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:

1. Refrigerate the desired butterflies for about 30 minutes.
2. Quickly take the hibernated butterfly and place them where you intend to take the photo.
3. 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.