Follow these guidelines and keep butterflies in your garden all season!

Whether you want to become a butterfly pro or identify the butterfly in your garden, this guide has the information for you.

Scroll through the care sheets or select a link to jump directly to a topic.

Caring For Your Butterflies
Caterpillar Rearing

You will receive your butterflies 1-2 days before your scheduled release. They will be packaged in individual envelopes inside an insulated box with an ice-pack to ensure safe arrival. As soon as you receive your butterflies, place them in a cool, dark place such as a refrigerator or a cooler (Around 40°-50°F). This will ensure that they will remain calm and dormant preventing their wings from becoming damaged. Remove them from the cool area 1-2 hours prior to the release so they can warm up. If you are having a mass release you can remove them from their individual envelopes at this time and put them in the release box.

Tip: If you would like your butterflies to linger for a long amount of time after releasing them, let them warm up for a shorter amount of time, approximately 30-45 minutes. After the release it will take a few minutes for their wings to warm up completely, so they will often fly onto the nearest surface, which could be your hand, shoulder or bouquet! This is always an exciting event!

Releasing the Butterflies

It should be at least 70° F when you release the butterflies. If it is overcast or chilly, they may not be as active. The release needs to take place at least one hour prior to sunset, so the butterflies can find a resting place for the night.

Caterpillar rearing can be a very exciting learning experience. Although it is relatively simple to care for your larvae as it progresses through it's life cycle, there are a few very important things to know. For easy to follow instructions on making your own caterpillar cage click here.

If you are interested in purchasing caterpillar rearing kits including larvae and artificial food, please contact us.

Larva
During the larval stage, it will be a very big eater and grow very quickly.  The larva will reach approximately 1 ¼” when it will crawl to a safe place and hang. It will then begin spinning thread and attach its tail to its resting place.

Chrysalis
In about 24 hours the larva will begin to pupate.The chrysalis is a tannish-gray color, accented with gold dots.  This casing protects the life inside. The Painted Lady stays in this state for 7 to 10 days, and then the butterfly emerges.

Adult
When the butterfly emerges it will need a flight cage with netting. For easy to follow instructions to make your own butterfly cage click here. After it emerges, its wings will be soft and crumpled. It will hang upside-down and pump its wings, filling them with blood and unfolding them.  The wings will dry and harden within the first day. The adult will need food within 1-2 days of emerging. Simply soak a cotton ball in sugar water (Grape Gatorade works great also) and place it at the bottom of the cage.

If you are raising a caterpillar you found outside, cut the stem off of its host plant. This will be it's food until it pupates.

This logo identifies a breeder with top quality hand-bred butterflies. Click on the logo for more information.

Your butterflies will be delivered to your door the day before the event! We guarantee the safe arrival of your butterflies. DETAILS

Owner:
Kimberly Richins
Lindon, UT