Home butterfly farm. Butterfly breeding in Russia as a business idea

Butterfly breeding is becoming an increasingly popular activity. Some people breed them solely as a hobby, wanting to try something new and unusual. Well, others are interested in breeding butterflies at home as a business. Indeed, with a competent approach and proper organization labor, this activity can bring good profits. So let's tell you more about it.

Pros of the solution

Let's start with the fact that this is a very interesting process. Just imagine: you have a wonderful opportunity to observe all the transformations that a living organism goes through - from eggs to adult butterflies. Although most specialists, trying to save time, do not buy eggs, but ready-made pupae that turn into butterflies. But this is also a very interesting activity, especially if there are children in the family - they will be happy to watch metamorphoses and will better understand the biology of insects than just reading books or textbooks.

This solution also has advantages if you are interested in breeding butterflies at home as a business. Reviews from the owners indicate such an advantage as the opportunity to earn big money in a small space. For example, to grow some plants or flowers, you will need a much larger area.

In addition, even compared to fast-reproducing animals such as rabbits, breeding butterflies at home takes a matter of days, which is very important for people who want to make a profit as soon as possible, and not over several months. This also makes it possible to quickly decide what the approximate profit from each batch is, whether it is worth pursuing such income, or whether it makes sense to look for a more profitable part-time job.

Therefore, every person who loves everything new and interesting should try to breed butterflies.

Who needs butterflies?

At first glance, the question is really relevant - who would even think of paying good money to buy butterflies? However, in practice, clients on such unusual product are almost always found. Basically, these are people organizing some kind of celebration - most often weddings, birthdays and other fun events that should be remembered for a lifetime. In such cases, you can arrange a whole fireworks display of butterflies. Yes, this pleasure is not cheap. But a hundred large, beautiful tropical butterflies flying out of the box at the same time will definitely become one of the most vivid impressions for guests at any holiday.

Gifts made from butterflies are also quite popular. For example, you can give a romantic girl a small, beautifully packaged box. When she opens it, dozens of beautiful butterflies will fly into the air. Yes, they will fly apart (that’s why it’s better to make such gifts outside). But the memories of a gorgeous and unusual gift will last a lifetime.

What you need to get started

In general, insects can be hatched from eggs laid by the previous generation. But this is a rather complex and lengthy procedure that requires serious investment. Therefore, in most cases, professionals, when telling beginners about breeding butterflies at home, recommend buying pupae. Their cost can vary significantly - from hundreds of rubles per piece to several thousand. However, if you buy in bulk (several dozen or hundreds of cocoons), you can seriously reduce costs. And when breeding, ordering a dozen cocoons is a waste of money. The fireworks will be too liquid.

You can purchase dolls in many online stores. Yes, you can try to catch meadow butterflies, but in color they cannot compete with exotic guests. So it’s still worth spending a certain amount on buying dolls.

Suitable conditions

The next point in the instructions for breeding tropical butterflies at home is creating ideal conditions. After all, these insects are surprisingly fragile creatures. Unsuitable temperature or humidity may well have a detrimental effect on them, causing death or at least a too prolonged exit from the cocoons.

Butterflies feel best when the air humidity is about 70% and the temperature is +28...+32 °C. Of course, creating such conditions in an entire apartment or room is very difficult. Therefore, it is better to limit yourself to a small area.

Some people buy spacious aquariums - a very convenient solution, but expensive. But you can watch the development of butterflies and track any changes in time.

The more economical ones prefer to simply build a small greenhouse from construction polyethylene. It will cost a maximum of a couple of hundred rubles, and if you wish, you can always roll up the film and put it in a closet so that it does not interfere if you decide to temporarily stop breeding butterflies. This trick won't work with an aquarium.

In the arranged place, you need to fix the wooden slats - the cocoons will be attached to them using suitable glue. Make sure that the distance between them is large enough. Otherwise, butterflies emerging from cocoons will interfere with each other and may even cause serious harm. After this, all that remains is to wait, making sure that the breeding conditions are quite comfortable.

What to feed butterflies

Very important stage in breeding butterflies at home, this means creating a food supply. In nature, they feed on nectar, which they collect from flowers. Of course, it is impossible to create conditions close to natural in an apartment or even a spacious house. We'll have to improvise. Fortunately, butterflies also do not disdain various nectar substitutes.

For example, you can use honey - the same nectar, only processed and thickened by bees. Dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:10 and pour into a small container - a plastic lid or a large flat dish will do. The main thing is to buy real honey, and not colored diluted sugar.

You can also use regular fruits. For example, cut an orange or tangerine into pieces and treat them to butterflies. They will happily suck juice from fruits using their long proboscis.

Food costs will be minimal - one large orange is enough to feed a hundred butterflies for several days.

Security level

Butterflies are very fragile creatures. Therefore it is necessary to provide them highest level safety, if you do not want them to lose their presentation.

