We were thrilled to host the @texasparkswildlife.bsky.social promotions team this week! It’s always exciting to connect with others who share our passion for protecting Texas wildlife and natural spaces. We can’t wait to see how their work continues to inspire conservation across the state.

Arrow-shaped Orbweaver (Micrathena sagittata) - #Arachtober 7 #spider #arachnid #macrophotography #naturephotography #stereography

We’re thrilled to share that the Texas Butterfly Festival is featured in the latest issue of TPW Magazine! 🦋✨ Read the full story here: tpwmagazine.com/travel-cultu...

Entries close at MIDNIGHT! Don’t miss your chance to be part of our Photo Contest. Submit your photos NOW before the clock runs out. Visit link below for contest information and to submit your photos. photos.nationalbutterflycenter.org

We’re inviting local vendors, artists, and small businesses to be part of this exciting event! ✅ Share your work with hundreds of festival visitors ✅ Showcase your business at a community-centered celebration Sign-Up Below: forms.gle/HtiXdPa3vgbr...

You’re invited! Join us for Community Day at the 29th Annual Texas Butterfly Festival 🦋 📅 Saturday, November 1, 2025 ⏰ 9 AM – 2 PM National Butterfly Center, Mission, TX FREE EVENT Help us kick off the festival with a day full of nature, family fun, and community!

Let's close out September with a weekend all about BATS! Join us for a weekend of fun, learning, and family activities.

Enter the 2025 North American Butterfly Photo Contest! Winners will be displayed at the National Butterfly Center and in the Winter 2025 issue of American Butterflies Magazine. For more information and the complete rules, visit our TBF website at: photos.nationalbutterflycenter.org

This Saturday! Join us for Picnic with the Reptiles We will start our morning with a hike through our Hackberry Trail to try to find some of our scaled friends. Then, we will enjoy some yummy snacks and an arts & craft while learn more about the Reptiles of the RGV.

We're grateful for the bit of rain we received yesterday! The plants and butterflies have soaked it right up. This makes the humidity very high. If you're coming out to visit us, please remember to come prepared for the outdoors. Your safety is important to us. 😀💧

Join us tomorrow for S'mores & Moths ft. Zena's Rescue Treats! Bring your flashlight and comfiest chairs to come hang around our campfire to learn about our wildlife. Plus, if you buy some dog treats your purchase helps dogs in shelters. You might even meet some Saturday night. Saturday 6-9pm

Finally, had the opportunity to walk the gardens this afternoon. Through the heat we had the opportunity to see some of our winged friends. At the birding area we came across this male Great Tailed Grackle who only had one eye. You never know what you'll see.

We are at 60 butterfly species for the month of August! Some highlights of this weekend's findings were Common Mestra, Double-dotted Skipper, Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak, and Mimosa Skipper. All photos by Member Dan Jones.

Upon arriving this morning we were welcomed by the sweet scent of our Whitebrush blooming. This Titan Sphinx Moth was enjoying it.

Gray Cracker! Thank you to guest Craig Hensley for finding this beauty. These butterflies are masters of camouflage and get their name because of the way that males produce a "cracking" sound for territorial display.

August just started, and we're already seeing some exciting surprises! We've recorded 36 butterfly species so far this month. Top 3 most exciting finds were a beautiful White Peacock, Brown-banded Skipper, and a White Patched Skipper.

Join us this August! We are trying to provide a little bit for everyone :D

Join us tomorrow for our weekly Guided Nature Walk, from 9:00am to 11:00am. We know it's hot out there, but the gardens are wonderful. Come prepared with your hat, long sleeve shirt and water bottle to explore the gardens with us. You never know what you'll see at the NBC!

The stream was popping with excitement yesterday morning. There were Painted Buntings, Orchard Orioles, Groove billed Anis, Lesser Goldfinch and others enjoying the water. Join us and let us know what you spot!

As July comes to a close, we want to invite you to our August Speaker event this Saturday. We are excited to welcome Ernesto Herrera to share his knowledge and experience with Reptiles and Amphibians of the RGV. You won't want to miss it 😃

Yesterday, member Dan Jones, observed a Ornythion Swallowtail nectaring on our Fiddlewoods. Alex quickly went out to see if he could refind it and get some pictures. This Swallowtail looks very similar to our Giant's, but yellow is paler on this species and with no yellow on the tail.

It's been one whole year since we launched our monthly educational programs, and it has been a fun journey. From native plants, to birds, to fishing, it has been an adventure. As we prepare to restart our Speaker Series this August and plan our fall schedule, we want to hear from you!

The butterflies are out this sunny morning. While sightings vary from day to day, there's always something beautiful to discover. If you're planning a visit, come early, wear sun protection, stay hydrated and be prepared for the heat. We hope to see you soon!

We've got two great opportunities for you this week: 🦋Native Plant Nursery Day Help us at our native plant nursery! We need extra hands to help us prepare soil, make plant bands, and plant. 🎣Rio Fishing at the NBC We still have a few spots open for our July 11th. Reserve your spot (956)583-5400

Thank you for participating and completing our Photo Scavenger Hunt this weekend! We love that you chose to spend your Sunday with us and our wildlife. This is also the first time that someone sits and completes one of our puzzles in the Chrysalis Pavillion.

