Address Multiple Life Science Topics Painted lady butterflies are appropriate for all grade levels but especially effective for grades K-8. They enable students to observe complete metamorphosis, from caterpillar to chrysalis to adult butterfly. Students can then compare the butterfly life cycle to that of other animals or investigate how temperature affects insect development time. General life scence topics can be addressed as well, including how form fits function and what organisms need to survive. Committed to Quality We are committed to producing quality, exclusive painted lady butterfly kits and cultures for educators. The hallmark of our commitment to quality is our highly trained scientific staff. They continually monitor butterfly production and work to improve our kits and cultures. And if you ever need assistance, their expertise is at your disposal. Our exclusive painted lady butterflies are cultured in the laboratory so they do not deplete natural populations, and they are backed by the Carolina Pledge: 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Painted Lady Butterfly Care Sheet Carolina Biological has an excellent care sheet to help you look after your new organism. The link will open a new browser window, so please disable popup blockers.

Adults are fully formed butterflies and are great for displays of life cycle and even for releasing at special events outside the classroom, such as weddings.

When ordering adult butterflies, we recommend a flight cage such as our Butterfly Sanctuary (item# 674291). You can either provide flowering plants (petunias, etc.) or sugar water for food. For sugar water, dissolve two teaspoons (or two packets of sugar) in 1/2 cup of water. Soak a ball of cotton in the sugar solution and place it in the flight cage. Check the cotton ball and replace it when it dries or becomes soiled. Never offer water in an open container: the butterflies will fall into it and drown.

Because adults are the final stage of the life cycle, they will live for approximately one to two weeks before dying of natural causes. They need 14 hours or more of light daily to mate and produce eggs. If you do not want eggs, restrict them to no more than 8 hours of light per day. When raising butterflies in a classroom, the adults can either live out their live span in a suitable flight cage or be released after a few days of observations.

Adult butterflies are shipped in large cups containing folded paper. For large quantities of adults, 3 weeks advance notice is required.