Part of New Orleans’ respected Audubon Nature Institute, the insectarium has more than 50 live exhibits covering all aspects of the life of insects. A termite gallery explores the effects of the wood-eating bugs on a wooden version of the New Orleans skyline, while the Louisiana Swamp habitat takes you through the sights and sounds of the bayou with special visual and audio effects.
The butterfly garden, officially known as the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation Butterflies in Flight, houses hundreds of butterflies and is one of the insectarium’s most popular attractions. You can expect to see many different colorful types flying past here and possibly even landing on your head or shoulders. Visitors often choose to combine a trip to the insectarium with one of Audubon’s other sites in the city with a combined ticket or New Orleans multi-attraction pass that includes skip-the-line entry.