Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
Releases
You can buy butterflies to release from Clearwater Butterfly. A butterfly farm that follows ethical practices, we offer a variety of Painted Lady butterfly release packages and kits for events, including individual and mass release options. Visit our shop page here to explore packages and delivery options.
We provide live butterflies, carefully packaged and ready to create lasting memories at your event. Shipped to arrive the day before your celebration, each order includes easy-to-follow care and release instructions to ensure your butterflies are vibrant and ready to take flight.
Choose from two enchanting butterfly release options to suit your vision:
- Individual Butterfly Release: Each butterfly is shipped in its own container, making it easy to share with your guests. When it’s time, everyone can release their butterfly for a personal and memorable experience. The containers also double as keepsakes, adding a special touch to your event.
- Mass Butterfly Release: For a grand and dramatic display, the butterflies come together in a decorative mass release container. Simply remove the lid when you’re ready, and watch as the butterflies take off in a stunning burst of color. With several design options available, you can coordinate the container to match your event’s theme.
No matter which option you choose, our butterflies bring wonder and beauty, leaving a lasting impression on you and your guests.
Always release butterflies during daylight hours, ensuring there are at least 2 hours before sunset. Butterflies won’t fly at night, and releasing them too late may cause them to fly slowly or not at all.
- On a cooler day (60-74 degrees), leave your packaged butterflies outside in a shaded area for ~1 hour.
- On a warmer day (75+ degrees), leave your packaged butterflies outside in a shaded area for ~30 minutes.
These butterfly release instructions are designed to be followed for both Mass and Individual Releases.
NEVER leave your butterflies in direct sunlight or in a non air-conditioned vehicle.
We guarantee our butterflies will arrive alive and healthy.
However, if any arrive deceased, please contact us within 24 hours. We may request a few photos for verification. To account for rare losses, we include 2-5 extra butterflies in your shipment.
For the best release experience, avoid inclement weather or temperatures below 70 degrees. Butterflies should never be released in the rain. Instead, consider showcasing them as a beautiful centerpiece. Cover a basket with tulle, secure it with a ribbon, and create a display cage. Butterflies can live in the basket or be released on a sunnier day. Check our feeding instructions for display cages or release boxes.
Remember, releases must happen outdoors during daylight hours.
Butterflies are cold-blooded creatures. Keeping them cool is the key to taking amazing photographs of them wherever you want. Follow these simple steps:
- Refrigerate the desired butterflies for about 30 minutes.
- Quickly take the hibernated butterfly and place them where you intend to take the photo.
- As the butterfly warms, it will start to stand up and flap its wings slowly. You will have a solid minute to take pictures before the butterfly flies away, so have your camera ready!
For more information on delivery and care instructions, click here.
No need to worry! Caring for the butterflies is easy. Detailed instructions come with every order and are also available online for your convenience.
There’s no need to feed or refrigerate them – just handle them as little as possible to keep them dormant and ready for release.
Yes! We ship butterflies only to areas where native populations of the same species exist. For instance, we do not ship Monarch butterflies west of the Continental Divide, such as to California, due to genetic differences between Eastern and Western Monarchs. Painted Lady butterflies, however, naturally occur in every state across the Continental U.S. and Alaska.
We comply with USDA regulations, which require all shippers of live butterflies to maintain valid shipping permits. Clearwater Butterfly holds all necessary documentation, available to customers upon request.
Monarch butterflies should only be released when the temperature is above 55°F, and Painted Lady butterflies should be released when it’s above 60°F to ensure vibrant flight. Warmer temperatures are ideal for a successful release, even up to 100°F, as these butterflies are raised in sunny Florida and thrive in warmth. For butterfly releases during colder seasons, go here.
We understand weather can be unpredictable, so we offer weather-related cancellations. For full details, please review our Terms of Sale.
Released butterflies often stay near the release area for several hours. Some may even remain for weeks if the environment includes their host plants. They’ll explore until they find suitable plants and continue their natural lifecycle. Because we only ship to states with native butterfly populations, our butterflies are naturally adapted to the local environment.
Butterfly releases can be ethical when done responsibly. At Clearwater Butterfly, all butterflies and caterpillars are raised on our Florida farm under sustainable practices, rather than being taken from the wild. This approach protects local ecosystems and actively supports conservation efforts, ensuring the butterflies are healthy and well-suited for release.