First of all, you should firmly remember: you cannot take them with your hands. Pollen easily sticks to your fingers, which means that the most elegant design created by nature itself will be damaged. The cost of such butterflies is sharply reduced. In addition, some of them, after such exposure, lose the ability to fly, which is also extremely undesirable.

You should also make sure that there are no narrow gaps in the aquarium or greenhouse where butterflies will be hatched and kept. Often, when insects get there, they get stuck and begin to fight. As a result, pollen is lost, the wings become wrinkled or even break. Of course, there will be no benefit from such a crippled butterfly.

What to do with the remaining butterflies?

Alas, any project for breeding butterflies at home involves certain losses. For example, an order was canceled at the last minute, leaving several dozen butterflies left. And these beautiful insects are a very perishable commodity. Their lifespan is short, so you need to come up with some way to, if not make a profit, then at least reduce losses to a minimum.

Fortunately, there is such a way out. Butterflies euthanized with ether can be inserted under glass or even entire paintings can be created from them - real works of art. Yes, it is not always easy to find a buyer for such a product. But it also has a huge shelf life - sooner or later it will be possible to sell it.

Conclusion

This concludes our article. From it you learned what it takes to start your own butterfly breeding business. Well, or at least acquire a new, very interesting and unusual hobby that will bring a lot of positive emotions to both adults and children.

Breeding and keeping tropical butterflies is an expensive and very risky endeavor. It is difficult to organize a high-quality spectacle with the participation of even the most beautiful butterflies, which could attract the attention of visitors for a long time and become a source stable income for the owner. But if you are seriously interested in entomology, and the world of lepidopteran insects serves as a source of entrepreneurial inspiration for you, then perhaps breeding butterflies at home as a business will become a gold mine for you that will provide both material and creative well-being.

What a novice entrepreneur needs to know about the business with live butterflies and what should be prepared for when planning costs and profits, we will tell you in this review.

How to make money breeding butterflies

They started breeding butterflies for sale in Russia about 13 years ago.

During this time, entrepreneurs have mastered several types of income from tropical exotics.

Butterfly parks have appeared in many large cities, where visitors can admire these beautiful delicate creatures, as well as purchase a live exotic moth for their home collection.

Organizing agencies festive events offer clients to decorate ceremonies with the ceremonial flight of strange butterflies.

In parks or galleries you can find exhibitions and sales of panels with dried moths.

Most often, an entrepreneur who is professionally engaged in a home business such as butterfly breeding provides a full range of services:

• contains a butterfly park;
• sells moths wholesale and retail;
• produces and sells panels with dried butterflies.

Due to the fact that any spectacles involving butterflies are quite expensive, at first glance it may seem that a business with these insects has high profitability.

Is this true? Let's try to figure it out.

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How to breed and keep butterflies

In order to breed butterflies like this, an entrepreneur will need:

• a specially equipped insectarium with adjustable humidity and temperature levels;
• exotic plants that can serve as food for caterpillars and habitat for butterflies;
• pupae of rare butterflies.

The room in which the butterflies will be located must have a ceiling height of at least three meters.

You can build an insectarium yourself using drawings available on the Internet, but a reliable climate control system will need to be purchased from trusted suppliers.

The main expenses when running a business such as butterfly farming are the purchase of pupae. The cost of one pupa is from 3 US dollars; the more beautiful and viable the butterfly, the more expensive the pupa is.

However, there is no guarantee that all purchased pupae will produce healthy, normally developed butterflies of the species declared by the seller.

Lots of dolls are purchased from countries of the African, South American, and Asian continents. The minimum quantity is from 100 dolls. With such purchases, approximately 1/3 of the dolls turn out to be of poor quality.

The butterfly lives from one to two weeks, depending on the conditions of its detention, so it is necessary to purchase new pupae at least once every 14 days, and this is quite a serious investment.

Current costs

To start a butterfly farming business, an entrepreneur needs to spend:

• 15 thousand rubles. for room equipment;
• 90 thousand rubles. for the first three batches of dolls.

Caring for insects is simple: just place chopped fruits and honey diluted with water on a feeding stand.

If an entrepreneur plans to open a butterfly park as a business, then the monthly costs should include the amount of wages for hired personnel.

You will need at least three employees (accountant-cashier, security guard, administrator), with the condition that the owner himself will also actively work in the park.

Expenses for wages will amount to about 60 thousand rubles. monthly.

Business payback

We will assume that one entrepreneur works in three directions at once, discussed above (park maintenance, wholesale and retail butterflies and the sale of paintings with dried insects).

The profitability of such a business will be high enough to cover current expenses and the formation of a financial reserve for the enterprise.

The approximate cost of one ticket to the butterfly park for the day is about 500 rubles.

With an average visit to the park of 10 people per day, in one working month you can earn up to 120 thousand rubles. from the sale of entrance tickets.

