Secret World of Butterflies

This 2018 exhibition featured thousands of butterflies (pūrerehua) from the Shannon Collection, on display for the first time. Here, you can explore the exhibition virtually.

SAT 9 JUN 2018 - SUN 17 FEB 2019
SAINSBURY HORROCKS GALLERY

Secret World of Butterflies featured thousands of butterflies (pūrerehua) from the Shannon Collection, on display for the first time.

Visitors to the family-friendly exhibition were able to see these stunning insects up close and discover unbelievable butterfly facts. The exhibition featured interactive activities where visitors could zoom in on nature’s designs or create their own butterfly and unleash it into a magical digital garden.

Secret World of Butterflies explored the science of butterflies such as metamorphosis, anatomy and habitat and was perfect for young explorers and lovers of the natural world.

Image: Cairns birdwing, Ornithoptera priamus euphorion, AMNZ100288, © Auckland Museum CC BY

Virtually walk through the exhibition

Click the arrows to move through this 3D virtual walk-through.

Go behind the scenes to learn about the creation of the Secret World of Butterflies.

Ray Shannon: Butterfly collector

Building the Secret World of Butterflies

Photography through a microscope

Gallery

Evenus coronata, AMNZ136165, © Auckland Museum CC BY.

Numberwing, Diaethria clymena, AMNZ103850, © Auckland Museum CC BY.

Numberwings get their name from the bold graphic patterns on the underneath of their hindwings, which resemble the numbers 88 or 89.

Jungle jade, Papilio karna, AMNZ123941_001, © Auckland Museum CC BY.

Cracker, Hamadryas, AMNZ101951, © Auckland Museum CC BY. Male cracker butterflies make a 'cracking' sound when trying to warn off potential predators and rival males, or when courting females.

Phoebis neocypris rurina,
AMNZ106244, © Auckland Museum CC BY.