Experience the magic of metamorphosis up close! Our Whimsical Wings Monarch Butterfly Kits let you watch caterpillars transform into beautiful Monarch butterflies – a hands-on, educational adventure perfect for families, classrooms, and nature lovers of all ages.
Availability: Kits are offered seasonally from April through September. Orders typically ship about 1–2 weeks after purchase, scheduled around local weather to ensure your caterpillars travel safely. (If you’re nearby, you can opt for local pickup.) Please note that, per USDA regulations, we only ship to locations east of the Continental Divide.
We now have two kit options to choose from – a Premium Monarch Kit and a Basic Monarch Kit – so you can select the experience that’s right for you. Both options are available for shipping or local pickup.
For instructions on how to use our kit, you may download our brochure:
Basic Monarch Kit
Our Basic Monarch Kit is a streamlined, budget-friendly option that still provides the same core butterfly experience. This kit is great for those who want to enjoy raising a Monarch with just the essentials (and maybe already have some of their own supplies) while spending a little less.
Kit includes:
- Full-grown milkweed plant – the vital host plant for your caterpillar.
- 1–2 Monarch eggs or baby caterpillars – to raise on the milkweed (just like in the Premium Kit, we include up to two).
- Printed care instructions – a guide to help you care for your caterpillar and plant through each stage
- Even with fewer accessories, you’ll still get to watch your caterpillar eat, grow, become a chrysalis, and emerge as a Monarch butterfly. The learning and excitement are the same!
Care note: The Basic Kit also follows the two-caterpillars-per-plant approach for the best chances of success. A single milkweed can typically feed two caterpillars. If one doesn’t make it, the other still may – seeing one butterfly emerge means your journey was successful. (Of course, if both make it, that’s even more to celebrate!)*
Price: $45 (+shipping costs) / $30 (local pickup – call for pickup)
Premium Monarch Kit
Our Premium Monarch Kit is a comprehensive, all-in-one package that comes with everything you need to nurture and raise Monarchs. It’s the perfect choice if you want a fully equipped setup for an unforgettable butterfly-raising experience.
Kit includes:
- Full-grown milkweed plant – the live host plant that Monarch caterpillars need for food.
- 1–2 Monarch eggs or baby caterpillars – your starting point for the butterfly life cycle (we provide up to two to maximize your chances of success).
- Magnifying glass – for observing your tiny caterpillars and chrysalises up close.
- Spray bottle – to mist the chrysalis.
- Netted enclosure (habitat cube) – a reusable mesh cage to keep your caterpillars and milkweed plant safe as the Monarchs grow, pupate, and emerge.
- Printed care instructions – step-by-step guidance on caring for your caterpillars, plant, and butterflies over about 30 days.
- Monarch lifecycle poster – a colorful poster illustrating each stage from egg to butterfly, great for learning and display.
- Plant tray – placed under the pot to catch excess water and keep things tidy.
- Care note: We include up to two caterpillars per milkweed plant because one or two is the ideal number a single plant can support to adulthood. We hope both will thrive, but raising butterflies comes with Mother Nature’s uncertainties. As long as at least one caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, your kit is considered a success – you’ll have witnessed the magic of the Monarch lifecycle first-hand!*
- Price: $65 (+shipping costs) / $50 (local pickup – call for pickup)
Both the Premium and Basic kits offer an incredible opportunity to connect with nature and contribute to helping the Monarch population. Whichever kit you choose, you’ll be able to raise, release, and cherish the experience of bringing a new butterfly into the world. Happy butterfly raising!