When selling live butterflies to visitors at retail, each butterfly can cost from 700 rubles. up to 1000 rub. Wholesale prices are slightly lower: from 500 rubles to 800 rubles per butterfly.

Thus, from a batch of dolls worth 30 thousand rubles. You can earn 60 thousand rubles. selling live butterflies.

Panels with dried moths are sold at retail at prices starting from 1 thousand rubles. This type of activity can also be a reliable source of income and bring a profit of up to 20 thousand rubles per month. The production and sale of panels is one of the most profitable and least risky implementation options.

Thus, total income for an entrepreneur engaged in butterfly breeding, this can amount to 200 thousand rubles per month.

The cost of wages and purchasing dolls twice a month will be about 120 thousand rubles. Profit – 80 thousand rubles. per month.

Example home business on breeding tropical butterflies in the following video:

For novice businessmen who are not planning to organize a park, but only want to establish sales of exotic moths, the calculation of the business plan changes. Costs are reduced solely to the purchase of dolls, but the risk of losses increases. If a buyer for a batch of moths is not found within a matter of days, the entrepreneur will not be able to return the funds invested in it. Rate others too.

• 1 Clientele of the butterfly breeding business
• 2 How much can you earn? opening a business for breeding live butterflies
• 3 Butterfly breeding technology
• 5 Step by step plan discoveries, where to start
• 6 How much money do you need to start a business?
• 7 Which equipment to choose
• 8 Which OKVED code to indicate when registering a business
• 9 What documents are needed to open
• 10 Which tax system to choose
• 11 Do you need permission to open a business?
• 12 For someone new to the butterfly breeding business

In the world list of insects, butterflies undoubtedly take first place in their beauty..

This insect fascinates the attention of not only children, but even adults. According to scientists, butterflies have existed since the ancient times of dinosaurs.

Today they can be found anywhere in the world, with the exception of Antarctica.

In total, there are about 200 thousand species of butterflies on earth.

Among them there are also giants with a wingspan that reaches 30 centimeters, as well as very small species, the length of which is only a couple of millimeters.

But these bright and unusual creatures have long been not only an object of research for scientists. Today many people have based their business on butterflies.

Among them are various offices and wedding agencies, organizations that organize all kinds of holidays.

Butterflies have long become an excellent living decoration for celebrations, and such an activity as butterfly breeding has long been transformed from a simple hobby into a highly profitable and promising business.

Butterfly breeding business clientele

As mentioned above, various holiday agencies will be happy to become your regular clients.

After all, their clientele is the wealthy population of our country. A pleasure like butterflies is not considered cheap.

The cost of one can reach up to 2000 rubles. But almost no one will order these insects in one copy. Minimum of five pieces.

How much can you earn starting a business breeding live butterflies?

More recently, it was popular to release doves at such a celebration as a wedding, but today they are gradually being replaced by butterflies. In agencies, this action is called a “butterfly salute.”

This procedure is prepared as follows. Butterflies are cooled a little so that they want to fly. Next, they are placed in a special holiday box, which can be decorated with anything. The number of butterflies depends on the capabilities and wishes of the client.

The more butterflies there are in the box, the less the cost of each of them will be. For example, a small fireworks display of three butterflies will cost about 3,000 rubles.

But a large fireworks display of 50 pieces will cost about 30,000 rubles. But everything also depends on the chosen type of butterfly. The most exotic breeds can be valued at about 3,000 rubles per one.

Next, this box must be delivered directly to the event itself. At the right moment, the temperature inside the box rises, and when the client opens the box, butterflies fly out of it in an incredibly beautiful stream.

All this looks fascinating and unusual. All guests receive impressions, not just the heroes of the occasion.

There is also another option for decorating a holiday using butterflies. One butterfly is placed in special envelopes. These envelopes are distributed to the guests, and upon a signal, everyone must open them at the same time. After which dozens of butterflies also spectacularly fly out. But this launch looks even more beautiful and exciting than the previous one.

Each of the invitees watches how his particular butterfly flies, and after the end of the event, guests often want to catch their own butterfly and take it home, where it will delight its owner for several weeks.

Butterflies can be used not only as fireworks. They will also make an unexpected personal gift. Everyone dreams that their loved one would give such a surprise. And those who have already received such gifts once always share their unforgettable impressions. Such a non-standard gift is difficult to forget.

In large cities, many holiday agencies offer butterflies for decoration of celebrations. But you rarely see such a service as butterfly fireworks. But in small, provincial towns there is generally no such thing.

This means that you can become a promising businessman and provide such a service in several locations at once. big cities.

Not many people know that to raise butterflies, there is no need to equip a special laboratory. Everything can be easily organized right at home.

Butterfly breeding technology

Of course, you can find caterpillars right on the street, bring them home and put them in a glass jar. After some time, the caterpillar will spin a cocoon and become a pupa. In a week, or maybe even earlier, it will turn into a butterfly. That's the whole process.