Come explore, learn, and connect with nature this July. Save the dates and join us!

There is some fungi magic in the gardens! Remember that what you see above ground is just the fruiting body of a much larger hidden network underground. This underground web connects plants and trees, helping them share nutrients, water, and even chemical messages.

Registration is now open!

Check out this shot we got! It is not the best angle nor was it the sharpest, but we loved the interaction. At first glance our main focus was this Monarch and missed the bees and the fly coming into land. Remember we have our weekly Guided Nature Walk tomorrow from 9-11am!

Today's Butterfly of the Week is the Southern Dogface! Southern Dogface's host plant is Texas Kidneywood, plants in Fabaceae family, and Dalea species. Look at the colors on the caterpillar! #NationalButterflyCenter #LearnTogether

NEW Site Damselfly! Orange Bluet (Enallagma signatum) Thank you to the Mckee's, John and Cindy! Cindy photographed this male Orange Bluet in our parking lot pond on April 9th. Photo by Cindy McKee

Some of what we saw this morning. This weekend we invite you to take a break from the busy world and take a stroll through our trails. You never know what you might see at the NBC!

Today's Butterfly of the Week is the Guava Skipper. Guava Skippers are starting to pop up around the Rio Grande Valley and we thought it was time to highlight them. The host plant for this butterfly is Guavas. Do you have any in your yard?

It's hot out there, but the butterflies don't seem to mind. We have spotted 38 species, and it is only June 4th! They are flying around in the thistle, feeding on brew logs, and hiding under leaves. Check out this Guava Skipper that Member Beverly Pardue found! Can't wait to see you all here!

"Summer Wings" Join & Receive Our Limited-Edition Bandana! This Summer when you become a member at the Giant Swallowtail level ($60) or higher get our limited-edition butterfly bandana. Your support powers education, conservation, and community programming at the National Butterfly Center.

It is June!🌞 We are halfway through the year, and with more to offer. Save our calendar and make plans to come out and join this month. 🦋🦋🦋

Yesterday, we hosted the amazing 4th graders from IDEA Elsa Academy for an outdoor adventure, but Mother Nature had other plans! ⚡️ As the rain and lightning rolled in, we made a quick pivot indoors and kept the learning and fun going strong. #NBCLearns #NationalButterflyCenter #RGV

It's time for our Butterfly of the Week. This week it is the Silver Emperor! This species had been tough to find in the past years, and we hope they are rebounding and can become easier to see soon. Did you know only the males have the iridescent blue? #NationalButterflyCenter #LearnTogether

Save the Date and join us for our Mariposa Kermes! Join us for a fun-filled Mexican culture-themed kermes celebrating our Mariposas, community and conservation! Bring your family, friends, and festive spirit!

We spotted a couple of painted buntings yesterday—always a treat and a favorite among birders. The male stuns with his brilliant blue, red, and green feathers, while the female blends beautifully into the greenery with her olive tones. We’re lucky to have seen them. Keep your eyes (and ears) open!

Can you BEE-lieve it is National Bee Day?! Did you know the Rio Grande Valley is home to dozens of native bee species? Not just honeybees. These often-overlooked pollinators play a critical role in keeping our wildflowers blooming, native plants thriving, and food growing.

It's heating up fast in the Rio Grande Valley! With a few simple steps, you can still enjoy the trails, butterflies, and beauty of the great outdoors: Plan your visit earlier in the day, take breaks in the shade, and listen to your body. Nature is worth it, just be prepared!

Save our calendar and join us this month at the National Butterfly Center! We are always happy to see our friends and meet new ones.

Today was our Weekly Guided Nature Walk. Our participants saw an Altamira Oriole at eye level, Lark Sparrows, Chachalacas, Indigo Buntings and TWO Audobon's Orioles. How was your Friday morning?

Join us tomorrow from 9am to 11am for Kiskadee 101! We will learn about how to identify a bird through bird songs, field marks, and behavior. Then, we will learn about what tools we can all have handy while out on the field and last, but not least practice our new skills out in the trails.

We had reports of a bobcat in the trail after lunch. While putting out brew Nestor took his camera just in case and caught this. Witnessing this reminds us that every species has a role to play. Even when those roles include being predator or prey. This balance is critical to a healthy ecosystem.

Join us for a special evening with local birder Tiffany Kersten as she shares how with a series of unanticipated and serendipitous events, she found herself in the middle of a Big Year and her experience through it.

Every day is Earth Day. Join us for a FREE, fun, family-friendly celebration of our planet! Let us come together to learn a little more about the place we call home ❤

This Saturday join us under our Monarch Palapa and learn about Native Plants. We will have some fruits and vegetables, but you are welcome to pack your own picnic. We will learn about the importance of native plants and their connection to butterflies, birds and other wildlife.