Mass 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.

Mass Butterfly Release Box:--Transfer and Release Instructions for Your Butterflies

Why Were Your Butterflies Shipped in Individual Envelopes?

Your butterflies were 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 you are transferring your butterflies into a cardboard or closed butterfly release box, you can do this the evening before your event if the release is scheduled as a morning release. Otherwise, wait until the day of the event. If your butterfly release is scheduled for late morning or after noon, transfer them the day of your butterfly release. Once your butterflies are in their box, store them in a cool dark place (such as a closet) until you are ready to transport them to your butterfly release event. Your butterflies need to be in warm temperatures for an hour or two before their release; they must be warm to fly well.

We recommend that you transfer your butterflies an hour or two before the event begins if you are transferring your butterflies into a net centerpiece, a table top container/centerpiece, or a sheer organiza or other box for your butterfly release . This prevents wing damage to your butterflies. If the box is solid or covered with solid material, you may transfer them earlier in the day. Keep your cage or sheer box in a cool, low light condition to keep your butterflies calm. When placing them outdoors, it is best not to place them in strong direct sunlight. Direct sunlight causes butterflies to become active. Dappled sunshine or shade is best. Always release your butterflies in a sunny area. Sunshine encourages your butterflies to fly. In a display cage, flowers, ferns, and stems with leaves will help provide some shade.

What are the transfer steps?

1.   Prepare your display cage, release box, or other butterfly release container or centerpiece.

2.   Ensure your hands are clean and dry.

3.   Remove your butterflies from the Styrofoam box and take them with the box or the cage into a small room with low ceilings (a bathroom is perfect). Keep the door closed while you are making the transfer.

4.   Working quickly and 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. If you can possibly cut a small opening (1/3 inch by two inches) in the bottom of your container, it may be easier to transfer them one by one. As they warm up, the butterflies will start fluttering their wings and may even 'flop' about to warm their bodies. This is normal. Keep going until all your butterflies are transferred. Quickly close the lid of the box or close the net. You should be able to transfer all your butterflies into your box or cage with no escapees. However, should a butterfly escape during the transfer process, you can simply recapture it. Despite what you’ve always been told, handling a butterfly gently will not harm it. Butterflies are attracted to light. Your escapee will fly toward a window or other source of light in the room. Simply pick it up with the wings closed, close to the body. Alternately, you can cup your hands around the escapee and transfer it to the box/cage. If your butterfly release container or centerpiece is covered with net or tulle, mist the tulle/net/screen with water every hour or so. This adds humidity to the air around your butterflies. Air conditioning and heating removes humidity from air.

Mass Butterfly Release

It's photo time! If your release is celebrating a special occasion, hand out disposable cameras to your guests to capture this amazing moment.

Simply open the lid of your release box; a few of your butterflies will fly immediately. The remainder will linger for a few minutes while cameras are capturing their beauty. Gently slip your finger underneath each remaining butterfly and lift it into the air.

The reason for their delay is simple; they were quite content sitting in a box or centerpiece. Much of their life is spent sitting ... or officially 'roosting'. If they are not actively migrating, seeking a mate, searching for and eating food, or laying eggs, they are 'roosting'/resting.