Adult Butterfly Shipping and Guarantee

Please read the Shipping and Guarantee to the end.

If your package is delayed after it leaves Shady Oak Butterfly Farm and that delay causes the Butterflies to miss your event; We will give a 50% refund on the Butterflies (not shipping charge), provided the shipping agency acknowledge the shipping failure to be their fault. It the failure is proven to be the fault of Shady Oak Butterfly Farm we will offer a total refund. If you determine a problem of any kind, notify Shady Oak immediately. Phone 352-485-2458. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message AND send an email to edith@buyabutterfly.com. If the contents are damaged, please do not destroy box or contents, unless directed by us. If possible, take a photograph .

Important! we can not ship butterflies to arrive on Sunday, Monday, or the day after a UPS/FEDEX holiday. Please call us to see what can be done in that situation.

Once a package is delivered by UPS and no signature was obtained we are no longer responsible for the package. We do not offer refunds for packages that UPS shows as being delivered without signature under any circumstance. If you would like to require a signature on the package we can do so via special request but we will not guarantee them if you are not there the day of arrival for them to be delivered on time.

1. Why do you ship butterflies in cold dark boxes?

Butterflies are naturally active in warmth and light. Butterflies are shipped in foam coolers with ice packs to place them in a stress-less ‘dormant’ state, thus imitating a cool spring or fall night. We are imitating nature’s way of protecting butterflies; creating a cool spring or winter night. Nature often consists of several days (up to several weeks) of cold temperatures; too cold for butterflies to fly. During these nights, days, and/or weeks, they simply ‘roost’, snoozing away while waiting for light and warmer temperatures.Your butterflies should be kept cool until shortly before their release. Instructions are included with your shipment and are always located on our website. These instructions include refreezing ice packs if your release is not scheduled for the day of their arrival at your chosen destination.

2. Why are they shipped in envelopes instead of inside the release box? In glassine envelopes, butterflies are shipped tucked snugly in their ‘beds’ for the night. A sharp jar or jostle of the shipping box in transit cannot harm the butterfly. If butterflies were shipped loose in a large box, their dormant state could cause them to slam against the sides of the release box, possibly injuring their wings or bodies.Although glassine envelopes resemble wax paper, the envelopes ‘breathe’ naturally, allowing airflow. Only butterflies shipped for release from an Accordion Butterfly Release Box will be shipped pre-packed in a mass release box. All other butterflies are shipped in glassine envelopes unless specifically requested for shipment in other snug individual release boxes.

3. Why do you only ship for Next Day Arrival?Ice packs melt during transit. It is best if your butterflies must arrive in time for you to refreeze their ice packs. If they are delayed and their ice packs melt, it is unusual for this to cause a major problem. But for the sake of your butterflies, we guarantee ‘Arrive Alive’ ONLY with next day arrival shipping.

4. Do you require someone to be present and sign for the package?If someone is not present to sign for the package upon arrival, we do not guarantee any living product. That being said, no, we do not require someone to be present to sign for the package! If you are comfortable with your package sitting on your doorstep, we will waiver the signature requirement. We are not comfortable with packages with living contents left on a porch or doorsteps and will not guarantee anything which was not received by a person who immediately opens, inspects the contents, and tends to any needs of the contents.

5. What if my butterflies do not arrive when expected? Contact us IMMEDIATELY if your butterflies do not arrive on time. We can often trace their route and locate their position. If you submitted your address with a typo or if they were routed incorrectly by the shipping company, we can often reroute them to your correct address. If they cannot be rerouted, you can often pick them up the next morning/day at the shipping office. If your package is totally lost in transit, we can often reship for early morning arrival the next day IF you contact us before 3PM. In some situations, we can reship if you contact us before 5PM. For this purpose, we recommend always scheduling the shipment arrival the day BEFORE your release.

6. What if my package is damaged in shipment and some of my butterflies are lost? Our butterflies are packed to withstand an overhand throw of 25’ that results in an enormous thump on wet concrete. We have tested our packing material and methods to ensure that such accidents in transit will not harm your butterflies. No matter how carefully a shipping company handles packages, accidents will occasionally occur. No problem! Like question #4, we can reship if we are notified in time. First, phone AND email our farm immediately. If a person does not answer our office phone 352-485-2458, please leave a message AND call (cell) 352-384-5163. If no one answers that number, do not leave a message. Call (home) 352-485-1534 and leave a message if no one answers. By using these three numbers and email, you will be able to contact us.

7. Will I have to pay for reshipment? Will I receive a refund?
The conditions are simple;
1. Someone MUST have signed for the package, opened it, and inspected it immediately.
2. We MUST be notified immediately upon discovery of the problem.

If the problem is the fault of our farm or the shipping company, you will not be required to pay for reshipment or will receive either a refund or gift card, depending on the product and circumstances. We will cover the total expense of reshipment if your butterflies can be reshipped for arrival in time for your release.

