Breeding butterflies at home: what you need to know, breeding features, tips for beginners

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 been 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. Such a pleasure as 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.

Important points

In an aquarium where butterflies are raised, dry branches must be placed. The fact is that the beautiful insect that is born must dry out its wings.

To do this, it is attached to the branches upside down. This process usually lasts for several hours. If this moment is not provided for, then the butterflies simply will not be able to fly, therefore, it is unlikely that they will be realized.

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 small cities at once .

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.

Business prospects

Butterfly breeding, which can be done at home, will be a profitable endeavor. Clients who order these beautiful insects are usually quite wealthy people. It is they who turn to agencies specializing in holidays.

The cost of one butterfly is about two hundred rubles, and they are ordered in large enough quantities to arrange a “live” fireworks display. For a colorful and spectacular spectacle, insects are subjected to slight cooling. This makes it possible to deprive them of the desire to fly. Butterflies are placed in a beautifully decorated box, which is heated at the right time of the holiday. After opening the lid, the butterflies scatter throughout the room in a magnificent fireworks display.

Butterfly breeding as a business is a very profitable project. Tropical insect species are ordered in large quantities. By purchasing three butterflies, the client will pay approximately 3,000 rubles, and if fifty copies are needed, they will cost 35,000 rubles.

Magnificent and graceful insects are actively purchased by holiday agencies providing their services in large cities. As for small settlements, such businesses simply do not exist in them.

It is worth keeping in mind that butterfly breeding as a business does not necessarily have to be aimed at wholesale buyers. There are people who want to purchase them for individual creative gifts.

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 establish this business on just such breeds, you can go in 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 going 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.

Breeding "live goods" at home

Few people know that in order to grow butterflies, you do not need to create a bulky laboratory equipped with glass boxes and flasks.

You can purchase tropical moths that are quite large in size and have attractive colors from entrepreneurs involved in this business. Pupae, from which the butterflies you are interested in will soon appear, can be ordered online, paying from fifty to three hundred rubles for each. Delivery can be made either by mail or directly to your home by courier.

What to do with unsold butterflies

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 great pleasure to people.

Demand for butterflies

This type of insect is most popular among agencies involved in organizing various kinds of events - weddings, anniversaries, children's parties. Among the consumers of this service there are also ordinary citizens who are ready to pay a lot of money for a living gift. After all, the price for one butterfly can reach up to two thousand rubles, but rarely does anyone order only one.

Tropical butterflies are gradually replacing the wedding doves released into the air to celebrate the occasion.

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 organizational and financial business plans that include preliminary calculations of costs and profits.

Breeding crayfish

These invertebrate animals can be raised not only in specialized farms. Small-sized garden plots with ponds are also suitable for the implementation of the project.

For the purpose of breeding crayfish, either a pond or a factory farm can be organized. The first of them is considered the most profitable in economic terms. A profitable crayfish breeding farm for aspiring entrepreneurs is a farm that raises fingerlings. Their sale on the market will provide the greatest income.

The technology for growing cancer is quite labor-intensive. First of all, females that already have live eggs on their legs should be caught in natural reservoirs. Then they should be transported to your farm. To raise one ton of crayfish, it will take from five hundred to six hundred females. Pre-incubation of embryos is carried out in swimming pools, small ponds or using special devices. Particular attention should be paid to water aeration.

The crayfish breeding process requires constant monitoring. It is important to maintain a certain quality of water by monitoring the amount of oxygen and hydrogen dissolved in it. The food resources of the reservoir also require careful study.

The presence of zooplankton, algae, worms, etc. can significantly reduce the cost of growing commercial crayfish and fingerlings. If the water temperature exceeds seven degrees, invertebrate animals are fed with boiled or fresh food, which can be slaughterhouse waste, meat, shellfish, vegetables, etc.

Is it profitable to breed crayfish? Yes, the business is quite profitable. Economic calculations prove this. Thus, the purchase of two hundred kilograms of invertebrate animals costs twenty thousand rubles. After a year of cultivation, six tons of crayfish can be sold. The cost of a kilogram is two hundred rubles. The profit from the event will be more than RUB 1,000,000.

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 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.

Butterfly salute for a wedding - home business idea

Breeding and selling butterflies for the holidays. Butterfly salute for a wedding - home business idea. How to grow butterflies at home.
.

