Wunderkammern.
Literally, Wonder Cabinet.
Wunderkammerns started up in the early 1500s, when collectors would assemble curiosities from expeditions, voyages, and excursions into the natural world. They’d dedicate shelves, cabinets, or entire rooms to their “wonders,” showcasing everything from seashells, feathers, minerals to insects, horns, and animal skeletons.
Wonder cabinets extol the virtues of exploration, curiosity, and wonder. They align scientific learning with entertainment.
Our collection of wunderkammern insects are preserved between two plates of Plexiglas, framed in understated wood, so the marvel of the insect takes center stage. Specimens are collected by entomologists and other field experts and are sourced responsibly from tropical and subtropical insect farms.
BRUSH FOOTED BUTTERFLY- EUNICAA CHLOROCHROA Originates in Peru. These are exceptionally strong fliers and use only four legs to walk on that are extremely hairy
EUROPEAN PEACOCK Butterfly - INACHIS IO: Originates in Central Europe. The peacock style eyes on the wings of this butterfly serve as an effective distraction from predators.
GIANT BLUE MORPHO BUTTERFLY - MORPHO DIDIUS: Originates in Peru. These iridescent butterflies have captured the fascination of humans throughout the centuries, including the tsars, emperors and kings of Europe.
LUNA MOTH - ACTIAS LUNA: Originates in the United States of America. The Luna moth can not only look like a leaf itself but chooses the underside of a leaf as a safe location to lay its eggs.
COMMON MAP BUTTERFLY - CYRESTIS THYODAMAS: Originates in Thailand. Whilst the females are rarely seen the males can often be found on rocks and near rivers imbibing moisture and soaking up the sunlight.
BLUE CRACKER BUTTERFLY - HAMADRYAS AMPHINOME: Originates in Peru. The name derives from the male's ability to make a cracking noise with its wings to both drive off rivals and to attract a mate.
THE EMMA SPOTTED SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY - PAPILIO ANTENOR: Originates in Madagascar. These large butterflies are sometimes mistaken for birds. When in their larval state they are one of few insects which eat the poisonous vine “brithwort”.
MEADOW WANDERER BUTTERFLY - SALLY PECHUELI: Originates in the Central African Republic. As its name suggests this small butterfly wanders through the meadows loving its bright open areas.
PAPER KITE BUTTERFLY - IDEA IDEA IDEA: Originates in Indonesia. Named quite obviously for its looks the Paper Kite Butterfly has semi translucent wings with black spots resembling paper and ink.
SUNSET MOTH - URANIA RIPHEUS : Originates in Madagascar. The colors on the wings of this moth are of a type and a shade that their flapping wings creates a Kaleidoscope effect when viewed with the human eye.
PEARL MORPHO BUTTERFLY - MORPHO SULKOWSKI: Originates in Peru. The beautiful iridescent pearl hint to their wings changes their appearance based on the angle they are viewed from.
THE MONARCH - DANAUS PLEXIPPUS: Originates in the United States of America. One of the best known butterflies in the world. Originating in the Americas, it has since spread all around the world for Europe to Australia
CAPER WHITE BUTTERFLY - BELENOIS CALYPSO: Originates in the Central African Republic. These butterflies are commonly seen around the forests and Savannah of sub Saharan Africa. However you would be more likely to encounter a female in flight, as the males spend much of their time on or near to the ground.
CICADA - TOSENA SPLENDIDA: Originates in Thailand. With their name being a Latin translation of ‘Tree Cricket’, the Cicada is known for its loud mating call. It is created through the movement of its wings and is especially loud and noticeable at night.
BLUE MORPHO BUTTERFLY - MORPHO RHETENOR RHETENOR: Originates in Guyana. In order to compensate for their striking blue upper side they have a dark leaf like brown underside which helps to no end when it comes to hiding from predators.
BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLY - PERISAMA EURICLEA: Originates in Peru. This species are also known as four footed butterflies as they have only 4 legs which they use to stand. Their “Brush footed” name comes from their reduced hairy forelegs.
INDIAN DEAD-LEAF BUTTERFLY - KALLIMA INACHUS: Originates in India. This fascinating butterfly serves as one of the best examples of beauty and camouflage in one impressive package.
LEPRIEUR'S GLORY BUTTERFLY - CALLITHEA LEPRIEURI: Originates in Peru. This butterfly is unique in that it is one of few species which has an underside which is more visually striking and impressive than its top side.
GIANT BLUE SWALLOWTAIL - PAPILIO ZALMOXIS: Originates in the Central African Republic. Despite it being an African species the Swallowtails scientific name Papilio zalmoxis comes from the name of an ancient Thracian Romanian deity Zalmoxis.