Accordion Box Butterfly Release Instructions

How exciting! You have received your shipment of live Butterflies. If this is your first time to receive and release butterflies you may be very nervous about what you are supposed to do. You may be a little scared about even touching the box that holds these precious creatures. Simply follow these instructions. Everything will work out perfectly for your butterfly release!

Accordion Butterfly Release Box;   Receiving Your Butterflies

First things First:

You do not need to be too worried about handling your box of butterflies. We pack them to insure they can handle the bumps and thumps of shipment. You would have to be pretty harsh with them to damage them. INSECT SPRAY will kill your butterflies. Do not store them in an area that has been recently treated for insects. Do not use insect spray near your butterflies!

Accordion Butterfly Release Box - Opening Your Shipping Box:

Please open your cardboard box. Inside you will find that it is lined in Styrofoam. Remove the top of the Styrofoam. You will be able to see your pre-packed Accordion Butterfly Release Box and the ice packs inside of the box. Please remove the ice packs and refreeze it/them in your freezer. Use frozen fruit or vegetables to replace the ice pack if necessary. Exchange ice packs every morning and evening.Be sure to replace the lid of the Styrofoam every time you walk away from the box. This is important! Your butterflies need to be kept cool and dark so they sleep while they are in the box.

DO NOT PUT YOUR BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR OR IN DIRECT SUN LIGHT.

The Day of Your Release:

If your release is in the afternoon you will need to check the ice packs to see if they are still cold. Refreeze when necessary.

Check the weather for the city you are going to be releasing the butterflies. If it is going to be raining that day you will need to make sure to wait until it is not raining to do the release. Remember that butterflies survive through thunderstorms and hurricanes, the rain will not kill or harm the butterflies. The reason you do not release when it is raining is that they will not fly in the rain. Also you will need to make sure it is not below 63 degrees during the release. Butterflies will not fly if it is too cold.

Remove your release box 2 hours prior to the release so they can warm up prior to the release. Please DO NOT remove the butterflies more then 2 hours prior. If you take them out too soon they can become too hot or they can become tattered from trying to get out of the box. If you do not take them out soon enough they will not be warm enough to fly for the release. DO NOT leave the release box in direct sunlight when they are warming up.

To Open your Accordion Butterfly Release Box:

If your Accordion Butterfly Release Box is a small white box covered in white sheer material, simply lift the lid swiftly. Your butterflies will automatically be lifted out of the box and released together. If your Accordion Butterfly Release Box is a white, gold, or silver box which is not transparent, at the time of your release, open the lid. Grasp the tab and pull swiftly but gently upward. Your butterflies will automatically be lifted out of the box and released together. If your butterflies are accidentally released indoors before your designated time, follow the instructions below.

Packing or repacking an Accordion Butterfly Release Box is easy ... yet can be very challenging!

Tips to help:

Cool your butterflies! Temperatures below 40 degrees can kill them. If you place them in a refrigerator, do not leave them for more than a minute at the most.

Use screened container like the small caterpillar castle if you have one handy. If your butterflies become very active, place them back into a cooler until they cool down again. Place three to five butterflies between each layer of tissue. Pack your butterflies in your accordion box in as dark of a room as possible. A covered window with a small amount of light is best. If a butterfly escapes from the box, it will fly to the window where you can easily pick it up again. Butterflies can escape from a VERY small area. Even a small crack is enough for them to work through. Touching and holding butterflies will not harm them unless you are rough with them. They are not fragile creatures, they are tough little lovely rascals. (The word 'rascals' will seem very apt if you don't pack them quickly when they are cool!) Store your packed Accordion Butterfly Release Box in a cooler with ice packs or frozen vegetables. Keep the temperature between 45 and 55 degrees if possible. Move the Accordion Butterfly Release Box to a warmer area, over 72 degrees, an hour before your release. Do not place the box in direct sun or a very hot area. Please phone (352) 483-2458 or email us at edith@buyabutterfly.com if you have any questions! After packing your box, do not open it again until you are ready for your release.

Grasp your Monarchs by their wings, three to five at a time.	Lift the lowest layer of tissue and slip your butterflies between the layers of tissue paper.
Hold your butterflies while you lay the tissue layer over them.	Even though you have cooled your butterflies, the stimulation of touch will cause them to become a bit active. Use both hands to lay the tissue over them.
Cover the box with the upside down lid while you are gathering more butterflies to pack into the box.	Lift the next layer of tissue and pack your next 'handful' of butterflies in the same manner.
When you have finished packing your butterflies, use both hands to hold the tissue tightly and slide one hand to cover the box while you reach for the lid.	Be careful of antennae, legs, and head when closing your box.
Close box and place ribbon or other decoration on box.	Timothy releases Monarch butterflies from an Accordion Butterfly Release Box.