Receiving & Prepping Butterflies

BUTTERFLY CARE INSTRUCTIONS

1) IMMEDIATELY upon receiving your package, open the package and locate the ice packs, which are likely unthawed. Take note to the position of the ice packs as they will need to be returned to the same spot. Remove the ice packs and re-freeze.

2) While the ice packs are re-freezing, store the package in a cool, dark place such as a room or closet. This will keep the butterflies calm and inactive. Keep the package away from any direct source of heat or cold.

3) Once the ice packs are re-frozen, return them to the package in the same spot in which they were shipped. It is important that the ice packs are not in direct contact with the butterflies. The ice packs help to keep the butterflies cool so that they remain in their safe, calm state of dormancy as they await release.

4) Check the ice packs frequently. Refreeze and replace as necessary until approximately 2 hours prior to the release. This time frame may depend on the type of release, e.g., individual releases or mass releases. Please refer to the specific instructions relating to your release type.

*If your package arrives during times of extreme heat, the package may be placed in the center of a refrigerator (away from the freezer portion) for 30 minutes – NO LONGER – to rapidly cool the butterflies. NEVER place the butterflies in a freezer. This will kill them.

TRANSFERRING BUTTERFLIES TO A MASS RELEASE CONTAINER

Your butterflies have been shipped to you in individual envelopes to preserve their wing condition and to encourage them to enter a state of dormancy during shipping.

When should we transfer the butterflies?

If transferring the butterflies into a cardboard release box, you can do this the evening before if it is a morning wedding or the day of the event if it is later in the morning or afternoon. Once they are in the box, store in a cool, dark place (such as a basement or closet) until you are ready to transport them to your event. 

Just prior to releasing, however, the ambient temperature should be about 70-72 degrees to warm the butterflies. Butterflies are cold-blooded so they will not fly unless the temperature is at least 65 degrees.

If you are transferring them into a net hanging cage, or a table top cage or sheer box, we recommend you do this an hour or two before the event begins to prevent wing damage.  If the box is solid or covered, you may transfer them earlier. Keeping the cage or sheer box in a cool, low light condition will help keep the butterfly’s calm. When placing them outdoors, they cannot be kept in direct sunlight as they will be too active. Dappled sunshine is the best or even shade.  However, try to release them in a sunny area so that they are encouraged to fly.  In a display cage, flowers, ferns, and stems with leaves will help provide some shade for them if they are outdoors.  The time of day will make a difference also.  Later in the day, temperatures are cooler so the sunshine will not stimulate them as much.

What are the transfer steps?

Place the box containing the butterflies still in the envelopes, into a normal household type refrigerator (NOT THE FREEZER OR NEAR THE FREEZER) for 30 – 40 minutes—just before you are ready to transfer them. This will ensure that they are inactive for transfer.

1. Prepare the display cage, organza box or other container.  With a cardboard release box, you will need to line the box’s sides with paper toweling or tulle. This will give the butterflies a place to perch themselves. If it is easier, you can line the bottom also, but this is not necessary.  You may want to consider placing a piece of tissue paper crinkled up to form peaks, into the solid box or container and let one or more corners of the tissue paper come up the side of the box. Only a small amount of tissue is needed. Then when you lift the lid off the box to release your butterflies, you can gently tug on the tissue paper to gently stimulate the butterflies to fly out. This is not necessary, but is an idea if you have the time. With a sheer box, this is not necessary as they will have light.
2. Ensure your hands are clean and dry. Should you need to handle a butterfly, the oils from your skin will not affect the conditions of the wings.
3. Remove the butterflies from the refrigerator and take them with the box or the cage into a small room with low ceilings (a bathroom is perfect) and shut the door while you are making the transfer.
4. Working steadily, pick up each envelope and hold it just inside the box or the cage, open/unfold the envelope and let the butterfly slide out onto the bottom of the box or cage. As they warm up, the butterflies will start fluttering their wings and moving around.  This is normal.  Keep up your work until all the butterflies are transferred, then quickly close the lid of the box or netting. You should be able to transfer all the butterflies into your box or cage with no escapees. 

Should a butterfly escape during the transfer process, you will need to recapture it. No problem. Despite what you’ve always been told, handling a butterfly gently will not hurt it. Butterflies are attracted to light, so the escapee will fly toward a window or other source of light in the room. Simply pick it up with the wings closed, close to its body. Alternatively, you can cup your hands around the escapee and transfer it to the box/cage.