Where to buy caterpillars?

[LAMom]

Last year we got and raised some caterpillars from our school. Kids loved watching the cycle and releasing butterflies. Does anyone know a good place to get them? Would petco sell them? Thanks

[ahisma]

I think you mail order them.

[nfowife]

Insect lore and there is another company too- google caterpillars live and you will get some options.

[caheinz]

Can I suggest some ecologically-friendly alternatives?

1- Plant butterfly friendly plants. Milkweeds, butterfly bush, even some herbs like dill and parsley will attract butterflies. On the milkweeds and herbs, butterflies will even lay eggs, so you can collect your own caterpillars.

2- If you must order them online or otherwise, please look for someone who is as close to you as possible, and look for someone who has USDA authority to ship them to you. (Yes, butterflies are regulated!) It can be disastrous to the local populations to introduce "foreign" (to them) genes and versions thereof from another area of the country.


Note that this year's overwintering monarch population was at a dangerously low level. More milkweeds may help... collecting and shipping them across the country will not.