Butterfly salute business idea.

Butterflies are increasingly enjoying success as a living decoration for celebrations, weddings, birthdays, New Year, Valentine's Day, March 8, a declaration of love, and just a gift to your beloved girl. Breeding butterflies is not difficult, they just need to create the appropriate conditions, this can become your hobby that will bring good income.

The main customers of butterflies are holiday and wedding agencies, which provide their clients with a service for the holiday, fireworks from live butterflies. Live butterflies are often ordered for a wedding, the newlyweds open the festive box, and a mass of colorful butterflies takes off in front of the amazed guests.

The so-called living postcards are in great demand (a large butterfly is placed in a box and delivered by courier), the recipient opens the box, and a fluttering bright miracle flies out, causing amazement and delight.

Growing butterflies

Tropical breeds of butterflies are especially suitable for growing for sale; they have a bright, colorful appearance and large sizes.

Butterflies are raised in special premises for breeding and keeping insects - insectariums.

An ordinary aquarium is suitable for these purposes; it must be equipped with equipment that is not difficult to find in any pet store: a heater, a humidifier, temperature and humidity sensors to maintain a tropical climate: humidity 80 - 90%, and elevated temperature, otherwise in our temperate climate tropical butterfly pupae will die. The pupae of butterflies that live in our country do not need a tropical climate, but they are also afraid of dry air and require high humidity in their habitat.

Large species of butterflies are usually lazy and do not fly very readily, but they can sit impressively on your hand. Small species of butterflies are more active - it is better to use them in butterfly fireworks, as they fly quickly and quickly, thereby creating the effect of a bright, colorful fireworks display.

Butterflies are diurnal and nocturnal. You will need to buy several pupae of daytime tropical butterflies, they can be ordered online, the cost of pupae is from $3 per piece.

Butterfly pupae are delivered in cardboard or foam boxes filled with layers of cotton wool, between which the pupae are located.

When delivering, you need to take into account the possibility of hypothermia in winter or overheating in summer; this point is discussed with the sender.

Wooden sticks are placed inside the insectarium, and pupae are attached to them at a distance of 15 cm from each other. When the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, it hangs upside down and spreads its wings to dry, which takes several hours. After birth, butterflies do not eat for about a day; on the first day you do not need to feed them.

How to feed butterflies

Butterflies are fed the day after birth, once a day, for this you need to prepare nectar. Pure water at room temperature is poured into a small bowl, honey or sugar 1/5 teaspoon is added and mixed thoroughly.

To feed a butterfly, you need to carefully take it by the breast with your fingers, while folding its wings, and place it on the edge of the vessel with nectar. The butterfly's taste buds are located at the tips of its front legs; you need to make sure that it touches the nectar with them.

The butterfly begins to drink quickly, this can be seen from the movements of the proboscis; if it curls up the proboscis and tries to escape, it means that it is not hungry; feeding must be repeated later. There is no need to hold the butterfly while feeding; the process lasts from 3 to 15 minutes.

Butterflies can also feed on rotten fruits, banana, melon, apple and other juicy fruits, peeled and added to nectar. The lifespan of butterflies is 2 – 3 weeks.

Fireworks of live butterflies

The technology for creating butterfly fireworks is not complicated. Take a colorfully decorated box of a wide shape, several butterflies are placed in it, usually 11 or more pieces.

Before planting the butterflies in a box, you need to first cool them a little by a few degrees; in a cooled state they are less mobile. The box is closed and tied with a bright ribbon with a bow. Before presenting the gift, the box is placed in a warm place for a few minutes.

When the gift is opened, the butterflies quickly take off, rushing towards the light, thereby making a colorful fireworks display and giving those around them a huge explosion of emotions. Butterfly fireworks look especially impressive at a wedding in a banquet hall, when colorful butterflies fly around the newlyweds dancing their first dance.

Well, what would we do without a photo shoot of the bride with butterflies.

The average cost of a butterfly is from $20 to $50. A salute of 11 butterflies will cost from $220. Orders are accepted several weeks in advance, this is necessary in order to grow the required number of butterflies by the appointed day. You need to purchase several more pupae for growing, since the yield of butterflies under ideal conditions reaches 90%.

