Beginners Seminar – So You Want to be a Butterfly Farmer!

So You Want to Be a Butterfly Farmer

8:00-8:30 Registration

8:30-8:45 Intro:

  • What is a butterfly farmer
  • Earning potential
  • Ways to sell butterflies: wholesale/retail/other venues

8:45-9:15 How to get started:

  • What are your goals?
  • Which species will you begin with? (AFB’s Online Courses: Discount w/Pro Membership to AFB)
  • Where/how to set up your rearing area: Temperature and humidity; lighting; ease of cleaning and disinfecting the area; separate areas for different stages; household pets and flea/tick meds.
  • Overview: Method for rearing
  • Association for Butterflies’ online courses
  • Association for Butterflies Student Mentoring Program

9:15-9:30 Standard Operating Procedures

  • Feeding at the same time everyday
  • Consistent temp/humidity
  • Cleaning cages
  • Journaling

9:30-10:00 Procuring breeding stock and host plants or artificial diet.

  • Selecting breeding stock
  • Growing your own plant material / Food quality
  • Having enough plant material / Planning ahead and substitutions
  • Overview of plant pests and problems (more on Friday)

10:00-11:30 Getting Started With Rearing Part I

  • Mating / Hand pairing
  • Getting butterflies to lay eggs
  • *Hands on gathering eggs
  • *Hands on washing eggs/egg care
  • *Hatching caterpillars and hands on transferring caterpillars
  • *Hands on making diet/demo
  • Feeding cats: plants vs. cuttings

11:30-12:00 Lunch by Best Boxed Lunches

12:00-3:15 Getting Started With Rearing Part II

  • Rearing Techniques
  • *Collecting pupae and how/where to emerge them
  • How to keep emerged butterflies until shipping
  • How to extend life cycle using coolers
  • Overview of Disease (Advanced Disease Course: Free w/Pro Membership to AFB)
  • Overview of Parasitoids (Beneficials Course: Free w/Pro Membership to AFB)
  • *Hands on for OE screening – (Overview: OE Clean Screen Program)
  • *Hands on packing eggs/caterpillars/pupae/butterflies
  • *Packing & Shipping: AFB’s Online Course, FREE coupon code for those who attend this seminar

3:15-3:30 Break

3:30-3:45 Permits and filling them out:

  • USDA approved
  • Educational permits

3:45-4:30 Selling butterflies

  • Join AFB
  • Website: do you need one?  Suggestions for platforms/hosting sites
  • Marketing your business
  • Building your business: schools, libraries, garden clubs (additional info Friday)