Availability Starting Mid-April 2025

Butterfly

Releases

Around the globe butterflies are considered to be symbols of rebirth, joy, hope, endurance, and lightness of being.

Releasing butterflies is a great way to celebrate life’s special moments— it’s a truly memorable experience! Our releases are very popular at weddings, memorials, baby showers, schools, and public events.

2025 Release Packages

Mixed Release — $100*

Number of Butterflies: Dozen

We pick a mixture of different butterflies depending on what we have available at the time of your release. Butterfly species availability will vary throughout the year. If you prefer more of a certain species of butterfly, please let me know and I will try to accommodate your request.

Because butterflies are legally classified as Agricultural Plant Pests, we are highly regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service. We are only permitted to ship certain species to certain states.

CLICK HERE to find the species permitted for release in your state.

* Does not include $45 Flat-rate Overnight Shipping & Handling
* If you are in Kansas within a 1-Day delivery distance from us, we can utilize UPS Ground.

1. Choose your base package.
2. Pick your style of envelope.
3. Decide how you want your butterflies to be released.
4. Understand shipping & delivery.
5. Read our guarantee and cancellation policies.

Our release packages include twelve butterflies. You can order more than one base package.

STANDARD GLASSINE

Each butterfly is placed individually in Standard Glassine Envelopes and packaged within our colorful butterfly container.Butterflies may need to be coaxed out of the envelope.

ORIGAMI EASY RELEASE (RECOMMENDED)

For an additional fee of $8, each butterfly is placed individually in our handmade Origami Easy-Release Envelopes and packaged within our colorful butterfly container. With this special design, butterflies have the ability to launch themselves into the air without assistance. Simply grab hold of the top flaps, and open it like a taco!

CUSTOMIZE YOUR ENVELOPES FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS!

For an additional fee of $4, your envelopes will be customized for your event.

USING INDIVIDUAL-RELEASE ENVELOPES

The easiest way to release your butterflies is by utilizing the individual release envelopes provided. Our butterflies are always shipped in these protective envelopes, no exceptions. The health of the butterflies is our number one priority. All butterfly-filled envelopes are placed within our colorful butterfly release box. You will receive one box per dozen butterflies.

USING A MASS-RELEASE CONTAINER

Although our butterfly release packages utilize individual release envelopes, you can easily move over your butterflies to a mass release set-up. Select a box with ample room for your butterflies. If you are utilizing a box with a smooth interior e.g. a glass box, make sure to give the butterflies something they can hold onto such as flower petals, decorative moss, fabric, or a paper towel.

Now you may begin to transfer your butterflies from the release envelopes into the mass release container. Try to keep the lid of your box adjusted so the butterflies cannot take flight from your hand while you are opening your envelopes. This can best be accomplished in a dark, cool room and having a large piece of tulle available to cover the box opening while you are transferring the butterflies from the shipping envelopes to the box. If the butterflies do take flight, they will head for the sun or brightest light.

Gently cup your hand over the butterfly and place it in the box. When all butterflies have been placed inside the box, close the lid. You may wish to place the tulle netting over the box (under the lid) so the butterflies can be seen with little chance of their escaping. The butterflies will rest for many hours in this box. To trigger their instinct to roost, place the box in a cool, dark location. Prior to the release, place the box in an area of warmth for at least an hour. However, do not overheat as there may be no ventilation in your release box. Never place the box in direct sunlight.

PACKAGING

Butterflies are placed into individual envelopes with their wings in a resting position. This is how butterflies rest at night or during cool temperatures. This way we can protect the delicate wings, legs, and antennae from being damaged. Butterflies are shipped in an insulated box with an ice pack. Butterflies are cold-blooded and their metabolism is greatly influenced by the ambient temperature. This means that when butterflies are cool, they go somewhat “dormant.” We want to mimic this naturally occurring phenomenon to ensure that the butterflies make it to their final destination safely.

SHIPPING

We require overnight shipping for all releases and charge a flat rate of $55. UPS Next Day Air overnight shipping paired with an insulated box & ice pack ensures that your butterflies arrive healthy. Overnight shipping ensures the butterflies will arrive before the ice packs thaw completely—we do not want your butterflies coming out of their “dormancy.” Please let us know the intended date of your release—we ship releases so that you will receive them the day before your event.

SHIPPING UPDATE (Does not apply to Local Pick-Up Orders): With recent issues with shipping, we are no longer offering releases for weekend delivery.

If your butterfly release is on any day on or between WEDNESDAY- SATURDAY, you will get your butterflies the day before your release.

If your butterfly release is on a SUNDAY, you will get your butterflies on Friday before noon. Please follow the detailed instructions. Supplemental feeding prior to your event may be required (instructions included).

We do not advise you to have a release on a MONDAY or a TUESDAY. Unfortunately due to shipping, we cannot guarantee that your delivery will arrive in time for your Monday/Tuesday event/release. If it is absolutely crucial for you to have your release on TUESDAY, your order will be shipped out Monday for you to receive sometime on Tuesday (UPS guarantees by the end of the day— which is not ideal, because you will likely not have your butterflies by the time of your event on Tuesday). We will not let butterflies sit in a hot warehouse over the weekend for a MONDAY release.

DELIVERY

Track your order so that you can be at home when your package arrives. Bring your package inside away from the summer heat as soon as possible to avoid potential overheating on your front porch. Open your package immediately, inspect the contents, and read the provided release instructions. It is important to check on your butterflies as soon as they arrive— they should wiggle around a little bit in their envelopes once exposed to warmer temperatures. The provided ice pack may be melted or slightly thawed. Please switch out the included ice pack with one we ask you to provide. Keep your butterflies inside the insulated box with the new ice pack until an hour before your release.

OUR GUARANTEE

We guarantee arrive-alive. Upon unboxing should you discover that there is a problem with the contents of your order, please contact us immediately. To qualify for the guarantee, we require contact within one hour of delivery. We are not responsible for shipments unless they are opened at the time of delivery.

Please send us an email with photos of the problem to thehatcherybutterflies+URGENT@gmail.com and call/text us at (316) 226-9473. If The Hatchery is not contacted at time of delivery the guarantee is void.

CANCELLATIONS

Due to the time-consuming process of raising healthy butterflies and somewhat fleeting nature of our products/services, we do not accept butterfly release cancellations.

Interested in a release?

Get in touch.

Please fill out our butterfly release form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If we are able to do a release for your event, we will send you a code that will allow you to enter the butterfly release section of our online store.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email

Release Date

MM

DD

YYYY

Release Location (City, State)

Envelope Type & Customization

Standard Release Envelopes

Easy-Release Origami Envelopes (+$8)

Envelope Customization (+4)

Additional Details / Special Request

Feel free to provide us with additional details about the nature of your event/release.

★★★★★

“It was perfect! The release added just the bit of beauty that we were hoping to experience for our loved ones Memorial. Thank you.”

Ardith L.

★★★★★

“I could not have asked for a better experience when we were looking for butterflies to release in memory of my best friend’s little boy!”

Kylee S.

★★★★★

“The Hatchery was so helpful when I ordered for my wedding release. I would absolutely recommend them!

Angie S.

Disease Prevention

Certified.

“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.”

– Association for Butterflies