If you manage to establish a permanent market for butterflies, you can think about not only growing butterflies, but also breeding them. To do this, you will need a greenhouse and food plants for the caterpillars; without this, the butterflies will not mate. This will allow you not to depend on suppliers of pupae, and to establish the constant cultivation of the required number of butterflies.

Butterfly breeding can be your hobby and a profitable family business.

Butterfly fireworks for a wedding - business idea.

Share this business idea on social media. networks

Source: https://idei-biz.com/idei-biznesa/salyut-iz-babochek-na-svadbu-ideya-domashnego-biznesa.html

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, there are almost always customers for such an unusual product. 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.

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 color saturation. 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 to raise domestic butterflies is a greenhouse or winter garden. 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.

Did you like the article? Take it to your wall and support the project!

5 parts: Catch the caterpillar Arrange a home for the caterpillar Take care of 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

Prepare a container with good ventilation.
Containers for caterpillars can be found at a pet store or ordered online, or you can make your own, for example, from chicken wire (so that the caterpillar can cling to something). An aquarium or some small jug is also great, the main thing is to cover the top with gauze or fine mesh.
- You should not use a jar lid with holes because they do not provide sufficient ventilation and the sharp edges around these holes can injure sensitive caterpillars.
Look for caterpillars on plants.
Instead of killing a caterpillar with pesticides or swatting it away, try turning it into a butterfly (see Warnings). If you don't know where caterpillars are most often found, look up information on the Internet or ask a forester to find out what plants the caterpillars live on. It is very important to avoid caterpillars of rare species that may be protected by law. Different types of butterflies live in different places. Here are a few places where you can most often find them:
- Monarch Butterfly - Euphorbia
Tiger swallowtail - banana tree (pawpaw)
Thistle - thistle
Black swallowtail – parsley, dill, fennel
Viceroy Butterfly, Saturnia Cecropia, White Admiral - Cherry
If it's not the season for caterpillars, or you simply don't have the time, consider purchasing a caterpillar from a pet store. We will discuss this in the last section.

Part 2 Set up a home for the caterpillar

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 touch it. Third, your hands may be dirty, and bacteria can infect the caterpillar, and some caterpillars can be poisonous (see Warnings).
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.
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 rip 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.
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 the container, cover the top of the container with a plastic bag. Thus, moisture will not evaporate, but will accumulate. This is a particularly useful tip for raising Monarch butterflies and Viceroy butterflies.

Part 3 Care for the caterpillar

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.
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.
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.
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.
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

Be prepared to feed the butterfly that emerges from its cocoon.
The butterfly will not eat for several hours. At this time, she should spread her wings and let them dry. Once the butterfly emerges from the cocoon, it will be able to feed in your garden if it has flower nectar. Sometimes butterflies may feed from hummingbird feeders. Some butterflies, in addition to flower nectar, also feed on ripe fruits. So prepare your garden for butterflies.
- Don't be alarmed if you end up with a moth instead of a butterfly. Moths have the same coloring as butterflies, only it is less intense and colorful, but this does not make the pattern any less beautiful. Even different shades of the same color can look really amazing.
Watch the butterfly for several hours.
When the butterfly's wings are dry, you can place your finger under the butterfly's legs so that it sits on it. You can go out into the garden and plant a butterfly on a beautiful flower for great photos. Once you grow a butterfly, you can find out its life period. Keep in mind that some butterflies live less than a day. Remember this and give the butterflies freedom.
- To live normally, butterflies must be free. This is only possible if you have a large, well-kept garden where they can stay. However, many butterflies leave gardens and migrate to other places. If you want butterflies to live normally, do not take away their freedom.
Watch your butterflies in the wild.
Some butterflies can live for a few days, some will only live for a couple of days and then migrate, and some can stay with you for several weeks. In any case, be happy that you were able to successfully raise butterflies and watch their generation.
- If you have raised a Luna Moth, Cecropia Moth, or Polyphemus Moth, don't worry about feeding them. These curious creatures do not migrate in search of food.

