#insectlore

[emiliefitch]

what is even going on here anymore

[littledrawins]

Butterfly garden

Did you know you can grow butterflies at home? 🦋

Companies like InsectLore send live caterpillars in the post sealed in a little pot full of food. Over the next week, they grow to TEN times their original size before spinning into chrysalides. Then you move them into a special little indoor butterfly garden to transform. A week later they emerge as beautiful little butterflies ready to be released.

My kids love watching the different phases and the magical moment when we set them free outside. 

[thesingingbullfrog]

The baby Mantis are molting today! They have doubled in size coming out of their old skin. This is considered their 2nd instar.

[steffloui88]

Two of the babies emerged today and have earned their wings and ability to taste with their feet. 🦋 #paintedladybutterfly #butterfliesofinstagram #butterflies #insectlorebutterflygarden #insectlore https://www.instagram.com/p/B-rX8jGACDR/?igshid=6uj116a9lrf6

[butterflyinthewell]

The butterflies my mom and I raised just got set free. I’m super emotional.

Here’s a little Youtube playlist of videos I took of them. The last one is their release into the world.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpaI9mLOtRhpgQ2ar06mM4G_jusa6aRGW

[79designltd]

Tomorrow they all get released to enjoy some sunshine and nature. Welcome to the world. #butterflies #caterpillar #insectlore #lincolnshire (at Spalding, Lincolnshire) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRJ7DyXDdNA/?utm_medium=tumblr

[rchayward]

Cat proof #catterpillar #chrysalis #butterfly #catproof #butterflygarden #insectlore #insectlorebutterflygarden https://www.instagram.com/p/CPNrXY0haxn/?utm_medium=tumblr

[threebeansplaytime]

So, the moment finally arrived! Our caterpillars emerged from their chrysalides as beautiful, Painted Lady Butterflies! They’re fabulous and the moment that it all happened went so quickly (after so much waiting!) but, it truly was AMAZING to see...luckily, we managed to catch one butterfly 🦋 on camera ❤️ Check out our latest video on YouTube if you’d like to see it too! @insectlore @insectloreeu @insectloreeurope Thank you also to @twinklparents for their Butterfly Life Cycle printable, which features in the video. #threebeansplaytime #3beansplaytime #insectlore #insectlorebutterflygarden #insectloreeurope #insectloreuk #metamorphosis #twinklparents #twinklresources #learning #learningathome #youtubers #youtuberkids #lifecycleofabutterfly #lifecycles https://www.instagram.com/p/B_bmISeHrUl/?igshid=1aguqgg4a45to

[hannahmacabre]

Caterpillies 😍 🐛 @insectlore #insects #bugs #caterpillar #insectlore #butterflies #wiggly #creepycrawlies

[3decades3kids]

Like her mama...A social(media) butterfly! @insectlore Thanks for the fun and butterfly kit! We can't wait! #insectlore #butterfly #ttpm @ttpmofficial #nyc #bloggerlife #bloggerkids (at Metropolitan West)

[exetertrees]

Oak eggar moth? #insect #insects #insectsofinstagram #insects_of_our_world #insectsworld #caterpillar #bugs #video #nature #insectlovers #insectlore (at Exeter, Devon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_8l0-ihEBs/?igshid=1uf6w33k3ybhk

[maitrepo]

Coucou 🦋 #insectlore #insectlorebutterflygarden

[thesingingbullfrog]

Decided to let my last mantis free outside. She just wasn't thriving in captivity. It was very cool hatching them. Next year I'll order later in the year so I can release them sooner.

[steffloui88]

One of my caterpillars is greener than the others in its nest. It's like the equivalent of albino critters almost. All ten have been with me for a week now. #caterpillarsofinstagram #paintedladybutterfly #caterpillars🐛 #insectlore #caterpillars #caterpillar https://www.instagram.com/p/B-M30nGg_I8/?igshid=9ytvgrlpyigl

[thebungaloo]

MAY - MONTH OF GREEN

May,  I decided to get closer to nature & to help save the planet (in whatever minute way I could). It was great fun & what better way to get closer to nature than the girls digging & preparing our strawberry patch? The girls now love to check after dinner if any strawberries are ready for their pudding. The girls have also planted some sunflowers & we eagerly wait for the magic of them growing!

We also discovered that the relatively local Aldenham Country Park does camping & glamping. With camping so locally it would be ok if the girls were to freak out & want to come home so it would be a good test for the summer months! So we made a last second decision to go with some of the girls school friends - with our tent that hadnt been open since the Vintage At Goodwood Festival I worked on in 2010! Yikes! 

It was glorious! The girls loved the freedom & collecting kindle for the fire we would be building in the evening.

We all loved our BBQ’d dinner & toasting marshmallows on the fire. And then as it grew dark we made some hot chocolate on our little gas fire. And as the sun descended we put the girls to bed - but they came out as we had forgotten to pack their teddies! (EEEK!!) Thankfully our school friend neighbours had a spare teddy to lend,

May was so great for all the flowers popping out - the girls & I love playing the rainbow game on the walk to school & it’s far easier to play once the flowers start to really bloom! My favourite is fast becoming Peonies - I cut some from our garden & brought them in!

As a family we watch the David Attenborough’s documentaries. The latest being Blue Planet II. We were dismayed about the levels of plastic in the ocean & used this month of green to make small changes to decrease our single use plastic usuage. 

Above, I have bubble bath (the gold one - you break bits off & sprinke it under running water - you only need a teent bit), face serum, shampoo & conditioner & body soap all from Lush. A pink chalk facial soap from Homesense (I really should have made a note of the make as it is brilliant - & going to last a long time). And I love the nostalgia, smell & the amber transparency of Pears Hand Soap. I have also changed my toothbrush to bamboo & purchased a mooncup.

After playgroup one Friday morning, Ada & I decided to go on an adventure & access the local fields from a different entrance to walk home. And what a sight to behold  with all the buttercups in bloom. We sat & made chains & crowns & bracelets, skipped through & lay in them It was magical!

I started looking around at what other disposable items I was using regularly & looked at pinterest for ideas on how to cut my waste. Cotton pads & disposable wipes!!! I scoured my fabric hoard & found some off cuts of thin towelling I used for another project & some teeny patches of liberty off cuts & sewed myself some reusuable cotton pads. I also cleaned out my drawers & sewed some old tshirt into squares (near enough) doubled up to soak in detergent to use instead of wipes. Hurrah!

I purchased the girls a Live Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The girls loved this. 

A few just instantly flew off when we opened the net, however we did have one with deformed wings, which needed a bit of help & remained our pet. It loved being taken outside, and happily climbed into our hands, especially if we had some fruit for it.

It lived the rest of its life in our conservatory eating cuts of fruit & flowers brought in from the garden.

This month of green was really good for the soul. 

[davidlaspinaphoto]

@insectlore in Clinton Hill. #insectlore #🦋