Search  for anything...

Insect Lore Raise and Release Butterfly Garden Kit – Caterpillar Habitat with redeemable Voucher – STEM-accredited Butterfly Growing Kit for Kids, Classrooms, and Homeschool Learning

  • Based on 23,230 reviews
Condition: New
Checking for the best price...
$27.81 Why this price?
Save $0.18 was $27.99

Buy Now, Pay Later


As low as $6 / mo
  • – 4-month term
  • – No impact on credit to apply
  • – Instant approval decision
  • – Secure and straightforward checkout

Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.

Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Apple Pay, and PayTomorrow. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Free shipping on this product

FREE 30-day refund/replacement

To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.


Availability: Only 5 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by Amazon

Arrives May 13 – May 14
Order within 19 hours and 23 minutes
Available payment plans shown during checkout

Protection Plan Protect Your Purchase
Checking for protection plans...

Features

  • The Butterfly Garden: Includes everything you need to raise 5 baby caterpillars into adult butterflies. A 12 tall habitat, voucher for 5 caterpillars, reusable butterfly feeder, Chrys-A-Lid Holding Log, pipette, STEM Journal, and step-by step instructions
  • Please Note: This kit does not include live insects. Redeem your voucher when you're ready to start the project and Insect Lore will ship your Cup of Caterpillars and Chrys-A-Lid holding log right to your door! (S&H Fees apply.)
  • We Grow What We Sell: The originators of caterpillar to butterfly kits, and we raise our caterpillars ourselves in our own facility in sunny California.
  • An Experience to Remember: This immersive 3-week project teaches children all about butterfly metamorphosis and more! Watch as your caterpillars grow 10x their original size, form chrysalides, and emerge as adult butterflies
  • Watch Them Morph: The included STEM Journal allows children to document their daily observations and complete butterfly themed activities, while the observance of the metamorphosis process fosters patience, curiosity, and personal growth.

Description

Discover the Magic of Metamorphosis with The Original Butterfly Garden Kit for kids. Inspire curiosity and a love of nature with the Insect Lore Original Butterfly Garden Kit, the trusted hands-on learning experience that has delighted families and educators for over 50 years. Known for providing Insect Lore quality butterflies, this STEM-accredited butterfly growing kit gives kids a front-row seat to the full butterfly life cycle—from live caterpillars to beautiful Painted Lady butterflies. Designed to make science fun, interactive, and unforgettable, the kit comes with everything needed to raise butterflies at home or in the classroom. The kit includes a durable, reusable pop-up habitat for safe butterfly observation, a STEM activity journal to guide the learning experience, and Insect Lore’s exclusive Chrys-A-Lid log to support chrysalides during metamorphosis. A voucher is included that is redeemable for 5 live caterpillars. Note: Live caterpillars can only be shipped to the continental U.S. For best results, redeem your voucher when temperatures are between 50–90°F. From the Manufacturer Raise 3 to 5 Painted Lady butterflies while learning all about metamorphosis with this Oppenheim Best Toy Award-winning butterfly raising kit! See each caterpillar’s transition as it matures, changes into a chrysalid, and finally emerges as a Painted Lady butterfly! After observing your butterflies, experience the joy of releasing them into your backyard! Available only in the Continental U.S. and Alaska. Please be advised that there is an additional $5.00 required when redeeming your coupon for shipping and handling.

Brand Name: Insect Lore


Age Range Description: 4+


Educational Objective: STEM


Language: English, English


Manufacturer Maximum Age (MONTHS): 180.0


UPC: 735569010107


Manufacturer Minimum Age (MONTHS): 48.0


Global Trade Identification Number: 48, 07


Model Number: 1010


Manufacturer Part Number: 1010


Manufacturer: Insect Lore


Item Type Name: Habitat Kit


Unit Count: 1.0 Count


Manufacturer Warranty Description: No Warranty


Included Components: Mesh habitat, voucher for caterpillars, pipette, Caterpillars to Butterflies Instruction Guide


Theme: STEM


Is Assembly Required: No


Material Type: Nylon


Size: 11.5 inch


Item Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 12 inches


Item Weight: 0.06 Pounds


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: May 13 – May 14

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

  • Klarna Financing
  • Affirm Pay in 4
  • Affirm Financing
  • Afterpay Financing
  • PayTomorrow Financing
  • Financing through Apple Pay
Leasing options through Acima may also be available during checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Top Amazon Reviews


