Terms and Conditions

Membership in the caterpillar loyalty program is available to any returning customer (though not on your first order). This program is a incentive to help us distribute income to the early part of the school year through an automated system, which immensely supports our lab, team, and research. We can reward participants with discounts on these automated orders or caterpillar or mantis products: it's a win win!

As a member of the Loyalty Program, your membership auto-renews each year on September 15, taking some stress off your shoulders for order, and puts you front of the line for caterpillar season. It also gives you access to discounts or other available perks. 

• Cancel, change, transfer, skip or otherwise modify your order at any time: just respond to your invoice in writing with the changes you need
• Invoices must be paid within 30 days of their rollover date. Unpaid invoices after that 30 days revert to regular price and you lose your discount. 
• Membership is free - if you're interested in joining, and an existing customer, just email us for more information.

 The deadline for cancelling your caterpillar kit or moving the shipping date is 10 business days prior to your shipping date, in order to halt the process of egg laying. Once that has occured, your larvae are born and will be without homes. 

We are happy to transfer unwanted larvae to a new buyer if you can find one! Otherwise, failure to provide sufficient notice on any order may result in application of rehoming, resource, or rescheduling fees, or complete forfeit of payment. 100% of forfeited caterpillars are donated to schools and communities in need who would not be able to obtain them independently. 

Evenings, weekends, and stat or civic holidays are not acceptable for notification timelines.

To cancel an order: please send us an email with the subject line “ATTN: CANCEL (your invoice)” - bugs@butterflyab.com

If your order has already shipped, or it is less than 24 hours in advance of your ship date, we may not be able to recover them from the mail stream and you must be prepared to receive and care for them. 

*for cancellations due to emergencies such as mandated regional evacuations, pandemics, or natural disasters, please reach out to us at bugs@butterflyab.com

 The deadline for cancelling an order of adult butterflies for release (NOT CATERPILLARS) is 30 days prior to your shipping date, in order to halt the process of egg laying. Once that has occured, your animals are hatched and will be without homes. 

We are happy to transfer unwanted butterflies to a new buyer if you can find one! Otherwise, failure to provide sufficient notice on any order may result in application of rehoming, resource, or rescheduling fees, or complete forfeit of payment. 100% of forfeited butterflies are donated to communities in need where they can be released by those in need, who would not be able to obtain them independently. 

Evenings, weekends, and stat or civic holidays are not acceptable for notification timelines.

To cancel an order: please send us an email with the subject line “ATTN: CANCEL (your invoice)” - bugs@butterflyab.com

If your order has already shipped, or it is less than 24 hours in advance of your ship date, we may not be able to recover them from the mail stream and you must be prepared to receive and care for them. 

*for cancellations due to emergencies such as mandated regional evacuations, pandemics, or natural disasters, please reach out to us at bugs@butterflyab.com

 The deadline for cancelling your caterpillar kit or moving the shipping date is 10 business days prior to your shipping date. If your order was short notice: we need you to cancel within 24 hours of placing it to avoid incurring refund fees (see REFUND, below).

Evenings, weekends, and stat or civic holidays are not acceptable for notification timelines.

To cancel an order: please send us an email with the subject line “ATTN: CANCEL (your invoice)” - bugs@butterflyab.com

If your order has already shipped, or it is less than 24 hours in advance of your ship date, we may not be able to recover them from the mail stream and you must be prepared to receive and care for them. 

 The deadline for cancelling your bookings is 10 business days prior to your event date, in order to provide our staff with due legal notice of loss of work. Evenings, weekends, and stat or civic holidays are not acceptable for notification timelines.

Failure to provide sufficient notice may result in rescheduling fees (50%), or complete forefeit of payment. We are more than happy to transfer the booking if you can find someone willing to take it on!

To cancel an order: please send us an email with the subject line “ATTN: CANCEL (your invoice)” bugs@butterflyab.com

Group orders are an ideal way to save on shipping, but please be aware that the following rules apply:

• All items must be going to the same destination. 
• Rates don't change until the box becomes bigger than 12x12x12".  That's 10-12 caterpillar kits, but less if there are large items such as Red Wiggler Worms or Hatchlings Kits. 
• We cannot split the order up or invoice separate participants individually. All items in a combined or group shipment must appear on the same invoice. 

