| | |  | Toys & Games | Home » » Live Butterfly Garden | | | | | | | Description: | | 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. | | | Features: | |
• See butterfly metamorphosis up close.Reusable, collapsible habitat.
• Includes feeder.Complete instructions included.
• Includes mail-in voucher for five butterfly larvae and special food. ($3.00 fee for processing)
• Witness one of nature's most spectacular transformations up close.
• Just mail in the included coupon for larvae and food.
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 13.0 inches | | Product Width:
| 13.0 inches | | Product Height:
| 3.0 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.9 pounds | | Package Length:
| 12.2 inches | | Package Width:
| 12.13 inches | | Package Height:
| 3.31 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.84 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 207 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 Enchanting Butterfly ExperienceNov 14, 2008
My daughter recieved this as a gift and I was pretty skeptical, but lo and behold -- we successfully raised all ten caterpillars and released them as adult butterflies. You don't need to feed or interact with the caterpillars: they come in transparent sealed containers with their own food. This means that kids can't play with them (my daughter was disappointed that her new pets couldn't walk on her fingers) but also means that you do not need to deal with the mountains of caterpillar poop that they produce.
When they pupate, you open the containers and pin the lids (where they instinctively attach themselves) inside the pavillion. Everything the insructions say will happen does, in fact, happen, and within a week or so your beautiful painted lady butterflies emerge. We kept ours for a few days and then set them free -- a satisfying experience from start to finish.
The whole system is extremely well thought out and the instructions are clear. Be sure to visit Insect Lore's web site, because it's full of helpful information and tips -- our pupas were wiggling and rocking alarmingly, and their FAQs anticipated the question and explained why they do that.
My only quibble is that the sugar water solution we fed to the butterflies tended to soak through the floor of the pavilion, making a sticky mess -- we had to put an old towel underneath. Otherwise, this was a smashing success and my kid can't wait to order another batch of caterpillars.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Worked as advertisedOct 24, 2008
Pretty easy to do. requires a temperate environment not in direct sunlight. The kids loved it and had a great time when they shared it at daycare. [...]
we paired with with the "from caterpillar to butterfly" book.
Be aware that you have to send or fax in the certificate. It is odd that the refills [...] from insect lore essentially cost as much as the original product. [...]
I will say I was concerned that when the caterpillars first arrived they were pretty sluggish to the point where I thought some might have been dead. After about 2 days it was obvious all 5 were alive. 9 days after arrival we had them hanging off the top of the container the caterpillars came in. About 9 days after that we had 3 of the 5 butterflies. The next day at daycare the other 2 came out of their chrysalises. Now we're feeding them sugar water until we release them in a few days.
 Very nice for older kids, may be too gross for little ones.Oct 06, 2008
Obviously the caterpillars can't be packed in the box, but they shouldn't be an extra cost. There should be a paid card to send in when you're ready for them.
My main complaint is that the information is sketchy. A more informative child-friendly booklet should be included. Also the butterflies do poop red liquid which is pretty gross for very small kids. The white mesh cage looks really bad with all those bloody-looking smears on it. My 7 year old was okay with it when I explained it was "special butterfly poop" but my 5 year old, the nominal owner of the butterflies, lost interest quickly when the treehouse was no longer pretty.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
an extraordinary experienceOct 06, 2008
There is nothing more extraordinary than the experience of taking care of "a life" & setting it free. My 5-year-old has learned something quite valuable through this toy, which is well made. We'll be able to use it again for several more summers.
Also, of the 10 caterpillars we received, 9 became butterflies and flew away, while 2 returned to our garden and lingered for a day. We even had a smaller butterfly with a bent wing, whom we thought may not be able to fly away very well, but it flew-off just as easily as the others did...a very touching moment, which became a lesson in life my daughter may never forget.
A great way to learn!Oct 05, 2008
We bought the Butterfly Garden as a gift for our four year old daughter.
The entire experience was wonderful. We followed the instruction provided and watched the magic happen. It was very exciting to look in the container every morning with her to see the progression. From caterpillar, to chrysalis, and into butterflies we were amazed at each step. I will do this again with her and we also purchased one for my niece(also 4). I felt it was a great way to teach her how things take time but they are worth waiting for. Just as a suggestion: try to keep this project for warmer weather due to not being able to release them in weather under 55 degrees. Have fun!!
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