini-Beast handling and Butterfly Life-cycle demonstrations will also be held daily in the Discovery Zone at 11:00am each day throughout half term.