  • Super Easy and Fun - Great experience for all ages!
I went back and forth on whether to give this 5 stars or not. I have used an Insect Lore Butterly pavilion for over 20 years and needed another to share with students in a classroom. I purchased this item here on Amazon on 12/10/2004. I used the listing from my order history to order a new one. However, I didn't carefully read the current listing. The original is 2' tall by 14" wide. This one is 12" tall by 10" wide. Very big difference!! You can go to Insect Lore and purchase the same one I have for $14.95 - with shipping and tax it comes to $28. (I know not everyone wants a large one, and taller means tippier if you have small children.) The habitat is an excellent design, sturdy, well made and just the right size to put on a counter or coffee table where everyone can watch them grow. The plastic feeder that comes with this kit is cute, but it's very tiny. The journal booklet is nice, but Insect Lore ought to make it available as a free download - or maybe for $1 - for those who want to print their own. They're charging $3.99 each on their site, supposedly marked down from $5. With all of that said, I've been growing butterflies with children for over 20 years. I've done this with my own children, at schools, home school co-ops, in our neighborhood and at church. (I can highly recommend Clearwater Butterfly for purchasing caterpillars.) I can't say enough about what a wonderful experience this is, and it's a lot easier than growing chicks - haha - take it from me! Praying mantises are also great and fascinating. Ants and ladybugs too - just do that in your garden/yard - not in the house! Try them all and teach your children and your friends' children to love insects and God's extraordinary creation. There is nothing like the touch of a butterfly on your hand and then watching it fly away, especially for a child. This is one of the best grandparent, aunt or uncle gifts - not to be left for the parents to-do list, though! Make it a special thing you do with them and make some memories. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2026 by M. White

  • Great science experiment for kids
What a fun summer toy, great way to teach kids interactive science! Easy to set up and priced right!
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2026 by joy palmer

  • Hands- On Educational Experience, and Kid's Love It!
The Live Butterfly Garden by Insect Lore is a fun, hands- on educational experience that is certain to appeal to even the most stubborn, disinterested child. With the Live Butterfly Garden, children get to observe the process of metamorphosis, right before their eyes. Starting with caterpillars, children watch the little critters eat food, create a cocoon, and then transform into fully grown adult butterflies. The butterflies can then be observed in their habitat for a while before setting free. This butterfly garden is great for dozens of reasons, the most obvious of which is the educational value. Reading about insects and metamorphosis is one thing, but seeing the process live is another thing entirely. Kids get to learn how caterpillars/butterflies live, eat, and thrive; how to care for them; etc. They get to observe the caterpillars and butterflies at play and watch the butterflies eat their food, which is provided in the package. The caterpillars that come with the Live Butterfly Garden are painted ladies, which are not very common and will not be recognized by most children. However, most kids won't care- the fun of watching these small caterpillars transform into butterflies will have many kids gazing in awe, and prompt them to ask many questions. This educational toy is a huge hit and my kids loved it, but there were a few small issues. One was waiting for the caterpillars to arrive in the mail. To get the caterpillars, you have to mail in an included certificate, along with a check, and then wait. It seems like an eternity, especially from the perspective of young children, and it took longer than expected. Anther problem was parting with the butterflies. Once you have the caterpillars and they have transformed into adult butterflies, the next problem will be setting them free. Kids will grow attached to their small, winged friends and will not want to let them go. Another minor issue is with the transferring of the caterpillars from their small container- the one you receive in the mail- into the actual habitat. The container that the caterpillars arrive in has a paper area at the top, where the caterpillars will hang as they spin their cocoons. This paper section is fairly easy to remove, but the problem is that the cocoons are very delicately attached, and that means that some will fall off when the transfer is made. You will need to pin this piece of paper to the inside of the butterfly garden, but the kit doesn't include any pins. Safety pins or straight pins work, and it would have been nice if these were included in the kit. Still, when all factors are considered, the Live Butterfly Garden is worth the purchase and young children will enjoy the educational experience. Sure, it could be improved a little bit by making a few minor changes, but this is still a very good toy and considering my kid's fascination with the process, along with the educational value, it earns an easy recommendation. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2010 by Bryan Carey

  • Bit expensive but perfect
I bought this for my 5 year old. Along the way he had lots of fun and he learnt a whole lot about the butterfly lifecycle. Though the lot doesn’t come with Caterpillars, they give you a coupon to order it. The Insect Lore Butterfly Garden is a great way for kids to learn about the life cycle of a butterfly. The kit comes with everything you need, including a habitat, food, and caterpillars. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and kids will love watching the caterpillars grow and change into butterflies. One of the best things about the Insect Lore Butterfly Garden is that it's a hands-on experience. Kids get to feed the caterpillars, water them, and watch them grow. They also get to learn about the different stages of metamorphosis. This is a great way for kids to learn about nature and science. The Insect Lore Butterfly Garden is also a great way to get kids interested in gardening. The caterpillars need milkweed leaves to eat, so kids will need to plant milkweed in their garden. This is a great way for kids to learn about gardening and the importance of pollinators. Overall, the Insect Lore Butterfly Garden is a great educational toy for kids. It's fun, educational, and a great way to get kids interested in nature. Here are some pros and cons of the Insect Lore Butterfly Garden: Pros: - Fun and educational - Easy to use - Comes with everything you need - Kids get to see the butterfly life cycle up close - Encourages kids to learn about nature and gardening Cons: - Can be a bit messy - Caterpillars can be fragile - Shipping can be expensive Overall, the Insect Lore Butterfly Garden is a great educational toy for kids. It's fun, educational, and a great way to get kids interested in nature. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2023 by Jay K.

Can't find a product?

Find it on Amazon first, then paste the link below.
Checking for best price...