To place a group order:

• Choose a contact person. Usually this is the person receiving the box. They will be handling the communications with us and will be handling the order.
• All items on the order must be submitted together.
• You will receive one invoice that totals your bill.
• Our email payment system can accommodate multiple payments on one invoice, but we cannot invoice items separately.
• Existing orders can be revised only by the contact person who placed the order. We cannot approve changes by someone other than the official contact on the order. Please do not tell people they can phone us and add onto an order to get shipping discounts: we cannot authorize this.
  

Subsequent replacements and warranty claims must be reported through the original contact person on the group order.

Online orders act as a booking request, they are not an invoice or a confirmation of shipping or ship date. Orders may take up to 4-5 business days to process, especially if you are ordering later in the school year (after Christmas) when we become very busy. 

The best time to order is before Christmas, during our slow season. After Feb 1, shipping dates and species can sell out at any time without warning.

Once an online order is processed, you will receive an invoice. That is your confirmation of availability.  

Through the online store, we currently only accept Paypal. You can also select "Invoice and pay later" if you are billing out a school. Once you have an invoice, there are a variety of ways to pay via the "review and pay" button in the invoice email.

At any time, caterpillar kits especially may be subject to change based on availability. When you place an order online you hold your place in line for confirmation. 

Our outreach staff carry up to date criminal record checks with vulnerable sector search. This includes ages 3 and up.

We carry full commercial and general liability insurance for working with ages 3+.

We are a registered vendor and partner with EPSB, CBE, and an acknowledged partner with ECSD.

None of our animals are medically significant or pose a threat to the well-being and safety of adults or humans. None of our animals* (or their food**) are suitable for human consumption, though no ingredients are toxic to humans. 

*those with shellfish allergies may be at a higher risk of being, or developing, allergies to terrestrial invertebrates such as butterflies and insects. If someone has a shellfish allergy, they should refrain from consuming or ingesting any invertebrates or invertebrate products or waste. Depending on the severity of the allergy, please ensure safety measures are in place that are compliant with those normally used for shellfish.

**All our insect diets are non-toxic. Caterpillar food is carried on a wheat and soy base so those with grain allergies should refrain from consuming caterpillar food or other insect diets which have similar ingredients.

We are a community resource and a vendor, not a replacement for your team. Our insurance and liability is not a replacement or substitution for your own. We cannot be held liable for incidents that occur when there is a lack of qualified supervision at your facility, venue or event. Please ensure you have proper protocols in place as well as sufficient staff who are properly certified to meet the requirements of your licensing and code. 

Your order is confirmed only with an invoice. Ensure you have one for your records. This includes online orders, which are turned into invoices after you place them (more on that below).

Once an invoice is issued, your order will be put in production, and will be shipped unless officially cancelled. Failure to pay in advance does not constitute a proper notice of cancellation.

If you have not received an invoice, you do not have a confirmed order or ship date. If you cannot find your invoice, check your junk mail or email us for a copy.

It is your responsibility to review your invoice for accuracy and to report any errors. We copy and paste provided information in writing for all online or emailed orders from the information you provide, but phone orders are at great risk of inaccuracy. 

Included on the invoice will be your shipping date, billing details, fees payment options, and other essentials we require for the safe arrival of your order or performance of your booking. 

It is critical your invoice is correct: it is also your shipping confirmation and dispatch. Always take time to review your invoice for any errors. Let us know in writing if there are any corrections to be made, or confirm with us that it is good to go.

Invoices or orders missing necessary information will be cancelled. This includes orders submitted without a physical address, a phone number, or if you have selected school shipping for a non-school address.

Butterfly Wings N' Wishes Ltd cannot be held responsible for information on the invoice once it has been sent to you for review. Neglecting to provide accurate data will lead to loss of life in animals, delayed shipping, failure to fulfil, or forfeit of costs.

The deadline for modifications is 5 business days prior to your listed shipping date.

Evenings, weekends, and stat or civic holidays are not acceptable for notification timelines.

To modify an order: please send us an email with the subject line “ATTN: CHANGES TO ORDER (your invoice)”

It is your responsibility to inform us of changes that may affect our ability to fulfil your order or successfully ship. This includes but is not limited to any of the following:

• Address or contact information
• Contact person on the order
• Billing details
• Adding additional products or live animals, which are subject to availability.
• Type of Program
• Rescheduling your shipping date*

Once an invoice has been shipped (“fulfilled”), modifications are closed. The data on that specific invoice becomes historical and we can no longer modify or change the invoice, payment method, billing, or payment receipts. 

