Butterfly releases are common at graduations, birthday parties, weddings, and funerals, but can be used for anytime you wish to mark a special transitional time in your life. Release butterflies that are farmed commercially are typically packaged individually and will be shipped to you the day prior to your event. Special care needs to be taken regarding the time of year and time of day the butterflies are released into the wild so that they have the best chance of survival. These butterflies are not intended to be handled, but if you do touch the butterflies, please handle with care.
The types of butterflies you can choose from will depend on the region where you live (download PDF to check species that qualify for your state). Butterfly species that are USDA-approved for commercial release are:
- American Painted Lady
- Eastern Black Swallowtail
- Giant Swallowtail
- Gulf Fritillary
- Monarch Butterfly
- Mourning Cloak
- Painted Lady
- Red Admiral
- Zebra Longwing