But with this method you can only get some types of local butterflies, which do not have such fantastic and bright colors, which means that you will not be able to interest agencies, except maybe a couple of clients.

Tropical butterfly species are best suited for your business..

Firstly, they are large in size. And secondly, they have bright, unusual colors for us. In order to found this business It is on such breeds that you can go three ways.

Caterpillars can be purchased from entrepreneurs like you. The second option is to go to the tropics and collect caterpillars there. Just how to bring them to your home is already a task. And the most optimal third option.

On the Internet you can order a batch of dolls of the breed you need. Today there are plenty of companies that breed various breeds of butterflies.

The cost of a tropical type of pupa ranges from 50 to 300 rubles per copy. Delivery is carried out by mail or through a courier.

In order to grow and breed such tropical insects in the future, you will have to create conditions close to those where these butterflies came from.

If you are planning to do this at home, then it is best to place butterfly cocoons and insectariums - special aquariums for insects. Different types of insects must also be housed in separate aquariums.

You can find additional information in the literature. Also, some caterpillars require a large container for proper cultivation, otherwise they may die and will not bring you profit.

If this is a tropical species of butterfly, then similar climatic conditions must be created inside the insectarium itself - high temperature and high humidity. This effect can be achieved using a special humidifier and heater, which are sold in almost every pet store.

But feeding is a little more complicated. If the butterflies are tropical, then the caterpillars must also be fed with various tropical plants.

But some owners replace them with other plants or switch to artificial mixtures.

But not every species can survive this. This means that the necessary plants will also have to be grown in a greenhouse.

And many entrepreneurs who breed rare species of butterflies do just that. After all, a lot of food is needed due to the large size of the caterpillars. But the diet of butterflies is a little simpler. They can be fed sugar, natural honey and fruits.

Also, in the container where butterflies are grown, it is necessary to place several dry branches, imitation wood. They are needed so that the butterfly can hang upside down on them immediately after its appearance.

This way she can spread her wings and dry them within a few hours. If she does not follow this procedure, she will not be able to fly. And you also will not be able to sell such insects.

If you didn’t manage to sell all the butterflies in time, then this is not a reason for despair..

You can sell already dried butterflies to art and beauty lovers. Such a butterfly must be placed in a beautiful frame, preferably a wooden one, and you will get a three-dimensional picture.

The cost of this painting will cover the cost of the butterfly and the frame. On average, such a work will cost about 2,000 rubles.

In this situation, this business is considered very profitable.

You just need to create the right conditions for growing butterflies and plants, and you will make a profit and bring tremendous pleasure to people.

Step-by-step opening plan, where to start

The business of breeding butterflies at home needs to start by studying the type of insects that you are going to raise. Common butterflies, whose caterpillars can be found in local forests, have low demand among the population. It is much better to pay attention to tropical insects that are brightly colored and large in size. The next stage will be to create the necessary conditions for butterflies to live: high temperature, air humidity, as in tropical forests.

Next is to think about feeding. This may be difficult, since it will require a separate greenhouse in which tropical plants will be grown. After this, you can purchase insects and start growing them, also taking care of safety. Before purchasing equipment, draw up an organizational and financial business plans in which preliminary calculations of expenses and profits are made.

How much money do you need to start a business?

The size of the starting investment will directly depend on the scale of the business. Breeding insects at home, with purchase necessary equipment and raw materials, will entail expenses of 150-250 thousand rubles. This is approximately 5-10 times less than organizing a park for excursions. On average, the payback period for a business is from 9 to 15 months.

Which equipment to choose

Breeding butterflies at home will require the purchase of special equipment. This includes:

• Special sectional aquariums with the ability to adjust temperature and air humidity, as well as the degree of illumination.
• Separate greenhouses (greenhouses) for growing exotic plants as food for caterpillars.
• Humidifiers and split systems.

Most of the necessary equipment is available in regular pet supply stores, but some things will have to be ordered online or searched in specialized markets.

Which OKVED code to indicate when registering a business?

Specifying OKVED codes will be required to register a business only if a park is opened: 92.34 “Other entertainment and entertainment activities”, 92.53 “Activities of botanical gardens, zoos and nature reserves”. Breeding butterflies at home does not require the indication of OKEVD codes.

What documents are needed to open

Registration individual entrepreneur, to breed tropical butterflies for sale, will require a standard package of documents: passport, copy of TIN code, payment receipt state duty and a notarized statement indicating the required OKVED codes (if necessary).

Which tax system to choose

It is most convenient to use the simplified taxation system when selling a business.

Do you need a permit to open a business?

To open a business and raise tropical butterflies for sale, you will need permission from the sanitary and epidemiological services, a veterinary conclusion, as well as permission from the animal protection commission.