Additionally, releasing butterflies in good weather and suitable environments ensures their safety. By choosing Clearwater Butterfly, which prioritizes ethical and eco-friendly practices, you can host a butterfly release that is both beautiful and environmentally responsible.
Grow Kits
You can purchase butterfly grow kits from Clearwater Butterfly. We offer a variety of kits, including options for 5, 10, or 33 live caterpillars, perfect for classrooms, families, or nature enthusiasts. These kits include everything you need to watch caterpillars transform into butterflies, such as nutritious food and enclosures. Visit our Butterfly Growing Kits page for more details.
The time it takes for a butterfly to hatch depends on its life cycle stage. After a caterpillar forms a chrysalis, it typically takes about 7-10 days for the butterfly to emerge. This process can vary slightly depending on the species and environmental conditions. For a hands-on experience, Clearwater Butterfly offers grow kits that allow you to observe this fascinating transformation up close.
Ordering
Your butterflies are shipped via overnight express with FedEx, arriving fresh and ready the day before your event. They travel in a specially designed insulated cooler with freezer packs to keep them at a safe, comfortable temperature. Since butterflies are cold-blooded, the cool environment naturally puts them into a state of hibernation, keeping them calm and protected throughout the journey.
To ensure every butterfly is strong and vibrant, they are fed and tested for flight before shipping. We guarantee healthy, beautiful butterflies will arrive at your door, ready to make your event unforgettable!
For the best experience, we recommend placing your order at least 10 days in advance to secure availability, especially during the busy summer months. While we do our best to accommodate last-minute requests, availability cannot always be guaranteed. If you’re ordering with less than 3 days’ notice or have questions, feel free to reach out to us at 407-366-8299 to confirm availability or get assistance.
Order your butterflies easily through our online shop. Enjoy automatic discounts at checkout, as orders placed online are generally discounted. Have questions about your butterfly release? Email us at info@clearwaterbutterfly.com or call 407-366-8299 to speak with a representative.
For a Mass Release, plan for 1 Monarch per 3 guests or 1 Painted Lady per 2 guests.
Monarchs are larger, so fewer create the same visual effect as more Painted Ladies.
For Individual Releases, order 1 butterfly per guest to give everyone a special moment. Most people order around 4 dozen butterflies on average.
We’re happy to help with changes to your order whenever possible!
- Shipping Address Updates: Must be submitted at least 48 hours before shipment. Please make sure to notify us by both phone and email so we can confirm the change.
- Order Modifications: Changes like event date, butterfly quantity, release method, or personalization must be requested at least 7 days before your release date, via both phone and email. Late changes aren’t possible, except for increasing the number of butterflies (depending on last-minute availability).
For the best experience, we recommend making any orders or updates as early as you can!
Butterflies are shipped to arrive the day before your event if your release is planned for Wednesday through Sunday. For Monday or Tuesday events, please contact us by phone or email before placing your order to confirm delivery availability.
We recommend having someone available to receive the butterflies on the delivery day. While they typically arrive before noon, we cannot guarantee an exact delivery time. If no one can be home to accept the package, we can ship to an alternate address or arrange for pickup at a local FedEx facility. Contact us in advance if you need to make changes to your shipping details. For full information, please review our Terms of Sale.
Painted Ladies can be shipped anywhere in the Continental United States, including Alaska. Monarchs, however, cannot be shipped to states west of the Continental Divide due to environmental regulations.
Monarch butterflies are harder to breed than Painted Lady butterflies, increasing cost in terms of materials, labor, and time. Interestingly, Painted Lady butterflies are very similar in color to Monarchs. They also tend to stick around longer after release because they’re attracted to a wider variety of host plants compared to Monarchs. For a deep dive into more butterfly facts, click here.
Returns & Cancellations
A full refund will be issued if the order is cancelled a minimum of 30 days prior to the event. Cancellation 29 to 8 days before the event will result in a 50% refund. Cancellation 7 days or less before the event will result in no refund.
We do not refund monies due to inclement weather. If you have any questions regarding your order please contact us M-F 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Eastern time at 407-366-8299.
We will not and do not accept the return of any live butterflies.