*Please see section on Rescheduling, below

Successful completion of your booking relies on the accuracy of your invoice, which is used for dispatching your presenter. Please ensure you have reviewed your invoice details including but not limited to date, address, type of field trip, number of presentations, and start times. Bookings and reservations are not considered viable until an invoice and subsequent deposit or payment has been made.

All booking invoices for field trips are issued with a net 30 deadline to pay from the date of invoice. We require a minimum 50% deposit to reserve your date for you. Full payment is due not less than 5 business days prior to the event date of the presentation.  Sorry, we can no longer reserve dates without payment. Without a deposit to reserve your booking the date will remain available for others to bid on.

 Your presenter cannot under any circumstances accept payment (except tips), they are neither insured nor liable for handling cash. Insistence on in-person payments will result in application of service or transportation fees for the significant cost to us as an ecommerce business with only lab locations. 

We can also accept cheques in the mail (providing they arrive on time) or e-transfers.

If you need to pay in installments to complete your payment or deposit, no problem! Let us know your schedule. Then, proceed through into the pay portal using the button in the email, and click "edit" on the amount. 

Weekends, evenings, and stat holidays do not constitute appropriate payment timelines.  Failure to pay does not constitute a cancellation. Your presenter has been booked and may no longer be able to find other work. Our team often has to book these days off from other jobs to confirm availability your event, and if we cannot find another client to take on your booking, a rescheduling fee will apply to cover the cost of your presenter’s labor. Rescheduling fees are minimum 50% of the cost of your booking and will be applied in event of late payment or failure to pay.

You will be provided with a payment link alongside your invoice: payments must be made through there. 

Our presenters carry up to date criminal record checks with vulnerable sector search. This includes ages 3 and up.

We carry full commercial and general liability insurance for working with ages 3+.

Safety: We do not bring anything dangerous. None of our animals are medically significant. Attendees with shellfish allergies must refrain from consuming the invertebrates. 

Consent: Handling and interactions are with the consent of the individual participant as well as the animal guest. We do not force anyone to participate beyond what they confirm with us. We monitor our animals body language closely for fatigue and stress, and adapt accordingly to their behaviors. This may involve removing the animal mid-program if necessary for well being.

We are a community resource, not a replacement for your team. Our insurance and liability is not a replacement or substitution for your own. We cannot be held liable for incidents that occur when there is a lack of qualified supervision at your facility, venue or event. Please ensure you have proper protocols in place as well as sufficient staff who are certified to meet the requirements of your licensing and code. 

CANCELLATIONS: 

The deadline for cancelling or rescheduling your booking is 10 business days prior the event date.

Evenings, weekends, and stat or civic holidays are not acceptable for notification timelines.

To cancel: please send us an email with the subject line “ATTN: CANCEL (your invoice)”

Failure to provide sufficient notice on any order, or failure to pay, may result in application of rescheduling/cancellation fees, which is 50% of the cost of your invoice.

If it is less than 24 hours in advance of your field trip or presentation, you will forefeit the full cost of your invoice. 

Why? Your presenter has been booked and may no longer be able to find other work. Our team often has to book these days off from other jobs to confirm availability your event, and if we cannot find another client to take on your booking, a rescheduling fee will apply to cover the cost of your presenter’s labor. Rescheduling fees are minimum 50% of the cost of your booking. 

*for cancellations due to emergencies such as mandated regional evacuations, pandemics, or natural disasters, please reach out to us at bugs@butterflyab.com

POLICIES:

IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, SUMMER PROGRAMS, AND OTHER GROUPS*

• Programs are 1 hour long
• Capacity is 30 participants per field trip. This includes adults besides ourselves.***
• Children under the age of 3 cannot participate. They cannot be in the room. **
• Please ensure the room has a close-able door.
• No hand sanitizer before or during the event.
• Have all participants wash their hands (soap and rinse well with water) directly prior to the program, and after.
• Participants can not be eating during the program.
• Our “guests” require a fragrance free environment.
• No outside animals may be present.

