The ordering process
The business operates largely using a pre-order model. So, how does this work?
Breeding stock of a particular species is secured by myself or one of my trusted breeders & listed on the website - expected breeding times are stated in product titles, e.g. JUNE
Customers place an order for the species they desire. I recommend making an account so that you can check on its status
The species comes into season and starts to breed; orders are shipped chronologically, from oldest to newest, either from my own facilities or direct from the breeder
Why operate in this way?
The pre-order business model is most effective for dealing with live insects. This is because: for most butterflies and moths, the duration of time they spend either as an egg or pupa is limited - most eggs will hatch within 2-3 weeks, but this can be even shorter in some species. Pre-orders mean that eggs can be sent out as soon as they are laid, or pupae/cocoons as soon as they are formed and solidified, greatly reducing the risk of emerging in transit. I can offer a wider range of species and adjust breeding stock numbers according to demand, in advance of the breeding season, so that nobody misses out.
Please pay attention to estimated availability prior to ordering, as often customers expect their order much sooner than is stated in the product title. Remember also that these are estimates, as emergence and breeding relies on external conditions such as weather or origin of the livestock. Note that you may have to wait several weeks before shipping, depending on your selected species.
Placing an order
Once you have decided on the species or item you wish to order, you can add it to your cart. From your cart, you can then proceed to the checkout where you may add your address, select a shipping method, and arrange payment - read more about payments and refunds here.
Please note that I highly recommend making separate orders for different species.
Choosing not to do so may result in significant delays, particularly if you select multiple species with different availability, as I will then need to coordinate these for a single delivery. In some cases, I may need to split these into separate consignments, in which case you will not be able to track your order as the shipping cost has to be divided and will not cover tracking.
If you order several species together, I may need to make substitutions to fulfill your order in a timely manner. For example, if you ordered 3 different kind of pupae together, I may have to substitute one of these for a similar species of equal or greater value if all 3 are not available at the same time. If you ordered, e.g., 3 different kinds of egg, I may have to substitute one for another similar species that eats the same host plants, or double up on one of your order species to the same or greater value.
Shipping & Delivery
Orders are shipped chronologically, from oldest to newest, as soon as the livestock becomes available. Estimated availability is stated in the title of each product.
Shipping is currently only by Royal Mail. Orders shipped to UK addresses have a live & healthy arrival guarantee. Issues must be reported on the day of arrival to be eligible, including photographic evidence. After this, the livestock is under your care and not eligible for any further guarantee.
International orders have no guarantees, and are sent entirely at the risk of the customer with a complete customs declaration. If you have a permit or license you would like to attach to the shipment please get in touch after ordering, this is not a problem.
Currently, shipping options are:
UK orders:
Eggs/larvae - Royal Mail 24 Tracked
Pupae/cocoons - Royal Mail 24 Tracked
Aquatics - Royal Mail 24 Tracked
Amphibians - Animal courier
International orders
Eggs, pupae, cocoons - International First Class Tracked
Live aquatics - cannot be sent outside of the UK
Amphibians - cannot be sent outside of the UK
Delivery times
Note that delivery times refer to the time taken from dispatch to delivery, not from ordering to delivery. Please do not expect your order to arrive the day after ordering.
An analysis of 315 international orders shipped in 2023 shows average delivery time for each region as follows:
France: 6 days
Belgium: 11 days
Canada: 6 days
USA: 15 days
Croatia: 13 days
Estonia: 12 days
Germany: 15 days
Hungary: 10 days
Netherlands: 6 days
Norway: 11 days
Poland: 11 days
Romania: 10 days
Slovakia: 14 days
Spain: 14 days
Sweden: 14 days
Switzerland: 7 days
EU (combined): 10 days
Please use this information wisely to decide on the species you order if you decide to proceed. My recommendation would be to avoid species with a short hatch time - feel free to consult me prior to placing an order.