At Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm we regularly change the exhibits to make things different for  returning visitors. There are a variety of species that we keep off show so that we can vary and rotate our displays.

The latest arrivals in Minibeast Metropolis are a pair of beautiful Hercules beetles and a number of Death Feigning Beetles!

Phyllium giganteum

These spectacular leaf like insect originate from the rainforests of Malaysia and can grow to over 10cms in length.

They are so good at looking like leaves that they often nibble each other by mistake!

All of our leaf insects are females. The males of this species are so rare that the females have developed the ability to reproduce without them.

Conservation Status - NE Not Evaluated

Dendrobates tinctorius matecho

These little frogs originate from French Guiana and get their name from the misconception that natives used to use the brightly coloured frogs to dye fabric.

They are a bold, vibrant frog, yellow on the back and blue on the legs and can grow up to two inches long, making it one of the largest species of poison frogs. True to their name, poison frogs are among the most toxic animals on Earth!

Conservation Status - LC Least Concern.

Ambystoma mexicanum

Axolotls are found only in two small lakes near Mexico City.

Axolotls are a type of salamander that does not fully develop into an adult form and retains juvenille features such as external gills and a large flat tail.

Whislt they are critically endangered in the wild they are common palce in animal collections due to them being easy to breed in captivity.

They are ambush predators that lie in wait for small invertabrates to swim past and then strike with great speed. Axolotls are typically brown, but a variety of colours and patterns do occur in the wild.

Conservation status - CR Critically Endangered

Brachypelma smithi

The Mexican Red Knee lives on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in dry forest and desert habitats.

When threatened they will flick hairs from their abdomen using their back legs. These are called ‘urticating hairs’ and can cause itchiness, swelling and respiratory issues if inhaled.

Female Red Knee Tarantulas can live up to 30 years old, whereas males rarely live past 10 years.

Their diet consists of insects, frogs and the occasional mouse.

Conservation Status - NT Near Threatened