New to the butterfly farming business

(5 ratings, average: 4,00 out of 5)

We received a question from Tatyana: “How can you grow a butterfly at home? How long does she live in captivity?

Cats, dogs, parrots, reptiles, fish, even spiders and cockroaches... All these pets are no longer uncommon at home. But you want something new, unusual and beautiful! And butterflies will give you just such feelings. Because today you can admire them not only in nature, but also at home.

How to grow a butterfly at home

In fact, caring for a butterfly will not be difficult a lot of work. The main thing that is required from the owner of future beauty is patience. As you know, butterflies go through several stages in their development:

• eggs;
• caterpillars;
• pupae;
• butterflies.

There are several ways to start breeding butterflies.

Also read: How to prepare standard roses for winter

You should know that moth pupae turn into mature individuals in the ground: for them, it will be necessary to cover the bottom with a layer of soil.

• Before the pupation process itself, the behavior of the caterpillars changes: they stop eating and begin to behave restlessly.
• When the caterpillar hangs on a branch, you will notice how it begins to spin a cocoon around itself. When she is completely in the cocoon, you can start counting. Soon you will have real live butterflies!
• Having emerged from the pupa, the butterfly hangs on a branch for a while to spread its wings. If there are no branches nearby and the butterfly does not spread its wings on them, it will not be able to fly.
• Feeding an adult butterfly is very simple: they eat honey or sugar (mixed with a little water), fresh fruit and even fruit with foulbrood.

Reproduction in captivity

A couple of days after the “birth” of the butterflies you can mate. But you will need several generations of butterflies to mate, because the males hatch a little earlier than the females (by a few days). Remember that on the fourth day of life, butterflies will no longer be able to reproduce.

For mating itself, you will need a room, at least three meters in height, for the free movement of butterflies, an insectarium. You need to create a high temperature in the room - 28-30 degrees Celsius. Make sure there is sufficient humidity.

In addition to food for the butterflies themselves, the insectarium should also have a food plant (many butterflies do not mate if it is not nearby).

You may also be interested in the article in which we talked about how to make a butterfly feeder. In addition, in this material we described in more detail what butterflies eat and how you can make a nutrient mixture for them.

How long do butterflies live?

At home, butterflies live longer - from one to three weeks. In nature, it’s only a few days.

How to care for butterflies (video)

As you understand, butterflies at home are an excellent solution for those who appreciate beauty. You will only get pleasure and pleasant sensations from butterflies.

Reviews and comments

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ratings, average:

Butterflies have always been exotic representatives, which cannot be said about reptiles, aquarium inhabitants and predatory animals, which are increasingly kept in apartments as pets. Most people like moths for their wing shape, varied colors, beauty, sophistication and lightness. Breeding butterflies at home does not involve any difficulties, since they are not demanding in their care.

In order to contemplate this beauty at home, you just need patience.
To become the owner of such pets, you can do this: rear them yourself, or buy butterflies at a farm or nursery. To witness all the life cycles of such pets, you should give preference to the first option, but if you choose the second method, all these stages will be skipped.

Start of the process

Butterflies are representatives of insects that undergo holometamorphosis, that is, a complete cycle of transformation, so breeding butterflies involves them going through all 4 stages:

• The first stage is the appearance of the egg;
• The second stage is the birth of a caterpillar from an egg;
• The third stage is the formation of the pupa;
• The fourth stage is the emergence of the butterfly from the pupa.

Before you start breeding butterflies, you need to find the right specimens. The task is quite difficult, since finding caterpillar eggs is not so easy due to their small size, which can easily be half a millimeter. To be able to get the eggs you need, you should follow the butterfly, as it can lay eggs in just 1 or 2 seconds. And, therefore, even by lightly touching a leaf, a butterfly can leave its offspring there. However, finding a ready-made doll is also quite likely.

Enough large number Representatives of these insects can be located in dry leaves, soil, between boards and other places. To grow a butterfly from a caterpillar at home, you must also take into account the time of year. Because if you find pupae in the natural environment during the end of the autumn period, they should certainly be placed in the refrigerator for a couple of days. From such pupae that catch your eye in nature, not only butterflies, but also hymenoptera insects can appear, therefore, you need to be careful and attentive when choosing such specimens.

Caterpillars

The main difference between the caterpillar, which will later become a butterfly, is the presence of three pairs of front legs. Caterpillars should not be handled as they may be injured. Therefore, in order to transfer the caterpillar to the place you need, you need to tear off the leaf on which it is located, and then move it with a cotton swab.
To witness the entire transformation of such a pet, you can place it in some transparent container or three-liter jar. However, if you are going to raise domestic butterflies for more professional level, you should purchase an aquarium that will act as an insectarium.

