Free Butterfly Eggs!

Simply pay shipping or pick up at our farm!

Shipping Information

We will ship only via FedEx or UPS

Next Day Air is the safest method of shipment. We will ship if you choose Second, Third Day, or Ground but we do not endorse slower shipment. Eggs are alive and slower shipments may result in loss of viability of your eggs.

Simply choose your method of shipping and send either a shipping label or actual shipping payment for your shipment.

Instructions

BE SURE YOU HAVE HOST PLANTS BEFORE ASKING US TO SHIP YOUR EGGS!

The USDA allows shipment of Monarchs from Florida to states east of the continental divide. Painted Ladies can be shipped to all states except Hawaii, Alaska, and New Mexico.

Monarch caterpillars require milkweed in order to eat and survive.

Painted Lady caterpillars are able to eat several host plants; plantain, thistle, sunflower, okra, and more. If you do not have host plant to feed your Painted Lady caterpillars, you can purchase artificial diet for them.

If your host plant has been treated with an insecticide within the last eight weeks, it is very likely your caterpillars will die. Be sure to use plants which are safe for your caterpillars to eat. If your plant was grown organically, it does not mean it is safe for your caterpillars. Organically grown plants may be treated with bt to control caterpillars.

How to care for your butterfly eggs:

Your butterfly eggs will be shipped on cut leaves which will dry out immediately.

Do not keep them in a sealed container; the moisture level in the container may become too high and bacteria and/or a fungus could rot the eggs. Use a container with a limited amount of airflow.

Be sure to add FRESH host plant leaves daily. Upon arrival of the eggs, add host plant leaves immediately. Add leaves even before the eggs hatch. This will provide enough moisture in your container to prevent your eggs from dehydrating. If the leaves become crispy dry during the day, add more leaves. If your container has a high volume of airflow, place a paper towel over the opening to slow dehydration of the leaves.

Young caterpillars need fresh young leaves. Do not add older, tougher leaves to the container but instead add fresh tip growth.

Remember, these eggs are living insects. Insect spray used in the same building as your butterfly eggs could kill the eggs.

When your caterpillars hatch: Add fresh leaves twice a day. Caterpillars will eat at night as well as during the day. If the leaves dry out in less than 8 hours, use a wet paper towel to wrap the stems and cover the paper towel with aluminum foil. This creates a 'vase' which supplies moisture to the stems yet does not add a lot of water or moisture to the bottom of the container.

NEVER move a caterpillar if it will not move its back legs (prolegs) when you 'tickle' the rear of the caterpillar. Caterpillars molt, or shed their skin, five times. To molt, the caterpillar will spin a little silk mat and attach its back legs (prolegs) into this mat. After about 24 hours it will simply split its skin and crawl out. Because a caterpillar's skin never grows, it is essential for it to molt to live. If it is moved while molting it will not be able to crawl out of its skin and will die.

Be sure to allow about three inches for Painted Ladies and four inches for Monarchs to pupate and emerge. If it emerges from its chrysalis and the chrysalis is too close to the bottom of the container, your butterfly's wings may be crippled.

How Can I Tell When My Caterpillar Is About To Pupate or Turn Into a Chrysalis?

Your caterpillar will stop eating and start to wander in its little world. It will choose a spot and lay a mat of silk. It will then lock its back legs (prolegs) into this silk and soon let go and hang in a 'J'. After about 24 hours you will notice that the 'J' has become almost an 'I'. If it has antennae the will look ragged and it will look almost like a drab, dead, caterpillar. It will start moving up and down like an accordion. Its skin will split between the antenna and your caterpillar will simply wiggle out of its skin.

DO NOT touch it for 24 hours after it pupates. Its skin will be so soft it could die from being touched after it pupates. After 24 hours you can touch it gently or move it.

You can wet the silk holding your chrysalis with water and gently remove it if it has pupated in an awkward spot. Simply use a straight pin and pin it through this silk to another object for it to emerge or use a cool-temp glue gun and glue it to a paper towel which you can hang. Be sure to glue the chrysalis at the same end as it was originally attached. Monarchs as well as most butterflies need to hang to expand their wings properly.

How Can I Tell When My Butterfly Is About To Emerge From Its Chrysalis?

The day before your butterfly will emerge you can usually see the butterfly's wings through the chrysalis skin. At first the outer skin is like a pane of glass or plastic wrap, clear as can be. An hour or so before it is going to emerge (eclose); the outer skin becomes cloudy like wax paper. Watch for this cloudiness.

Your butterfly will simply push the chrysalis open and wiggle out. It will hang from its feet and slowly expand its wings.

Do not move it for several hours, at least until its wings are totally dry. Do not touch the butterfly or its cage while it is hanging. It can be damaged if it falls and cannot climb back up to expand its wings.

Links

• Contact us: edith@buyabutterfly.com
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• USPS

Order Form

Please Email the Following Information to edith@buyabutterfly.com

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Complete Mailing Address
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Butterfly Type: Monarch or Painted Lady
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Please Mail Checks to:
Shady Oak Butterfly Farm
12876 SW CR 231
Brooker, FL 32622

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