EVENTS AND DISPLAYS:

• We require a table with a minimum length of 8 feet. 
• If outdoors, we require a shade canopy, tent, or protective structure.
• Our table should be backed up against a barrier or a wall to limit egress on at least 1 side, as a form of crowd control. This can be creative: we’ve performed successfully using provided mobile barriers or fencing.
• If outdoors, events are subject to weather and local conditions. We require you to have a plan B, should weather become hostile. Generally, we can only conduct displays outdoors when temperatures are between 18 and 25, with minimal wind and rain and safe levels of smoke.
• A hand washing station or nearby rest room must be available
• Our animals have a maximum performance timeline of 4 hours
• Our animals cannot tolerate fireworks or similar loud, disruptive displays
• It should be held during daylight hours if outside 

HARRASSMENT/BEHAVIOUR

Our company has a zero tolerance policy for harassments, abuse, or inappropriate behaviour towards our team members. If our presenter experiences harassment, inappropriate language, behaviour or abuse, they are within grounds to cease the event and cancel on the spot. Further investigation may be conducted and further damages may apply.

Please ensure there are no outside animals during the presentation. Bringing outside animals to our presentations may cause the event to be paused or cancelled outright due to the safety issues other animals present. This includes any animals other than humans. We cannot be held responsible for any interactions, including injury, that occur as a result of the presence of prohibited outside animals. 

*Our capacity and age limit is firm, and is an insurance and safety matter. We do not tolerate disregard for these policies, which place your children and our animals at risk. If you do violate our safety protocol, the following may occur:

• Children under the age of 3 will be asked to leave
• Any overage of attendees in the group will be asked to leave, with the option to rebook a second program at a later date to accommodate all attendees at our availability
• The program may be cancelled on the spot without refund or compensation

Failure to meet requirements or comply with our policies as listed above, including terms of payment, will result in the field trip or presentation being delayed or canceled without notice. Service fees may apply. Reschedulings/rebookings are at our discretion and convenience based on availability.  We cannot offer compensation, refund or credit for violations of our policy that lead to losses on behalf of the customer. In the event a violation sufficient to require cancellation of any event occurs, you will forfeit the entire cost of your booking.  

OUTREACH & FIELD TRIPS: Payment is due within 30 days of booking or 10 days prior to your event, whichever is sooner. Your presenter cannot under any circumstances accept payment (except tips), they are neither insured nor liable for handling cash. Insistence on in-person payments will result in application of service fees for the significant cost to us as an ecommerce business - we do not have a physical office.

BUTTERFLIES FOR Release: minimum 50% deposit is due upon invoicing or ordering as a deposit. Remainder is due 5 business days prior to your ship date. 

ALL OTHER ORDERS: payment is due within 30 days of order placement, or no less than 5 business days prior to your ship date. To pay an invoice: 

• There is a "review and pay" button in your email, with several options for credit or P-cards. If you don't see it, it may be because you are on a cell phone: please open this in a PC browser. We do not take payment over the phone.
• You can also send an e-transfer to bugs@butterflyab.com: please include your INVOICE NUMBER in the memo.
• If you would like to set us up as a vendor for EFT, we are happy to do so and can fill out the required forms anytime.
• All orders default with a net-30 for payment, or 10 days prior to shipping, whichever comes first. Unpaid orders in deficit may be cancelled at any time without warning and we may refuse future service as a result of these choices, as the losses on our end are significant, as is the risk to animal life and wellness for animals without homes. 

The deadline for rescheduling your shipping date or event is 10 business days prior to your listed shipping or event date.*

Evenings, weekends, and stat or civic holidays are not acceptable for notification timelines.

Rescheduling is subject to availability.

To reschedule your shipping date or event: please send us an email with the subject line “ATTN: RESCHEDULE (your invoice)”

Failure to provide sufficient notice of rescheduling on any order may result in application of rehoming, resource, or rescheduling fees.

For shipped products, if your order has already shipped, full costs will apply for our original batch of live animals. Additional fees for return-to-sender shipping costs will also apply, as well as new costs for replacements. 

For outreach, if it is less than 1 business day in advance of your field trip, presentation, or event, the event will be charged at full rate.  

*for cancellations due to emergencies such as mandated regional evacuations, pandemics, or natural disasters, please reach out to us at bugs@butterflyab.com

Please visit our shipping page for full info on shipping including couriers, timelines, costs, and more. 

We need accurate location and customer information to ship live animals, including a physical address (PO boxes are invalid), phone number, and email. Failure to provide correct shipping information at time of order, or failure to correct upon review, may result in the following consequences:

Order cancellation

Shipment delay

Loss of life

Shipment returned to sender

We cannot offer compensation for order delays, failures, loss of life, or other issues related to a lack of or incorrect information provided to us.