The bottom of the home of future butterflies can be covered with a small amount of napkins, and you also need to provide the caterpillar with the food leaves necessary for nutrition. The best leaves are those on which the caterpillar was found, and they should be changed quite often to avoid drying and rotting. To give the vegetation freshness for a longer period, you need to moisten the napkins using a spray bottle.
To prevent escape, the glass container should be covered with a lid, after making holes in it.

When the caterpillar grows up to its size maximum dimensions, it stops feeding, gets rid of excess fluid with the help of liquid excrement, and can also change its color - such actions indicate readiness for pupation.

Rebirth

The appearance of a butterfly from a caterpillar, as well as breeding butterflies at home in general, is quite a fascinating process. The caterpillar produces something like a sticky web, from which it creates a cocoon for itself. Cocoons can be various types, for example transparent and soft or opaque, hard and elastic. The type of butterfly directly determines the type of its cocoon; for example, moths tend to create their cocoon directly on the ground. On average, pupation lasts only 2 or 3 days. Next, you should consider which species you are growing, since the pupa of different species may hatch at different times.

For example, wintering pupae - they need to be kept in the cold for at least a month, and possibly more. For pupae you need to create a certain temperature regime, namely 26-28°, and humidity from 60 to 90%. This will ensure the normal development of the butterfly and also protect it from drying out. Therefore, keeping the container moisturized is extremely important.

When a butterfly emerges, its first action is to hang upside down, a process that allows it to spread its wings and lasts for several hours. To ensure such conditions, you need to place gnarled branches or a strip in the container toilet paper. If the butterfly does not have the opportunity to hang, its wings will not spread out, and therefore the insect will not be able to fly.

The best treat for domestic butterflies is honey or sugar diluted in water. Such pets are tame and are not afraid of human presence. The main condition is to behave carefully so as not to harm the insect.

Tropical species

Breeding butterflies at home is also possible using tropical species. These species differ from local ones in a wide variety of colors and richness of colors. To grow such representatives, you must first purchase their pupae. Today, purchases can be made via the Internet. The price of butterflies directly depends on their size and type. To purchase tropical species, the wingspan of which reaches 12-15 cm, you will need to shell out about 3 - 10 dollars, but butterfly pupae with wings 8-12 cm will cost 2 dollars. The best place A greenhouse or winter garden will be used for raising domestic butterflies. But it is also quite possible to use an insectarium, you just need to maintain the required temperature and humidity. Butterfly pupae should be placed in it and after a few weeks you can admire the beautiful spectacle.

Having figured out how to grow a butterfly at home, you can not only become the owner of exotic inhabitants, but also get an additional source of profit.

5 parts: Catch the caterpillar Arrange a home for the caterpillar Care for the caterpillar Take care of the butterfly Alternative ways to find caterpillars

Look out the window and you will see beautiful butterflies fluttering past you. Surprisingly, such beauty came from a small garden caterpillar just a couple of centimeters long, which once, perhaps, ate the leaves of your favorite roses. Perhaps when you look at a butterfly, you dreamily think: “oh, if only it were possible...”, and then the idea of ​​growing them yourself comes to your mind!

Part 1 Catch the caterpillar

Part 2 Set up a home for the caterpillar

1. 
   Pry the caterpillar with a twig.

   It should be a thin branch (ideally from the same plant on which you found the caterpillar) or something else. Be very careful; you need to handle the caterpillar gently, because it can die if it falls even from a small height.

   • You should not take the caterpillar with your hands for several reasons: firstly, it will then be difficult to place it in its house, because it clings tightly to the surface of the hand. Secondly, the caterpillar will crawl along your hand and you may accidentally hit it. Third, your hands may be dirty and the bacteria can infect the caterpillar, and some caterpillars can be poisonous (see Warnings).
   • Place the twig with the caterpillar in the container. It is important not to throw away the twig, since the twig will be the site for pupation.
2. 
   Return to the tree or bush where you found the caterpillar.

   Cut a small branch with leaves from it. Most likely, this particular plant serves as food for the caterpillar. Before you try to feed a caterpillar, you need to know what it eats. Some species of caterpillars (such as the Monarch butterfly caterpillar) prefer only one type of plant (euphorbia). Other caterpillars may feed on different plants. But keep in mind, the caterpillars will starve themselves to death before they start eating the unfamiliar food.

   • If you are not sure about the choice of plant, look up information on the Internet, and then find leaves from the plant that the caterpillar was sitting on, because the caterpillar itself chose this plant.
3. 
   Place the leaves in a container.

   Before you put the caterpillar in there, check for spiders and insects in the container because they can kill the caterpillar. Change the leaves in the container every day because the caterpillar will not feed on dry, old leaves. To keep the leaves fresh for a long time, place them in flower tubes with water (these are sold in flower shops and are cheap). There is no need to put dishes, a jar or a vase with leaves there for the caterpillar, because the caterpillar may fall there and drown.