Part 5 Alternative ways to find caterpillars

Consider catching an adult female.
Most adult females are already fertilized and can lay eggs.
If you catch one of these females, you can wait for her to lay eggs.
- Place the butterfly in a water bottle (with holes) near a light source (preferably sunlight). This encourages her to lay eggs. You can also keep her in a cool, dark place for several days so that she can quickly get used to her new environment.
Visit the Monarch Butterfly Farm.
These butterflies are so popular that you can find gardens and farms with these butterflies where you can catch the monarch butterfly caterpillar.
The garden will help you move the caterpillars into a container without harming them.
- The only difficulty with raising Monarch butterflies is that you need to find milkweed that provides food for them. If milkweed does not grow in your area, you will have to buy or grow it to feed your Monarch butterfly.
You can buy caterpillars from the supplier.
If you can't find caterpillars in your yard, or it's not the right time of year (this varies by area), you can purchase caterpillars from a pet store or supplier. In most cases, these stores will have a variety of varieties to suit every taste, plus you will know exactly what you are growing. Apparently, burdocks are quite easy to grow because they are the easiest to choose the right plant for.
- Perhaps this is not as interesting as looking for food suitable for the butterfly on your own, knowing that it will really like it. If you have the opportunity, spend some time researching the plants in your garden. Try all possible methods, and only as a last resort, contact a pet store or supplier for caterpillars.

Profitable business

Bumblebees are bred for the purpose of using them in agriculture as pollinators for many plants. A special effect is manifested when these flying insects are present in greenhouses. After pollination by bumblebees, an increase in yield is observed from five to fifty percent. In addition, fruits grown in this way have a higher taste.

Is the business of raising bumblebees profitable? Undoubtedly. In addition to increasing the yield of its own crops, the farm can earn a lot of money by selling families. The amount of profit will depend on production volumes.

Business plan valid in case of opening of the park

If an entrepreneur decides to open an open-air butterfly park, when calculating the business plan estimate, one should be guided by the size of the area required to create the park. As a rule, for 1 park with moths you need to purchase:

1-4 insectariums, or made by hand;
12 lots of pupae (4 insectariums × 3 lots of pupae suitable for living within the boundaries of 1 structure);
12 tropical plants (4 designs × 3 types of plants, suitable for 1 device);
4 climate control systems.

Thus, the individual entrepreneur will have to take $420 out of his pocket every 2 weeks to purchase broad-winged moths. Other types of expenses are incurred by the owner of the moths one-time.

In order to ensure the most efficient operation of the above systems, it is necessary to thermally insulate insectariums using dense transparent polyethylene film (a budget option), covering all parts of the structure with it and creating a canopy over the insectarium in such a way that the insects are inside the protective frame and are visible to visitors. This type of thermal insulation structure has one significant drawback: it is applicable only in the spring - autumn period, when the air temperature is between 0 - plus 18 degrees Celsius. The best option for preserving the lifespan of butterflies would be a greenhouse built by professional craftsmen, or created by yourself.

The entrepreneur must include in the monthly expense item (negative balance) wages for 3 employees:

accountant-cashier;
security guard;
administrator;
rent for the territory allocated for the park;
2-time purchase of 12 batches of butterflies per month.

At the same time, it is worth taking into account the fact that the individual entrepreneur himself works intensively in his park, since becoming a full-fledged entrepreneur with a large staff of up to 20 people will lead to a complete leveling of the profitability of the business due to the unprofitability of paying many employees. The cost of paying employees if the park operates according to the “economy” option will be about 100 thousand rubles per month. If we proceed from calculating the profit of an individual entrepreneur for 3 types of activities at once (selling dried panels, operating a park and providing a flock of moths for celebrations), then the profitability of the business will become quite high to form a stabilization fund for the enterprise and cover daily expenses.

Breeding butterflies at home as a business

The largest known butterfly, Attacus aitas, has a wingspan of 30 cm, which is why it is often confused with a bird. Of course, it is not necessary to take this particular type to start your business. Breeding butterflies at home as a business can be started with small, but beautiful and colorful individuals.

Tropical butterflies are gradually replacing the wedding doves released into the air to celebrate the occasion.

Sales Features

Preparing butterflies for an event requires some experience. To do this, they are cooled a little, thereby depriving them of the desire to fly. After cooling, the insects are placed in a beautiful package or envelope and delivered to the client. After opening the package, the butterflies fly up, resembling colorful fireworks.

