They pass the test with flying colors

THE DAISIES timidly enter the Butterfly House at Newport Beach’s Environmental Nature Center. Holding hands, the young Girl Scouts slowly inspect the native plants that fill this 1,700-square-foot greenhouse. There is almost absolute silence.

“Where are the caterpillars?” one girl whispers.

Suddenly, a shriek. Over the girls’ heads, a mourning cloak flitters past with a monarch close behind. Walking cautiously past a willow tree, the girls discover hundreds of black alien mounds (i.e.; mourning cloak caterpillars) chomping on leaves.

Another butterfly swoops near a girl, who happily cries out, “That one scared me to death!”

With the ice broken, the girls – along with other weekend visitors – settle down to spend some quality time with the colorful fliers and their leggy young counterparts among the flora and fauna.

Unlike other butterfly pavilions that have sprouted up in the last decade, this exhibit features only native plants as well as homegrown butterflies. No exotics here.

“At any given times, we can have between three and seven Orange County native species,” says Lori Whalen, director of education, who lists regular tenants as painted ladies, red admirals, cloudless sulfurs and the state butterfly, the California dogface.

Now in its fourth year of operation, the house is a “healthy eco-station in a box,” says Whalen, that gives these lucky butterflies everything they need: food, shelter and protection from predators. In the wild, only one of 100 caterpillar eggs will make it to adulthood; butterflies and caterpillars are low critters on the food chain.

In the greenhouse, however, there’s nothing stopping these winged wonders from thriving.

Still, Whalen says folks shouldn’t come expecting a Vegas-style show of frenzied flappers. “People who have been to the big butterfly pavilions can sometimes be a little disappointed here,” she says. “But we offer guests a chance to linger and explore. Slow down and see what you can see.” The best time for viewing is when it’s sunny and above 60 degrees. And if you want a butterfly to land on you, experts suggest wearing yellow.

Every year, thousands of guests make the trek to the greenhouse located on 3½ acres of lush greenery and meandering trails. Once a trash-filled gully behind Newport Harbor High School, the site was transformed into this small nature refuge by enthusiastic volunteers along with local civic and community organizations. A new interpretive center recently opened.

In fact, Whalen suggests that after guests tour the house they should walk around the grounds to spy wild butterflies and caterpillars in action. “The butterfly has such a celebrity status in the insect world,” says Whalen. “Everyone loves them and it’s hard for many people to think of them as bugs.”