We may require a photo of the damaged product. DO NOT destroy anything from the shipment until you have clearance from our farm to do so. If you receive clearance, please ask the name of the person to whom you are talking.

Please understand; we receive an email (from our shipping companies) which includes information including 1. the day and time your package was delivered and 2. if someone was present who signed for the package.

Plant Shipping and Guarantee

Our Plant Guarantee is for your plants to arrive healthy and alive. In order for you to receive credit for damages we must receive word the same day the shipment arrives, please read below.

We only give this guarantee for plants shipped by methods recommended by us. Most plants are shipped in their pots, individually sleeved for protection. Open your box immediately upon receipt and remove plants. If the soil is dry, water immediately. If you determine a problem of any kind, notify Shady Oak immediately. Phone 352-485-2458. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message AND send an email to edith@buyabutterfly.com. If the contents are damaged, please do not destroy box or contents. If possible, take a photograph. Allow plant to rest in the sleeve for 24 hours to adjust to its new environment. Do not leave plants in direct sun. After a couple of days in a dark box, direct sun may sunburn its leaves. Slowly move the plant to more direct light.

Eggs, Caterpillars, and Chrysalis Shipping ande Guarantee

Butterfly Eggs, Caterpillars, and Chrysalises-----Butterfly Caterpillars, Eggs, and Chrysalises should be shipped next day but can be shipped 2nd day air from September 15 to April 15. Shipping other than next day at other times voids our Arrive Alive Guarantee

Please read this entire guarantee. Also remember it is Absolutely essential that fresh (not dry) host plant material should be added to your egg or caterpillar container daily! Also Chrysalises should be kept from dehydration and should be misted daily if the humidity drops below 70. Shady Oak Butterfly Farm guarantees that the number of eggs, caterpillars and chrysalises shipped will arrive alive at your requested delivery address. We do ship more than you order to make up for possible loss. If problems occur during shipment, Shady Oak will either issue a full refund or reship caterpillars to replace any that were lost. If you determine a problem of any kind, notify Shady Oak immediately. Phone 352-485-2458. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message AND send an email to edith@buyabutterfly.com. You may also call 352-284-5163 or 352-485-1534. If the contents are damaged, please do not destroy box or contents, until we advise you to do so, we may require for you to ship them back. If possible, take a photograph. Because we do not have control over the food, environment, handling, or other issues at your specific location and in your rearing setup, Shady Oak will not guarantee life of your caterpillars beyond arrival. If your caterpillar food has been treated with any insecticide within the last eight weeks, it can be deadly to your caterpillars. Certified Organic parsley, fennel, and other plants can be treated with Bt - deadly to caterpillars. When you purchase your host plants for immediate use, please ask whether they have been treated with anything (chemical or organic) that can harm caterpillars. Most nurseries will be honest. BUT also check to see if the plants have been at the nursery for 8 weeks. If not, there is a chance that the nursery that grew the plants used insecticide on the plants. Bt is a derivative of a lepidopteron disease, Bacillus Thuriengensis . Bt is used to kill 'worms' in and on food. Corn, green beans, sweet peppers, banana peppers, and other vegetables are often treated with Bt. Parsley, fennel, dill, and other edible herbs are often treated with Bt. It is a soil borne bacterium that occurs naturally. It is organic and thus can be used on 'certified organic' plants. 'Certified Organic' was created for safe mammal consumption, not safe insect consumption. Once a caterpillar eats Bt, certain proteins binds to intestinal linings and ruptures cells. Within a few hours, the caterpillar stops eating. It will die within three days. Milkweed grows wild up north. Monarch caterpillars are shipped with tropical milkweed leaves. When they arrive, they should be taken out of their container and placed on fresh milkweed leaves. Small larvae should be fed tender young leaves. Monarch caterpillars will change from tropical milkweed to common milkweed leaves without problems. But use caution if you are using wild milkweed! Dogbane resembles milkweed so much that even experienced butterfly farmers have been known to mistakenly cut dogbane and feed it to their caterpillars. The caterpillars cannot eat dogbane and starve. Milkweed growing wild will rarely be sprayed with chemicals but if a mosquito truck has sprayed lately, the plants could have poison on them. You may want to choose plants farther from the highway.

While talking about safe plants, I would like to mention two more things. Disinfect your rearing containers before using them again. They should be disinfected between each set of caterpillars. If your rearing container is a plastic tote or tub, lining it with a garbage bag will make it easier to clean. Just take out the bag with frass and dump it in the garbage. Don't keep them sealed totally; they do need airflow.

Flea and tick prevention such as Frontline and Advantix can be deadly to caterpillars. If you have a pet with these items on them, please keep them out of the room with caterpillars. Be sure to wash your hands after petting your dogs. If you do run into any problems with your caterpillars beyond arrival, please contact us. We will do our best to determine the source of the problem. Photographs and descriptions of your rearing environment and caterpillars can be of great benefit when determining the cause of any problems.

Phone Number and Email Address