The more butterflies ordered by the client, the lower the cost of one individual will be. For example, buying two or three butterflies will cost an average of 3 to 5 thousand rubles, while when ordering more than 50 insects, their total price will be about 30,000-35,000 rubles. Everything will depend on the type of tropical insect.

All you need to develop a butterfly farming business is patience and a desire to make money.

Where to start

In order for butterfly breeding as a business to generate income and develop fruitfully, it is necessary to build a clear plan for bringing the idea to life.

What should you pay special attention to?

Purchase of raw materials

The life cycle of butterflies includes four stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa and insect. But before turning into a pupa, the caterpillar needs a large number of plant leaves. Therefore, breeding butterflies, taking into account their full cycle, is a rather difficult task, requiring a lot of money and time.

The best option would be to purchase ready-made dolls through specialized enterprises. The price of one doll ranges from 3 to 15 dollars. The purchase of raw materials should be made at least every two to three weeks, in quantities of a hundred or more. Everything will depend on the season and the flow of orders.

The need for frequent purchases is due to the fact that even with the most proper care, tropical butterflies do not live long. It is also necessary to take into account possible defects in the form of dead pupae or hatched butterflies with defects. Before making a purchase, you should study the characteristics of each type of butterfly.

Breeding conditions

To raise butterflies, you do not need to create special laboratories or purchase production space. All that is required is to purchase aquariums and create optimal living conditions for insects for their development.

Depending on the biological species of lepidoptera, containers of different sizes will be required. The air should have more than 70% humidity, temperature – 28-30°C.

Tropical plants are grown in the aquarium, which have a beneficial effect on the process of transformation of pupae into insects. To maintain the climate, you will need to purchase humidifiers and a split system.

Pupae require special care. They are stored in a special chamber at a temperature of no more than +22°C. Their maturity should be checked daily, which manifests itself as darkening of the pupa and its acquisition of softness.

The pupae, ready for transformation, are hung on a thread by their tail, attached to the wall of the aquarium and sprayed several times a day.

At birth, butterflies may not be able to emerge from the cocoon, so you should monitor them and, if necessary, gently help.

What to feed

These lepidopterans feed on nectar from plants and fruits. For example, cut oranges, bananas or natural honey diluted with water are suitable as food: add 1 drop of honey to 10 drops of water. You won't have to spend a lot on food.

Safety

Moths are very fragile, so it is not advisable to touch them. The pattern on the wings can easily be erased by the touch of human skin. All equipment is placed in such a way that butterflies do not get into a narrow space and start beating their wings.

What species to breed

The following types of butterflies are considered unpretentious and accessible for breeding:

cabbage butterfly;
swallowtail;
corner cover;
hives;
various tropical species.

Marketing approaches

There are several ways to make a profit from butterfly breeding:

Creation of a special park where exotic insects will be displayed as exhibits. The entrance fee should not be too high, which will attract more visitors.
Sale of live butterflies. The most profitable option in business. You can use your own apartment to raise insects. The price for one butterfly can vary from 500 to 2,000 rubles. The main thing is to organize advertising correctly so that as many people as possible learn about the service.
Creation of paintings. It is not always possible to sell all the raised butterflies. In order not to lose your investment, you can start making three-dimensional paintings with butterflies. Such a product can be sold at a cost of 1,000 to 10,000 rubles, depending on the type of butterfly and the size of the painting.
Wholesale trade. Finished butterflies can be sold to resellers, who will themselves find ways of retail sales. Unused butterflies can be dried and sold to collectors.

As you can see, breeding butterflies at home is a waste-free business with almost zero competition.

Investment and ROI

The amount of money to invest in business development will depend on its scale. If the entire work process is planned to be organized at home, then the purchase of equipment may require about 150-250 thousand rubles. The business will pay off on average in a year if butterflies are actively sold.

In the case of organizing a park for excursions, costs can amount to up to 2 million rubles: this will include renting premises, paying staff, and equipment.

butterflies at home:

Growing tropical butterflies as a business idea

Breeding butterflies at home (laboratory) conditions

1 equipment for breeding butterflies

Tropical butterflies as a business idea

Source: https://vseproip.com/biznes-ip/kakoi-biznes-otkryt/razvedenie-babochek.html