Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden

Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden Review

This is a fun science and a great product. We bought this in March from Amazon, and quickly received the caterpillar larvae from Insect Lore after submitting the coupon information and paying the shipping online. The caterpillars hatched about a week after the larvae arrived. A couple weeks after they hatched, they started making their chrysalides. A few weeks after that, they hatched into beautiful painted lady butterflies. The process occurred exactly as the directions and all those science classes you've had over the years said it would. Living it and watching the process in real life is much better than reading about it, both for my wife and I, and for our six year old daughter. We all loved having pet butterflies.

The whole process takes about two months, depending on how long you keep the butterflies in their cage before releasing them. The cage is a cheap Chinese made product that is adequate for the purpose but could probably be done better. We wished that we had a larger environment for the butterflies to fly around in. My wife vetoed my daughter's idea to let them fly around the house. I was in favor of the idea. All 5 of the larvae hatched into caterpillars, and in the long run resulted in 5 butterflies. On "release day" 3 of the 5 butterflies flew away strongly. The other 2 had issues. I think that was my fault and not indicative of an inferior product. (let's just say to be careful during feeding not to drop any large sections of orange onto any of your colorful friends)

A lot of reviews on Amazon complain about the pricing of this product, but I think that it is fairly priced and actually a good deal if you do it through Amazon. Insect Lore is not a fly by night Internet company that is doing this to make a quick buck. They have been developing and selling these sorts of experiences since the late 1960s. Their model of selling the kit, and having their customers mail in for the larva may not seem optimized for the internet age, but considering the "shelf life" issues, and the fact that they started as a mail order operation makes it understandable. They have optimized the process somewhat by allowing the coupon information to be submitted online.

When we decided to do the butterfly experience again, after doing the first batch, I was annoyed when I saw that it costs almost as much to buy replacement larvae from Insect Lore as it does to buy the whole kit from Amazon. That isn't really a complaint about the product that I'm reviewing on this page, but rather shows just how good of a deal it is. We were ready for a new cage anyway after having the butterflies live in it for so long.

Your cost for buying this kit through Amazon is: ~ Kit from Amazon + Shipping for Larvae to Insect Lore = ~ (~ because Amazon adjusts their price constantly)

Your cost for buying this kit from Insect Lore is: Kit from Insect Lore + Shipping for Kit + Shipping for Larve =

Your cost for buying replacement Larvae from Insect Lore + Shipping for Larvae =

My bottom line on this is that you should buy this kit and do it with your kids. I don't know off hand what the age recommendations are for this, but I know that my 6 year old loved it. Any way to encourage science and technology for America's youth is a good idea in my book.

Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden Feature

• See butterfly metamorphosis up close.Reusable, collapsible habitat.
• Includes feeder.Complete instructions included.
• Includes mail-in voucher for five butterfly larvae and special food. (.00 fee for processing)
• Witness one of nature's most spectacular transformations up close.
• Just mail in the included coupon for larvae and food.

Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden Overview

Witness one of nature's most spectacular transformations up close with this reusable, collapsible habitat. Fine, transparent mesh lets you see butterfly metamorphosis up close. Product includes easy-to-use feeder and complete instructions for habitat. Butterfly larvae with food shipped directly to your home. The habitat collapses for storage when not in use. You can adopt and raise a handful of caterpillars, watch them transform into painted lady butterflies, then lift the garden cover to release your beautiful specimens into the wild. This exciting habitat makes a fabulous introduction to the miracles of nature. The larvae and food available round the year.

Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden Specifications

Did you know that painted ladies (the butterflies, that is) taste with their feet and have 10,000 eyes? You and your kids will be fascinated by all you learn about these beautiful creatures with the Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The kit comes with a relatively easy-to-assemble observation chamber; supplies for feeding the butterflies (you provide only sugar and water); an informative booklet of clear instructions and butterfly facts; and a certificate for three to five free painted lady caterpillars. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about three weeks from when you receive the caterpillar larvae (which arrive in a small container with all the nutrients they need). Your children can watch the larvae increase dramatically in size, form chrysalides, and finally emerge into full-fledged painted ladies (it's suggested that they release the butterflies after a few days of observation). This would make a wonderful activity for families with kids of any age, but younger children will need help assembling the observation chamber and reading the instruction booklet. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that butterflies should not be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.) --Rachel Radway

Available at Amazon

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: May 12, 2010 13:06:47