All aflutter over the butterflies

The Robinsons-May Pavilion of Wings has nothing to do with Paul McCartney’s other former band. Nonetheless, Natural History Museum insect zoo coordinator Brent Karner points out that wings, in this case butterflies, do have something in common with beetles.

“People think butterflies are these pretty things, but they’re really just day-flying moths,” Karner says. “Butterflies are insects. They’re really just bugs.”

Maybe so, but there is likely no other insect -- with the possible exception of the ladybug -- that’s as cherished as the butterfly. Beginning Saturday, lovers of the winged creatures can have a field day when they visit the pavilion, an enclosure that allows guests to step into a world containing hundreds of butterflies and moths, including 30 species from all over the U.S.

The fact that the visitors actually enter the butterfly cage is a relatively new and different experience. “At most zoos you look into the cage at the animals or insects,” Karner says. “But here you can immerse yourself by actually walking into a butterfly cage.”

Aside from simply enjoying the beauty of the winged creatures, visitors can learn about their life cycle and how to attract butterflies to their home gardens.

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Pavilion of Wings, Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. Weekdays, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; weekends/holidays: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Adults, $3; students/seniors, $2; children, $1. Museum admission separate. (213) 763-DINO or www.nhm.org.