Buying a high-quality Grow Your Own Butterfly kit is the perfect way to get your kids interested in science. The durable mesh terrariums provide the ideal habitat for caterpillars to grow into beautiful butterflies. The transformation from bug to butterfly is a great educational experience for children and adults alike.

Start with some paper towel on the bottom of your net, the caterpillars will poo a lot so using paper towel makes it easy to remove. Make sure the kit comes with all necessary supplies, including food, habitat, and instructions on how to care for your caterpillars. You may also want to look for a kit that offers a guarantee of the live arrival of the caterpillars. What happens once you receive your kit? Once you have your kit and are ready to start , return the voucher or register online and the caterpillars will be sent to you by 1st class post. Remember it will take 3-5 weeks for caterpillars to change into butterflies. Caring for your caterpillars – Once your caterpillars arrive, simply watch them eat, spin silk and grow to many times their original size. The caterpillars don’t need anything other than the food supplied in the cup and the small holes in the lid of the cup will provide plenty of air. They can stay as caterpillars for up to 2 weeks, but normally 7 days depending on temperature – 24c/76f is ideal.

The largest threat to butterflies is the loss of their habitats. The increase in farming, forestry, land and building development and climate change result in the decline of butterflies and moths. Caterpillars spin silk using tiny spinnerets located on the lower part of the head. When you see a caterpillar moving its head from side to side, it is usually spinning silk. Painted Lady butterflies feed from over 100 different plants; this makes them incredibly vital pollinators. By incorporating these compassionate tools into your science lessons, you’ll be teaching students that they can study insects and other animals without removing them from their natural habitats.

Here we will take a look at the top 9 butterfly kits currently for sale and compare them. Descriptions of the kits, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each one, will help you make an informed choice.The kit doesn’t include the mesh habitat. So, you either have to release them straight into your garden or already have a terrarium.

Whether you already have a serious science lover in the family, or are trying to spark a new interest in STEM, growing butterflies at home is a fun way to teach kids about life cycles. Sure, you could just read them The Very Hungry Caterpillar (who doesn't love this classic children's book written by by Eric Carle?), but this hands-on method will captivate them for weeks, as they learn about metamorphosis and watch their caterpillars grow gorgeous wings. Educational Butterfly Kits– Our best-selling Butterfly Garden Breeding Kit make a fascinating classroom project as it allow children to watch caterpillars develop into native butterflies, before being released in the school grounds. The kits are suitable for children of ALL ages from Nursery to Secondary. Lots of classes like to split into groups and have a kit each, so now you can buy multiple Butterfly Garden Breeding Kits and save money! Another complete caterpillar-butterfly kit to observe these fascinating insects. The kit includes five caterpillars, a mesh pop-up terrarium, feeder, instructions, and a chrysalis station log. Butterfly Garden Butterfly Breeding Kit– This colourful and reusable Butterfly Garden allows you to study 5 butterflies from caterpillar to butterfly. The Butterfly Garden includes a 30cm hanging / free-standing mesh garden, a VOUCHER for 5 Painted Lady caterpillars and food, pipette for feeding and full instructions. This top-rated butterfly kit with a terrarium is another excellent choice for observing caterpillars turning into butterflies. The mesh terrarium has a clear vinyl panel to see the flying insects.Once you have your caterpillar (or caterpillars if possible it’s a more likely to have success that way) it’s time to set up your observation net. A caterpillar's first meal is often its own eggshell. The outer shell of the egg is rich in protein and gives them a nutritious boost. Weather conditions generally determine when the best time to release butterflies is. Release butterflies into your garden when the temperature is between 60°F and 65°F (16°C – 18°C), the sun is shining, and there’s no wind. If the butterflies are a day old, then some slight rain won’t hurt them. The vibrant colors of a butterfly's wings warn predators to stay away. These bright colors signify that the butterfly may taste bitter or may even be poisonous.