PAINTED LADY (VANESSA CARDUI)
Caterpillar Kits
Observe the metamorphosis of caterpillar larvae into butterflies - one of nature’s most amazing transitions. Order now for your living science project!
Available yearly from the last week of April until the first week of June. Shipping across Canada.
Caterpillar kits are available each spring. The shipping season runs from the end of April to the first week of June. The project takes 3-4 weeks (depending on local conditions), and the kits contain larvae, food for the larvae, and containers for the larvae (but do not include flight cages for the adult butterflies).
We exclusively work with Painted Ladies: we do not offer Monarchs or other species.
WHY CATERPILLARS?
Caterpillar kits are great for a home, a classroom, or even as a gift to a little one in your life! All of our caterpillars are captive reared on-site by entomologists and biologists at our Edmonton laboratory, never captured from the wild. We breed a species called Painted Lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui), which is one of the only ethical choices for butterfly releases across much of Canada, due to their erratic migratory habits and widespread distribution.
INFO, TERMS & CONDITIONS, F.A.Q.
We have butterflies available from late April to June, yearly.
- We start take preorders starting September 1 of the year prior. You can order online, email us, or call our office (780-462-1839).
- Our schedule is based on historical weather patterns, migratory data of Painted lady butterflies, and may be affected in-season by current conditions
2025 Shipping Dates:
- Tuesday, April 22 (schools only)
- Monday, April 28 (schools only)
- Monday, May 5 (schools only)
- Monday, May 12
- Tuesday, May 20
- Thursday, May 22 (Edmonton Public School Board Only)
- Monday, May 26
- Monday, June 2
- Monday, June 9 (Teachers: this is too late for completion by end of most school years)
#2 Rearing Kit (3-5 caterpillars in a group cup) is $26
#3 Life Cycle Kit (10-15 caterpillars and accessories) is $56
#4 Class Study Kit (25-30 caterpillars and accessories) is $86
We do not offer pickup.
We ship weekdays only and the caterpillars can safely go 5 days in the box.
Your shipping date is not a delivery date.
The following rates are based on standard boxes and do not include oversize boxes* (greater than 12"x12"x12"):
Within Edmonton City Limits $18.00
(local courier: delivery is same day as shipping)***
Within 40 KM of Edmonton $20.00
(Purolator Express: allow minimum overnight for delivery, usually arrives within 2 days)
Calgary $30.00
(Purolator Express: allow minimum overnight for delivery, usually arrives within 2 days)
Elsewhere in Alberta: $35.00
(Purolator Express: allow minimum overnight for delivery, usually arrives within 2 days)
MB, SK, BC $45.00
(Purolator Express: allow minimum overnight for delivery, usually arrives within 2-3 days)
Ontario, Quebec $55.00
(Purolator Express: allow minimum overnight for delivery, usually arrives within 2-4 days)
NS, NB, PEI: $70.00
(Purolator Express: allow minimum overnight for delivery, usually arrives within 2-4 days)
NL**, Yukon, NWT, Nunavut: $90+
(Buffalo Air, Air North, sometimes Purolator by special arrangement. Timeline will be quoted.)
**Any customers ordering live insects in Newfoundland and Labrador will be asked to provide the required provincial import permits for handling wildlife.
***Mechanical delays and natural disasters are rare but can cause occasional shipping delays beyond the recommended timelines listed above (examples: downed planes, flat tires, flood, fires)
PDFs of our instructions for general care and releasing, as well as if you need to feed your butterflies, are online over on our instructions page. Head to the section called "Painted Lady Caterpillar Kits" and click the top button!
We will also provide a QR code in the box with your caterpillars! Full paper instructions can be provided by request.
Photo gallery
TESTIMONIALS
"I absolutely loved my experience from opening the kit to find 13 little caterpillars, receiving extraordinary customer service from Corrianne, and watching the beautiful butterflies emerge. I have never wrote a Google review in my life but was so impressed with my conversations with Corrianne and the quality of my purchase that I felt led to in my heart. All of my questions were answered including fun facts about the process, she certainly went above and beyond and I can tell they are passionate about what they do. I highly recommend buying from here and I'm excited to do it again next year! THANK you for your kindness and making this experience even more fun and interesting!"
- Amy Scyrup
5 Star Review
"I have ordered directly from Butterfly Wings N' Wishes Ltd repeatedly over the past few years and have never received anything but amazing service from them. One time I incorrectly labelled the school's address and they worked so hard to connect with me and get it sorted out so that I would get the shipment to my classroom on time. I love that ordering with them means that the caterpillars spend less time in transit. The care guides they provide with their kits is so helpful (eg. caterpillars, isopods, etc.). Great business that I will continue to rely on in the future!"
- Ashley Barrington
5 Star Review
"I have been ordering painted ladies from Butterfly Wings and Wishes for several years and have used the kits in schools, a youth treatment centre, and at home with my own children and their friends. I am a high school teacher and I find the butterfly project not only a great opportunity for my IEP students to learn about the life cycle, but for my neuro-typical students to connect with their peers with special needs. I have watched high school boys come and check on our net regularly and show genuine concern for butterflies with improperly formed wings. I would 100% percent recommend this project in every school including high schools for science learning, but more importantly, empathy building."
- Samantha Tidd
5 Star Review
Check out the caterpillar life cycle!
Butterfly Wings n' Wishes Ltd.
Edmonton, AB
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