Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden

by Insect Lore

• Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 12 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Origin: China
• ASIN: B00AFL5YXM
• Item model number: 1075
• Manufacturer recommended age: 4 - 15 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #1 in Toys & Games > Learning & Education > Science > Biology
  • #3 in Toys & Games > Preschool > Pre-Kindergarten Toys > Learning
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (717 customer reviews)

Product Description

Product Packaging: Amazon Frustration-Free

From the Manufacturer

Raise 5 Painted Lady butterflies while learning all about metamorphosis with this award-winning Butterfly Garden. See each caterpillar's transition as it matures, changes into a chrysalid and finally emerges as a Painted Lady butterfly. After observing your butterflies, experience the joy of releasing them into your backyard.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

538 of 540 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So fun I Bought My Own! November 13, 2000

By John

Product Packaging:Retail

Durability: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I bought one of these last year for my nieces. I also got one for me, and I'm in my 30's. I waited until the spring time to send in my caterpillar certificate. They came in their own little container with just enough food. So you don't need to feed them anything. I tried to put some real food such as leaves from the plants they like to eat in the wild, but they preferred the food that came with them. I think I received 6 caterpillars and they all turned into butterflies. I let them go a day or two after they emerged. Kids are completely fascinated by the process from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. One word of caution, it may not be the best thing to get for Christmas since you may have to wait until spring to get your caterpillars. They will send them in the winter, but I didn't want the butterflies to die on me or freeze to death if I let them go.

429 of 444 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, educational, and really cool, too! October 23, 1999

By A Customer

Product Packaging:Retail

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I bought this kit for my 5-year-old, but my 3-year-old wound up loving it every bit as much as the older one. The caterpillars arrive in a sealed container with everything they need--all you have to do is observe them. After a week, we placed the cocoons in the habitat, and out hatched five gorgeous butterflies. What's more, they began laying eggs within a few days, and before you know it, we had DOZENS of teeny-tiny baby caterpillars! Of course, we set them free outside (I'm no bug farmer), and we enjoyed painted lady butterflies throughout the rest of the summer. This kit provided my children with a wonderful, exciting learning experience that they will never forget!

275 of 285 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even the Big Guy likes it December 2, 1999

By A Customer

Product Packaging:Retail

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

We set up a Butterfly Garden for the kids and, as you've probably already read by others' reviews, they loved it. What surprised me most was how intrigued I found *myself* by it. All 5 caterpillars grew remarkably quickly, and all five emerged as loveable butterflies - the surprise was how I caught myself calling the kids over to look and running when they called me to take a peek at them. They were the best pets I ever had for a month! No muss, no fuss - and what a great experience, even for the he-man, butterfly-poo-pooin' dad.

161 of 165 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Mom, can we get some more caterpillars, please?" August 5, 1999

By A Customer

Product Packaging:Retail

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

My son received the butterfly garden as a birthday gift. We were going out of town, so asked to have the caterpillars delivered at a later date. They came on the exact date requested! The caterpillars were very small the first day, but grew so quickly that I wondered if we could actually watch them grow before our eyes (it certainly seemed that way)! It took only one week for the chrysalides to form, and only one more week for the butterflies to hatch. There is no feeding required for the caterpillars (they arrive in a container with their entire food supply)--all the kids need to do is watch them! My son and daughter both woke up each morning and would come running to tell me how big the caterpillars were. Then they watched them form into chrysalides, and still watched them each day until they hatched. The day we released the butterflies, my son looked at me and said "I sure am going to miss my beautiful butterflies!...Mom, can we get some more?"

89 of 94 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Our fifth grade class loves these butterflies! March 8, 2001

By Katie Flansburg

Product Packaging:Retail

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I student teach in a fifth grade classroom, and I've discovered that this butterfly garden is the perfect subject for scientific journals and beginning diagrams. Our class watched five butterflies metamorphasize over the course of about a month. As a writing exercise, I asked each of my students to write a review about the butterfly habitat. Here is what they wrote: "I liked watching the stages of the butterflies. I liked watching the butterflies flying around." "It seems like the butterflies are cramped, but I like it because it has sunlight for them. It's a perfect habitat." "I like the butterflies because they are fun to look at, and they are beautiful. I have learned a lot about butterflies." "We liked raising the butterflies, watching them grow up, and seeing them go from a caterpillar to a butterfly." One even wrote, "I like the butterflies because I think it is a good learning experience. The butterflies are very pretty," and, "I like the butterflies because before they went into their cocoons I think their heads fell off!!" As you can see, the children really enjoyed watching metamorphosis in their classroom. I don't think they'll ever forget watching the butterflies grow up, so they will really remember the stages of butterfly metamorphosis. Overall, I would also rate this habitat highly. I was afraid that the caterpillars would take a long time to arrive, but they arrived less than a week after I mailed the pre-addressed postcard asking for them to be sent. (That was in February) The habitat wasn't as sturdy as it could have been, but its clear sides made observation easy when lots of children wanted to see inside.... The teacher I work with is kind enough to feed the butterflies everyday, and it looks like a pretty sticky job! (The butterflies eat normal sugar water.) Feeding them after they emerge from their cocoons will be a little messy. It was incredibly easy to raise these butterflies. Even with 21 students peering at them and jostling their habitat, all five of the butterflies made it. Our fifth grade class highly recommends this easy-to-build, fun-to-watch scientific habitat. Read more ›

125 of 136 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Used at Science Museums for teaching November 26, 1999

By A Customer

Product Packaging:Retail

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

We have used this kit at our science museum in Dallas for several years. The company is reliable and the children have rarely been disappointed with their catterpillars. My own children still ask me to buy the catterpillars every year and never tire of watching the metamorphosis take place right before their eyes. I highly recommend this product for all ages and it makes a great children's birthday gift.