Where to purchase caterpillars

Most butterflies prefer to feed on nectar, but others will feed on the juices of rotting fruit or animal dung. If butterflies get too cold, they cannot fly, feed or mate. That's why we recommend you release your butterflies when daytime temperatures are above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Painted Lady butterflies can adjust to almost any habitat. They are found in suburban, agricultural, swamp, bog, marsh, tundra, desert, meadow, forest, rainforest and mountain environments.

All butterflies have a long, tube-shaped mouth called a "proboscis" which they use to drink liquids such as plant nectar. When not in use, this proboscis stays curled up and out of sight. The vibrant colors of a butterfly's wings warn predators to stay away.

These bright colors signify that the butterfly may taste bitter or may even be poisonous. Butterflies have no lungs. They breathe through openings on their abdomen called 'spiracles'. A group of butterflies is known as a "flutter", "swarm", "rabble" or "kaleidoscope" of butterflies. A caterpillar's first meal is often its own eggshell. The outer shell of the egg is rich in protein and gives them a nutritious boost. Butterflies are nearsighted but can see many of the same colors that we can - as well as ultraviolet colors that we are unable to see.

Once released, Painted Lady butterflies can live outdoors for as long as an entire year. Painted Lady caterpillars will shed their exoskeleton five times as they eat and grow. The largest threat to butterflies is the loss of their habitats. The increase in farming, forestry, land and building development and climate change result in the decline of butterflies and moths. Butterflies produce a special adhesive to "glue" their eggs to host plants. Painted Lady butterflies inhabit every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

A butterfly cannot fly or eat immediately after emergence. It needs time to prepare itself for life as a butterfly. Painted Lady butterflies lay their eggs on thistle, malva or mallow , hollyhock and fiddleneck. Painted Lady caterpillars spin silk. They use this silk to attach themselves to their host plants.

You'll see your caterpillars spinning silk when your Cup of Caterpillars arrives. Caterpillars have about 4, muscles compare humans, with They move through contraction of the muscles in the rear segments pushing the blood forward into the front segments elongating the torso. The average caterpillar has muscles in the head segment alone. The USDA governs which butterflies can be shipped into which state! UPS Ground in Florida is next day. Caterpillars need to be shipped for next day delivery as they do not well in shipping over one day.

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars-Danaus plexippus. Grow your own butterflies and witness their amazing life cycle close-up with the Caterpillar to Butterfly Kit. Witness the fascinating life journey of painted lady butterflies with the Caterpillar to Butterfly Kit. This is the perfect gift for butterfly and nature lovers of all ages. Observe the butterfly life cycle close-up in butterfly-friendly habitats. From caterpillar to butterfly takes around 3 weeks with our butterfly kit.

With this kit, you can enjoy rearing butterflies any time of the year, even during winter time! Teaching children about life cycles is the perfect way to help them connect with nature and understand the world around them. Growing butterflies helps them learn about one of the most famous examples of complete metamorphosis.

Hungry caterpillars will undergo a rapid transformation and finally emerge as captivating butterflies with completely different features. With this kit, kids can observe all the changes take place in front of them and get a hands-on experience.

This kit is a favorite among children for science projects as well. They can check and report on the progress of their caterpillars each day. Homeschooling parents can include this kit in their butterfly lesson plan.

Growing butterflies teaches children how to handle responsibility as well. Growing butterflies with this kit is a fun DIY project. You can watch your caterpillars transform into butterflies through secure, see-through habitats. All our habitats are butterfly-friendly, safe for children, and completely reusable.

You can also use them to keep and raise other small bugs. Butterflies live a short life. Significant changes happen in them quickly as they transform from caterpillars to butterflies. Your caterpillars will take about 3 weeks to grow into butterflies. You can keep the fully-grown butterflies in the habitat for a few days. While they are with you, you can feed them slices of freshly cut fruit or sugar water.

You can continue to observe their unique behavior — they taste with their feet and drink with their tube-like mouth! Maynard Bach — August 24, I gave this to my grand daughters, ages 4 and 6. They studied about butterflies. They watched the caterpillars turn into chrysalis, then had 10 butterflies.

They were delighted!! Great learning experience. Jeff Jochims — August 24, Released 6 new butterflies couple weeks later.

Jennifer Robinson — August 24, Actually only 4 out of the 6 caterpillars became butterflies. Two died!!! Other than that the kit was Wonderful. Danny G. Our kit had an extra caterpillar for 6 caterpillars. So far they are all healthy and growing and eating.