Butterflies and Insects

Twenty-four award-winning wildlife photographers come together to display works that celebrate the gift of flight and depict majestic creatures in their natural habitats.

These 70 images capture the detail of the bilaterally-symmetrical butterfly, as well as other insects and their arthropod relatives. Butterflies are seen as a multicultural symbol of beauty. Insects, on the other hand, are often met with slight prejudice and annoyance, but most are harmless and actually beneficial.

Insects make up one of the most diverse groups of animals on the planet, including more than 1 million described species and representing more than half of all known living organisms. These photographic works capture the beauty and splendor of nature’s smallest citizens. Enjoy what these talented photographers have done with nature’s genetic paintbrushes, truly works of art.

Butterflies and Insects is presented in the Ordover Gallery on Level 4 of the San Diego Natural History Museum. Visitors are invited to attend the opening reception on Saturday, September 19 from 11 AM to 1:30 PM, which is open to the public and free of charge.

Photo credit (above): Abe Ordover

Featured photographers include: 

  • Abe Ordover
  • Mark Drawbridge 
  • Elisa Decker
  • Will Gibson
  • Barbara Leven
  • Diane Smook
  • Sandy Zelasko
  • Dianne Yudelson
  • Barbara Swanson
  • Fredda Gordon
  • Paul Shilling
  • Mike Shane
  • Dori Johnsen
  • Caroline E. Brown
  • Alyce Mayo
  • Priscilla Whitbeck 
  • Mark Whitbeck
  • Lea Foster
  • Dick Lavine
  • Rex Short
  • Virginia Short
  • Joy Yagid 
  • Lewis Abulafia
  • Elizabeth Niesuchouski 


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