ABOUT OUR BUTTERFLIES

MATERIALS:

ALL MATERIALS USED ARE CREATED FROM THE HIGHEST QUALITY ACRYLICS, AND NATURAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE. ALL SPECIMANS ARE HANDLED WITH CARE AND ARE DISPLAYED WITH A FLOATING METHOD, CREATING THE ILLUSION OF FLIGHT.

"THE CASES ARE OF TOP NOTCH DESIGN," SAYS ECOLOGIST ROSS SCHILDER, " AND THE BUTTERFLIES SEEM TO FLOAT AS THEY DO IN NATURE, DALIA REALLY CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF CALM IN THE MIDST OF FLIGHT." INFORMATIONAL: We ONLY obtain our butterflies from suppliers that support rainforest farming. Papua, New Guinea is a great example of a government sponsored program to sustain villages and the wild butterfly population by providing butterfly specimens for collectors. Before these wonderful programs, the large base of butterfly collectors around the world were supplied by simply capturing wild butterflies. This was unsuccessful in providing the indiginous peoples with a life sustaining income and it was devastating to certain very desirable wild species. Families were forced to sell their irreplaceable land to logging or cattle companies to support themselves and once cut, rainforest land is lost forever. We must work to preserve it, it holds so many undiscovered secrets.

Butterfly farming has been an extremely successful plan. Farmers increase the forest vegetation by planting trees and vines on which wild butterflies like to lay their eggs. Once their eggs are laid, the farmers collect the leaves and put them inside a hatchery, where they are protected. A large percentage of these eggs would never hatch if left in the wild. The caterpillar hatches, munches away on the protected vine and turns into a chrysalis. When they emerge from the chrysalis, some are collected for sale. Usually 30% are released into the rainforest. This is enormously helpful to the wild population as the number of butterflies in the wild is increased by a stable controlled amount, enhancing their natural ability to find each other and reproduce. Most butterflies only live about two weeks once they become winged beauties, so time to mate is short. The additional vines and trees planted harbor and protect wild butterflies. Their habitat is preserved and the land is now profitable to the natives protecting it from sale to loggers. A myriad of wonderful insects, animals and plant life are preserved, and an entire ecosystem continues to prosper.

Initially, customers are concerned because the collection of a real butterfly means the death of a butterfly. We were very upset about that thought when we considered starting this business. When we learned a little about the process, we felt great about the idea. By harvesting some artificially hatched butterflies, we are truly helping to save forest land, and the wild ecology of the rainforest. Oddly enough but true, buying butterflies saves butterflies. It's a great industry to support and a wonderful art object to have. Holding a real butterfly in your hands is one of the most beautiful sights to behold. Their colors and patterns are so perfect they seem almost surreal.

We find them truly breathtaking every day and so will you.