Butterfly Kits: Good for Kids, Good for Butterflies!

Insect Lore's butterfly-raising kits aren't just an invaluable learning experience for family and classroom bonding - they're also environmentally and ecologically responsible! In this article, you'll learn all about the many benefits of our insect habitats, and the ongoing effect they have on our world weeks, months and years after the initial experience! 

Educational Benefits of Butterfly Kits

Insect Lore butterfly growing kits provide the unforgettable opportunity to witness the full life cycle of metamorphosis, from tiny caterpillar to adult butterfly! Aside from teaching important lessons about patience, concentration, life cycle biology and nature, our kits give both children and adults a hands-on, screen-free experience that is all too uncommon in today's tech-focused world. Flutter along with us as we take a closer look at these benefits of our products:

Hands-On Learning

Insect Lore's Butterfly Growing Kits give families and classrooms the uniquely vivid experience of witnessing and observing a profound life cycle transformation that is usually completely hidden from human eyes. Take a break from screens, whether it's the TV, the phone or the computer, and feast your eyes on Nature's incredible secrets of metamorphosis!

Developing Key Skills

Through the daily observation of their caterpillar's transformation, children learn to develop mindfulness and patience while focusing on their educational experience. By making regular reports and notes on their physical changes and behaviors, they learn to pull back from the mental need for "instant gratification", instead becoming accustomed to a slower, more contemplative learning process! 

STEM Learning Opportunities

Our butterfly-raising kits aren't just a passive process of watching and waiting. Whether at home or in the classroom, you and your children will be making constant cross-curricular connections between biology, entomology, ecology, environmentalism, and the step-by-step process of the scientific method. It's a fully-fledged STEM educational sensation, weaving together multiple "families" of scientific thought!  Whether you and your kids are journaling their experiences, predicting the outcomes of the project, or reviewing biological and ecological information, you're putting them well on their way to becoming an experienced and educated Entomologist! 

Fostering Environmental Awareness

Of course, our butterfly-raising kits aren't just about dry academic study, and the rote memorization of insect factoids. They're about creating a lasting connection to nature for the rest of a child's life, building love, empathy and awareness for the fragile world around us! Direct experiences raising butterflies and releasing them out into the world helps to create a strong foundation for conservation values, for our environment and all the amazing animals that live in it! 

Ecological Benefits of Butterfly Kits

We've discussed in-depth the many advantages our kits bring to your child's educational journey. Yet they're also a major aid to our environment itself! By supporting native pollinator species, ensuring no adverse impact on local populations, and creating further conservation opportunities, our butterfly-raising kits are the perfect gift for any environmentalist! Join us as we explore these transformative benefits below:

Supporting Generalist Pollinators

Insect Lore takes great care to ensure our insects are beneficial to the environment, no matter where they are released! We have specifically chosen our iconic Painted Lady butterfly as they are "generalist" pollinators, which means that they visit a wide array of plant species and do not disrupt special "plant-pollinator" relationships! With their broad appetites for plants, Painted Ladies help to pollinate a hugely diverse world of flowering life! 

No Impact of Population Genetics

When placed against the scale of natural wild populations of butterflies, the numbers from  butterfly-releasing kits are an insignificant presence. However, people should always take care to ensure the insects they release will not disrupt any native animals. Luckily, the Painted Lady is a very special butterfly!

Supporting Native Species 

Why have we chosen the Painted Lady butterfly? To put it simply, it's because they're one of the most well-traveled butterflies on the planet, with a presence on every continent except antarctica and South America! Due to this widespread population, the Painted Lady can be safely released anywhere on the continental United States, at no risk of disrupting the local population or failing to find adequate food. Unlike other species such as Monarchs, the Painted Lady does not have a specific food source and can feed, flutter and thrive in a wide variety of environments and ecosystems. 

Conservation Benefits of Butterfly Kits 

The conservation opportunities through the use of Insect Lore's butterfly-growing kits are endless, whether it is through habitat creation, building a foundation for environmental stewardship, or helping struggling local populations! Read on to discover more:

Inspiring Habitat Creation

Many nature lovers who purchase a Butterfly-Growing Kit from Insect Lore are inspired to grow a colorful home for their fluttering friends once they are released! This includes the planting of butterfly gardens, with bright flowers with broad landing pads for butterflies to perch upon. Research native plants in your area to find one of the many favorite foods our butterfly friends love! You don't need to plant flowers to create a pollinator-friendly space - try creating a shady spot with some plentiful water for thirsty fliers! 

Creating Environmental Stewards

By witnessing the up-close transformation of caterpillars to butterflies, and having a hands-on role in their own metamorphosis, children gain a tangible perspective on natural and biological concepts that are often too abstract and distanced from usual life. A single butterfly-raising experience from one of Insect Lore's kits creates a valuable "entry point" for natural dialogues about environmental protection, conservation and awareness!

Supplementing Declining Populations

It's no secret that butterfly populations are struggling around the world. The good news is that even a small-scale butterfly release can have a positive effect on local butterfly populations, especially in areas where habitat loss has led to reduced numbers. A single Painted Lady butterfly can lay anywhere between 200-500 caterpillar eggs in a single lifespan! Pair that with habitat creation in the form of simple garden planting and cultivation, and you've got the perfect tool for aiding struggling butterfly communities! 

Are Butterfly Growing Kits Friendly to Butterflies?

Of course! Insect Lore's butterfly kits are meant to be a safe and humane experience for the caterpillars and butterflies you will be caring for. We have worked tirelessly to ensure they have the most nutritious food available and their living spaces are comfortable and safe while you are caring for your butterflies indoors. 

Duration of Their Stay

Your adult butterflies are only in their habitat for 2-3 days of observation (barring any intense or cold weather). We understand that our butterfly friends are meant to fly free, and all of our kits are developed with that conclusion in mind! End your metamorphosis journey by releasing your friends out into the wild, so they can fulfill their natural purposes of mating, reproducing, and exploring our big beautiful world!

Survival Benefits of Protected Development

Growing butterflies are very vulnerable during their metamorphosis, whether they are caterpillars or in chrysalis form. Insect Lore caterpillars and chrysalides are safer within the Insect Lore cups and habitats than they are out in the wild! This is due to several factors, including protection from predators and insulation from strong weather, hot or cold! 

Appropriate Care Conditions

Our butterfly-growing kits are carefully crafted to provide our insects with enough space to move, eat and grow, protection from outside elements, and enough nutrition to carry them through their long and complex metamorphosis journey. The health and safety of our insect friends is our guarantee! 

Best Practices for Using Insect Lore Butterfly Kits 

Want to make the most of your metamorphosis experience? Follow these guidelines below to Get Growing! 

• Follow release guidelines: Release during appropriate weather conditions and time of day to maximize survival.

• Create butterfly-friendly gardens: Plant native nectar sources and host plants for ongoing pollinator support beyond the kit experience.

• Know when NOT to release: Understand inappropriate weather conditions and ensure a snowstorm isn't on the horizon when you release your fluttering friends!

• Enhance educational components: Encourage observation journals, research projects, and learning that extends beyond the release day of your butterflies. 

Experience the Benefit of Butterfly Kits with Insect Lore

Your journey into the incredible world of metamorphosis is just getting started! Flutter over to our Butterfly Raising Kits and prepare to transform your perspective on nature!