EAZA News 57-12 - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

Termites nest
photo eugène bruins/artis royal zoo
A 1.5 - year-old nest of the African termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) was
added to the insect house in July 2006. The nest, which was kindly donated
by Basel Zoo, then weighed 240 kg and measured 90 cm in height. The
nest, grown in two plastic crates placed on a board, was transported by
the transport firm Ekipa. A temperature just below 26°C kept the termites
inside their nest, so no further protection was needed.
The nest is now housed in an 4.5 x 2.1 m enclosure. The height right
above the nest is 3.1 m. The nest was placed on a 380 x 160 cm bed of
loam and clay, with a depth of 45 cm. Water flows around this area, to
protect the termites from escaping (the insect house mainly consists of
wood…). A 50 mm diameter PVC pipe goes from the nest through the
concrete floor of the enclosure to groundwater level. With this constant
access to the groundwater, the termites can regulate the moisture level
within the nest themselves. The temperature is kept at 27°C.
The termites are fed several times a week with hay, straw, wood or elephant
dung (a favourite!) and often the termites can be spotted eating. About
once every week, thousands of termites suddenly start expanding the
nest, producing a new bump 35 cm in diameter, about 3 cm thick, within
approximately two hours. The educational presentation now consists of
an information panel and a video screen. We plan to construct a camera
above the feeding site for live footage. Visitors are much attracted by this
new, interesting enclosure.
Butterfly pavilion
The insect collection in Artis Royal Zoo grew even more after the inauguration
of the butterfly pavilion on 4 October 2006, by Her Royal Highness
Princess Margriet. A team of butterfly specialists, architects, landscape
artists, botanists and educators worked together to turn a unique concept
into reality in the pavilion’s design and construction. The aim was not
to reproduce an entirely natural environment, but to create a spatial
experience in a 1000 m2 large greenhouse. Butterflies flutter through the
air and alight on flowers in colourful patches as visitors wander around
freely. The pavilion is an island in the zoo and the pavilion itself also has a
pattern of green and colourful islands. This pattern reflects the atmosphere
of the historical zoo with its curved paths and surprises around every corner.
new enclosures
The pavilion is kept at a constant 27°C and a large waterfall ensures a
high relative humidity. A specially designed roof, consisting of three layers
of plastic between which air is blown, provides the greenhouse with much
natural sunlight. No additional lighting is used to increase butterfly activity,
as no butterfly house could really assure us that this method would help.
Seven main species
Visitors in the butterfly pavilion can enjoy a wealth of tropical butterfly
species, of which seven are selected to be the main species; the postman
butterfly (Heliconius melpomene), the glasswing (Greta oto), the morpho
butterfly (Morpho sp.), the owl butterfly (Caligo sp.), the atlas moth
(Attacus atlas), the Thoas swallowtail (Papilio thoas) and the paper butterfly
(Idea leuconoe). Breeding is done mostly for educational purposes
and mainly with postman butterflies, since their pupae are difficult to
transport. Visitors can see the caterpillars grow in a separate breeding area
of 50 m2 next to the butterfly house, and how once a week newly arrived
pupae are put on a needle before being placed in the pupae cabinet.
photo eugène bruins/artis royal zoo
More than butterflies
One will not only find butterflies in the butterfly pavilion, but other
species as well. Leafcutter ants have to walk 7 m from their nest through
a transparent tube to reach their feeding terrarium. Some visitors are
pleasantly surprised when they spot a Guyana grasshopper (Tropidacris
collaris) or a fruit beetle (Pachnoda marginata) between the plants.
By releasing only males, it is guaranteed that no plague of these species
develops. Several bird species are planned to be released for biological
control. Hummingbirds are deployed to combat spiders, as they construct
their nests from spider web gossamer. Quails will forage on the floor of
the pavilion, functioning as a ‘natural’ enemy to the ‘local’ ants. The
excreta of these and other bird species are vital to the glasswing butterfly,
which needs the minerals in these faeces as food. •
With the insect house, Artis Royal Zoo has created a new benchmark
for invertebrate exhibitions in the Netherlands and Europe. The butterfly
pavilion further reinforced this reputation. Both exhibitions attract many
visitors.
eaza news 57
2007
23