Butterfly Garden Zoo

Probably you and your children have been to zoos. But have you ever been in a Butterfly Garden "Zoo"? Probably not. Then, if you like butterflies, you must bring your family to the Mariposario de Drago and experience this unique Garden in Tenerife.

* The garden is wheelchair accessible.

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  What is the Mariposario del Drago Butterfly Garden Centre? Officially opened in June 1997, the Mariposario del Drago is the first centre in Spain dedicated exclusively to butterflies. It is situated in Tenerife near the Drago Milenario Dragon Tree and Gardens in Icod de los Vinos. The centre, which is a glass building, houses an exuberant tropical garden in its interior. More than 800 exotic butterflies fly around freely in direct contact with the visitors. Originating from tropical zones all around the planet, the range includes some of the world’s most spectacular species and a variety that ranges from the smallest butterflies (2cm wingspan) to giant ones (30cm wingspan). Caterpillars are bred in the laboratory and it is here that the butterflies are born. Visitors can see all the work carried out here through the purpose built windows. Unique experiences can be savoured at the centre include witnessing the birth of a butterfly or watching with one’s own eyes one of nature’s most amazing phenomena – the metamorphosis.



• What is a butterfly? Butterflies are insects of the Lepidoptera order. With 160,000 known species they are the second most diverse animal group on the earth regarding the amount of species. There are daytime butterflies and nocturnal butterflies. The latter are much more numerous.



• What is the powder that covers the wings of the butterflies? They are tiny scales that are responsible for the colour and the patterns on the wings. These scales that are like material fibres on the wings give the butterflies their names (lepido=scale and pteron=wing) and no other insect has them.



• How long does a butterfly live? The average lifecycle is between 1 and 3 weeks. Species that hibernate can live various months as they reduce their level of activity and their metabolism.



• How do butterflies reproduce? There are two sexes, male and female. After mating, which lasts for a duration of roughly 24 hours, the female lays between 50 and 1,000 eggs. Each butterfly species has a specific plant where it lays its eggs and the female needs to find the plant in question as the caterpillars will only feed on that. The female butterfly mates only once in her lifetime.

Photos and text: Asunción Gómez Alfonso, Mariposario del Drago


For more information please contact directly the Butterfly Garden Zoo at:

Telephone: 0034 922 815 167
Address: Avenida de Canarias s/n 38430 Icod de los Vinos
Website: www.mariposario.com
Email: mail@mariposario.com