This document provides information from a 3-day butterfly release course for event planners. Day 3 covers details on the day of release such as transferring butterflies to the release container and release ideas. It also addresses common myths about butterfly releases and emphasizes that butterflies are important for the environment and food chain. The document concludes by thanking attendees and encouraging happy butterfly releasing.

1. Butterfly Release Course
y
for Event Planners
Day Three
(c) Association for Butterflies; Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening 2007
www.forbutterflies.org

2. T bl f Contents
Table of C t t
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
7
Day of Release
Transferring Butterflies
Release Ideas
Butterfly Myths & Truths
Thank Y !
Th k You!
(c) Association for Butterflies; Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening 2007
www.forbutterflies.org
2

3. D
f Release
Day of R l
On the day of the release, the butterflies will be fine in the box in which they were shipped.
If you are going to hold an individual release, keep the butterflies cool until an hour or so
before the event. (You will need to take into consideration the outside temperature and
how fast they ill
h f t th will warm up i th
in those t
temps.) K
) Keep i mind th t you will want th t warm
in i d that
ill
t them to
up, ideally, to about 70 degrees. It is always advisable to designate a responsible person
who does not already have a job to do on the day of the event, to be in charge of butterfly
care and handling. Sometimes, a “butterfly attendant” is designated for this p p
g
y
g
purpose.
If you are holding an individual release, the attendant can distribute the envelopes to the
chosen releasers. The envelopes are opened and the butterflies fly out. They don’t need
to be thrown….they will fly when they are ready. The guests can admire them and enjoy
y
y
y
y
g
j y
them as long as they can this way.
(c) Association for Butterflies; Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening 2007
www.forbutterflies.org

4. T
f i Butterflies
Transferring B tt fli
If you are holding a mass release, you will need to transfer the butterflies into the release
container while they are still cool. If you will be using a container that is not transparent,
where the sunlight would show through, then just transfer them into it about an hour or so
before the l
b f th release. Be sure to keep the box in a shady undisturbed area. Do not place it i
B
t k
th b i
h d
di t b d
D
t l
in
direct sunlight, or they will overheat. You can also place a dark cloth over the container to
keep the butterflies inactive. Do not disturb the box until the time for the release. The release
container should not be moved often. If you have a release box that is an open weave type,
y
p
yp
you will want to mist the butterflies at least twice an hour to keep them from dehydrating.
Flowers can be placed in a see-through container at the bottom, as long as they have not been
sprayed with insecticides. Watermelon slices can also be hidden in the flowers and this will
give the butterflies something to nectar on while confined.
confined
(c) Association for Butterflies; Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening 2007
www.forbutterflies.org

5. R l
Release Id
Ideas
Your imagination is the limit. Some families (for outdoor weddings) hold their wedding
release before the wedding. The wedding ceremony takes place while the butterflies are
flying around. To achieve this, a good number of nectar plants are recommended for
placement i th area. At another wedding, a l
l
t in the
th
ddi
large net was arranged so th b tt fli
t
d the butterflies
were all released at once at the end of the ceremony. At most weddings, they are released
when the couple is exiting the church or building where they were married.
Butterflies aren’t just for Weddings
Butterflies can be released at any event! Birthday parties, g
y
yp
, grand openings, bar and bat
p
g,
mitzvahs, a baby’s birth, memorials, graduations, anniversaries are all good times for
butterfly releases. Butterflies bring magic and excitement to every special event!
(c) Association for Butterflies; Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening 2007
www.forbutterflies.org

6. Butterfly Myths & Truths
y y
Myth – Most of the butterflies will arrive dead or not make it to the release
Truth – Only a few butterflies may not make it
Myth – You can color coordinate the butterflies to your bridesmaids’ dresses
Truth – Butterflies only come in a few different colors. There are no white butterflies that can be shipped across state
lines. The colors available range between black, browns, oranges and yellow mixes
Myth – Only half the butterflies will survive up to the time of the release
Truth – Your butterflies are handled and packed in such a way to protect them and to make sure that t ey will su e the
ut
ou butte es a e a d ed a d pac ed suc
ay p otect t e a d
a e su e t at they
survive t e
journey. Extra butterflies are usually included just in case a few do not survive.
Myth – They will not fly and people will step on them
Truth – Talk to your butterfly farmer. If the release is done properly, you will have a lovely release experience
Myth Butterfly l
M th – B tt fl releases are cruell t th b tt fl
to the butterfly
Truth – The butterflies are raised and handled with the best of care. They are only sent to environments where they occur
naturally. After a release, they will live the rest of their natural lives in the wild
Myth – The butterflies will get confused when released
Truth – Studies have been done to show that there are not ill effects to butterflies shipped across states. Monarch Watch
does a tagging program nationwide and has found commercially-raised butterflies that have successfully migrated to the
overwintering sites in Central Mexico.
Myth – The butterflies will have nothing to eat and will die
Truth – Speak to your butterfly farmer about the proper times to release butterflies. If they are released in the warmer
months, they will have plenty of nectar flowers, wild and cultivated for them to survive. You do not want to release them
in the winter! Use common sense!
(c) Association for Butterflies; Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening 2007
www.forbutterflies.org

7. Butterflies are Nature’s Gift to
the Environment
Butterflies
B tt fli are important pollinators
i
t t lli t
(c) Association for Butterflies 2007
www.forbutterflies.org

8. Butterflies are Part of
the Food Chain
(c) Association for Butterflies 2007 www.forbutterflies.org
(c) Association for Butterflies; Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening 2007
www.forbutterflies.org

9. By releasing butterflies one is
butterflies,
helping to repopulate the
p g
p p
species without polluting,
harming defacing
h i or d f i nature
(c) Association for Butterflies 2007 www.forbutterflies.org
(c) Association for Butterflies; Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening 2007
www.forbutterflies.org

10. Butterflies are uplifting
and aesthetically pleasing
yp
g
Releasing b tt fli is
R l i butterflies i an ecologically
l i ll
sound way to celebrate any occasion
y
y
(c) Association for Butterflies 2007 www.forbutterflies.org
(c) Association for Butterflies; Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening 2007
www.forbutterflies.org

11. Thank you for attending the Association For Butterflies’
y
g
Butterfly Release Course for Event Planners!
We hope you enjoyed the class and that you learned
everything you need to know about butterfly releases.
We welcome your comments and questions
questions.
Happy Releasing!