   • If a caterpillar is sitting on the leaves you want to replace, do not try to remove it because caterpillars are tightly attached to the surface, which can cause you to tear off its legs. Instead, simply place a few more leaves in the container. After some time, the caterpillar will move to a new portion of leaves, and in the meantime you can remove the old ones.
4. 
   Keep the container outside.

   Place it in an enclosed area where there is no heat or cold, where it cannot be reached by pets or your loved ones, who may accidentally throw out or break the container. If you live in a dry climate, you can sometimes spray the container with a spray bottle because caterpillars like moist climates. But don't overdo it, or mold may start to grow in the container.

   • If you want to increase the humidity in a container, cover the top of the container plastic bag. Thus, moisture will not evaporate, but will accumulate. It's special useful advice for growing Monarch butterflies and Viceroy butterflies.

Part 3 Care for the caterpillar

1. 
   Check every day to see how your caterpillar is doing.

   Regularly clean the container from excrement and mold. Resist the urge to hold the caterpillar, especially if it is inactive and has changed color, because this may indicate the beginning of a transformation. Feed the caterpillar fresh food and monitor its changes. Soon the caterpillar will pupate and turn into a cocoon and then into a butterfly.

   • Don't touch the doll. She does not need water or food during pupation, she only needs a moist environment, which you can create from time to time.
   • Caterpillars eat “a lot.” You can line the container with paper towels or newspaper to make it easy to clean up after the caterpillar. It is very important to clean up after it in a timely manner, because the remaining excrement will begin to rot, which can cause the caterpillar to get sick and die.
2. 
   Watch the caterpillar's behavior.

   If you start to notice that the caterpillar has changed color or seems lethargic, it is most likely about to moult and form a chrysalis. During this period, the caterpillar is especially vulnerable, so do not touch it or try to pull it out. Soon you will notice that the caterpillar will begin to curl.

   • Perhaps the caterpillar was simply sick. If you have multiple caterpillars and one of them dies, remove it from the container as soon as possible to avoid infecting healthy caterpillars.
3. 
   The doll should hang in the open air.

   Make sure the chrysalis hangs in an area of ​​the container that has plenty of space, as it will need room to spread its wings when it emerges from the cocoon without touching the floor or walls of the container. Butterflies need plenty of space to spread their wings, and the container must be dry for them to fly. If the butterfly cannot spread its wings, it may fall to the ground and not survive.

   • If necessary, move the twig or the object where the pupa is hanging to a more suitable place. Again, do everything very carefully. Move slowly and smoothly. You don't want the chrysalis to fall, because then the butterfly will die.
   • If the pupa falls off, attach a piece of paper to the tip of the pupa with hot glue, then wait until it cools and hardens. After this, attach a piece of paper to cardboard or something else and place it in a container.
4. 
   Be patient.

   It takes time for a butterfly or moth to emerge from a pupa, and this time depends on the type of butterfly. If you are very interested, you can try to take a good look at the caterpillar, its colors and some marks, and then search the Internet or books for information about this species. Some butterflies, such as Monarch butterflies, emerge from their cocoons in 9-14 days. Some other butterflies can remain in the pupal stage all winter, emerging from the cocoon only in the spring.

   • The only thing you need to do during this period is to create optimal humidity for the pupa and maintain it. The pupa does not need water or food, it only needs a suitable environment.
   • You may see the chrysalis change color. Then it becomes clear that the moment you have been waiting for is about to come. This can happen in an instant, so don't go anywhere if you don't want to miss the butterfly's appearance. Once the butterfly appears, it will hang on the cocoon for about several hours, spreading its wings and finally forming.
   • If the cocoon darkens, it may have died. Try bending it gently; if it doesn't return to its original state, it's most likely dead.

Part 4 Take care of the butterfly

Part 5 Alternative ways to find caterpillars

• Caterpillars do not need to be watered. They get the necessary fluid from fresh, juicy leaves.
• If you are looking for a Monarch butterfly caterpillar, you will find it on a milkweed plant. Cut the stem because the caterpillar feeds on the stem, and then put the stem with the caterpillar in a container. This is usually a guarantee that you will not damage the track during transport.
• Try to find different caterpillars and raise them into amazing butterflies. Try looking for caterpillars that look like bird droppings. They are the size of an antenna, and when they grow and pupate, they turn into beautiful dark blue butterflies.
• Look for caterpillars in a variety of places, not just your yard. Look for them in the park, in the forest. Plus, this can be a great reason to go on a picnic with your family.
• Butterflies and moths are cold-blooded animals. This means that their temperature depends on the temperature environment. In addition, they feed on nectar.
• The caterpillar may die, but don't be too upset. Raising caterpillars and butterflies requires a little practice and skill, mainly in choosing food and creating a habitat that is favorable to them. Find more information about the species of butterflies you are trying to raise to understand what is best for them. Remove dead caterpillars from the container in a timely manner so that the infection that could cause the death of the caterpillar does not infect others.
• Every 1-3 days, remove the caterpillar and replace old leaves with new ones. Then rinse them, leaving a few drops - this is a source of water for the caterpillars. If you notice that the caterpillar is eating more than usual, it means it is not getting enough nutrients, try giving it other leaves.
• Moths can live as long as they want in captivity because they do not need to migrate to feed. Despite this, it is still better to give them freedom, because their life is already very short.

