My Story
Hello, I’m so excited to see you here! My name is Ryan Malone, and I am the owner of The Hatchery Butterfly Farm, a privately-owned small business located in the Riverside area of Wichita, KS. My focus is on breeding and rearing butterflies native to Kansas and surrounding regions.
I believe that a system of healthy pollinators is fundamental in the creation of the produce and goods upon which we depend—more than 90% of all plants need a pollinator to move pollen to create fruit. Unfortunately, habitat loss, overuse of pesticides, and effects of climate change have all contributed to the rapid decline of pollinator populations around the world.
To battle these unfortunate circumstances, I am tirelessly working to bolster pollinator populations via education, native habitat restoration projects, and utilizing ecologically friendly gardening practices. By providing hands-on, easily accessible, and educational experiences for people of all ages, I hope to raise awareness and garner support for our struggling pollinators.
Why Butterflies?
Around the globe butterflies are considered to be symbols of rebirth, joy, hope, endurance, and lightness of being. They represent the courage to embrace transformation for a better life. People endearingly call them “flying flowers,” enriching our lives with their fleeting beauty.
However, butterflies shouldn’t just be limited to an ethereal representation of beauty—they can be quite bad*ss! Some larvae sequester and store poisonous compounds from plants (Monarchs and Pipevine Swallowtails), some are carnivorous (Harvester butterfly), and some drug ants, turning them into personal bodyguards (Japanese Oakblue Butterfly).
Butterflies serve a crucial role in the ecological environment as pollinators for plants. As butterflies move from flower to flower, their bodies are dusted with pollen. Plants and their pollinators have evolved side-by-side, often requiring the unique anatomical structures of specific pollinators to set fruit. Researchers at North Carolina State University studied the pollination process of flame azaleas and discovered that "due to the flower’s unique reproductive structure, butterflies – and specifically, their wings – are the key to pollination."
You can have confidence in us.
We know that sometimes finding trustworthy, pesticide-free plants to feed your caterpillars can be challenging, always questioning if what was bought at the store or local nursery will be safe. We utilize biological control methods such as ladybugs and predatory mites to ensure that our plants remain pesticide-free and are safe for caterpillar consumption.
Disease Prevention Certified
We have been certified in "Advanced Disease Prevention for Lepidoptera" through the Association for Butterflies.
“By purchasing butterflies from farmers who display the seal on their website, you can have confidence that these farmers have completed the course, practice disease prevention through good rearing practices, and know how to keep their stock clean and healthy by recognizing signs and symptoms of unhealthy stock. You are ordering from a knowledgeable, informed professional who understands what to watch for and can help you feel good that you are receiving healthy butterflies or caterpillars.”
About the Owner
Ryan’s love for butterflies began in elementary school in the 90’s when the Monarch butterfly population was at its greatest.
At his elementary school there was an untouched field filled with native prairie plants. In the fall monarch butterflies filled the air. Fast-forward to high school, and the field that had once been filled with butterflies was now filled with turf and soccer players. Ryan co-founded a student organization that aimed to reestablish the native butterfly habitat that once welcomed so many Monarch butterflies. Ryan went on to create several more Monarch Waystations in residential areas.
A few years down the line, Ryan assumed the role as Head Caretaker at Aly’s Blooms Flower Farm during its first year of operation.
During this time he gained experience with organic plant care and other agricultural practices. As one could imagine, the farm was loaded with pollinators. Butterflies would lay eggs on plants destined to be cut flowers. Rather than kill off these caterpillars (commonly seen as agricultural plant pests), he would relocate them to his own plants grown at his home garden.
Ryan then moved on to work at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens as a seasonal gardener.
While there his responsibilities included running and maintaining the butterfly house, display greenhouse, and the Milburn Aquatic Collection. He had the opportunity to present at the KAIRS K-12 Teacher’s Conference, showing teachers ways to incorporate pollinators into their lesson plans and to establish butterfly waystations at their schools. He also led high school students on a tour through Botanica, teaching them about the Monarch life cycle, and showing students hands-on how to tag migrating butterflies.
Ryan began selling Chrysalis Boxes in local businesses like Tree Top Nursery & Landscape, Aly's Blooms, and Ferguson-Phillips Homeware. With these educational boxes, customers could experience the emergence of a butterfly at home with their own eyes. The concept of The Hatchery Butterfly Farm was born. After much development the farm was formally established in 2020. We are small, but growing.