Getting Started

Where to find your caterpillars?
Depending on the season, where you live, and how much time you have, finding your own caterpillars can be a rewarding task. The best way to find caterpillars is to look for the plants that are known host plants for local butterflies. If the leaves of the plants are eaten chances are if you look carefully you will find caterpillars. Alternatively you can grow your own host plants and wait for the female butterfly to lay her eggs on them. An example of some common plants and butterflies are listed below. (You can find more host plant species in our Regional Gardening Guide)

Caterpillar / Host Plant

Butterfly Species

Milkweed

Monarch

Spicebush

Spicebush Swallowtail

Paw-Paw

Tiger Swallowtail

Dill

Black Swallowtail

Random visitors photos:

You can send us your photos at photos@thebutterflyfarm.com, for more visit our photo galleries.

  • We enjoyed visiting and learning at the Butterfly Farm. We plan to try to attract butterflys to our garden.

    - Carol Cookson

  • WE COULD ONLY STAY FOR HALF AN HOUR DUE TO OTHER COMMITMENTS AND I WAS REALLY SAD TO LEAVE AS I COULD HAVE SPENT HOURS JUST SITTING QUIETLY AND ABSORBING THE TRANQUILITY GENERATED ... read more

    - NOREEN TERRY

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    - Amy Driscoll

  • We had a great time visiting in St. Martin. The butterflies were beautiful as was the talk by our well informed guide. My only regret is we didn't get to spend more time as the O ... read more

    - Chris Bellin

  • A truly wondrous experience. Beautiful and fascinating. Excellent guide.

    - Jeff Abrams
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