Warnings

• Be careful with caterpillars, some of them can be poisonous. Poison is their defense mechanism, so you should not touch them with your hands. If the poison gets into the eyes, it can damage the mucous membrane.
• If you decide to purchase caterpillars, keep in mind that in many countries legal approval is required.
• Do not collect rare, endangered species of caterpillars and butterflies that are endangered and protected by law.
• Beware of the brightly spotted spiny caterpillars because they can be very poisonous. Once you have some experience in raising butterflies, you can try to carefully transfer such a caterpillar to your container, because they usually grow into large, beautiful butterflies.
• Try to collect caterpillars in your region, not outside the city. You should not buy caterpillars from a supplier who breeds butterflies. Keep in mind that butterflies that are not native to your area may harm native butterfly species and may even displace them. Therefore, some states have laws against the cultivation of foreign species of animals.
• Many species of butterflies feed exclusively on nettles, so be careful when collecting these caterpillars!

What you will need

• Container (something like an aquarium or a large plastic plant container with a net on top)
• Flowering plants (those that the caterpillar will feed on)
• About 5 cm of soil (if the caterpillar will pupate underground)
• Layer of newspapers or paper towels

Article information

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It is unlikely that anyone can resist the incredible beauty of butterflies. The graceful shapes and unsurpassed colors of the iridescent wings are simply amazing. Nowadays, these insects can be found in all countries of the world. Today, science knows more than 200 thousand species of butterflies. Among them there are tiny ones only a few millimeters long, and giants with a wingspan of up to 30 centimeters.

It is impossible not to take into account the fact that these beautiful creatures have long been not only an object of research, but also a promising and highly profitable business. Now breeding winged flowers is a beauty that brings profit.

Who buys butterflies?

The main consumers of these wonderful insects are various holiday agencies.

The pigeons, which were previously released during wedding celebrations, have been replaced by the so-called “live tropical butterfly salute.” The cost of one such butterfly fluctuates around 1500-2000 rubles, but no one will order one butterfly, otherwise what kind of fireworks will you get?

When ordering, the moths are slightly cooled (so they don't have the urge to fly) and placed in a beautiful and colorful holiday box decorated with ribbons and holiday paper. After the box with the “surprise” is delivered to the special event, it is heated at the right moment and the butterflies are released, eager to fly. Such a fascinating spectacle will not leave anyone indifferent, and the guests will certainly enjoy it.

Butterflies are actively used by holiday agencies in big cities, where this business flourishes, but not every agency can boast of such an unusual and colorful service. As for the provincials, small towns, then in most cases there is no gift from butterflies.

Also, only a few people know that to grow butterflies at home, you don’t need to create a whole laboratory with various flasks and glass boxes. To do this, you just need to read the following recommendations, and you will be able to breed these beautiful creatures right at home, and also build a good business from it.

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Breeding moths at home

The first thing that will most likely come to your mind is to find the largest and fattest caterpillar in the area, put it in a three-liter jar and wait to see what comes out of it. But the downside is that from this breeding you will only get a type of butterfly that will not please you with its special and bright colors, because this is the way of breeding butterflies as a common hobby, and we need a good and profitable business.

Therefore, you are more likely to be interested in tropical species of butterflies. They are simply wonderful appearance and quite large in size. It is clear that you won’t be able to find them in the nearest forest, and therefore you can purchase them either from entrepreneurs who practice butterfly breeding, or order them online. Prices for pupae of tropical species are approximately 50-300 rubles per piece. Delivery is carried out by courier (directly to your home) or by mail.

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​​​Prerequisites

Your task is to provide insects with conditions that are as close as possible to the places where they live. Therefore, be patient, gather your willpower, and you can start breeding, and then good business with a stable income.

At home, caterpillars, cocoons and moths are kept in special aquariums - insectariums. It is worth considering that for different types butterflies required different sizes this aquarium. It is even interesting that large species of butterflies can die if the “living space” is too small for them; this is also worth paying attention to. In insectariums, high temperatures and high humidity must be maintained, as if in a tropical forest. To do this, you can use heaters and humidifiers, which are easy to find in any pet store.

The feeding problem is a little more difficult to solve. You will need to fork out money for a greenhouse, because you need to feed the insects with special tropical plants, and you will have to grow them yourself. Keep in mind that you will need a lot of so-called food, because caterpillars are real gluttons. But when it comes to feeding butterflies, things are simpler; they are fed with natural honey, sweet fruits and sugar.