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

Zebra Swallowtail

Dill

Black Swallowtail

Random visitors photos:

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

  • My husband and I visited the butterfly farm on April 25, 2013 and a giant owl moth landed on his hat and stayed until the guide removed him. We loved the butterflys and the beautif ... read more

    - Clark & JoAnn Wagner

  • What a wonderful experience. From the delightful commentary to enticing the butterflies to onto our fingers with rum punch. The time spent there was very relaxing and so worthwhi ... read more

    - Tom and Deanna Bishop

  • it w s really worth the visit to the farm. To see these beautiful creatures flying and even landing on the nose of the tour guide. We will recommend everyone that comes to your be ... read more

    - doris strauss

  • We really enjoyed our visit and learned so much from our guide. Beautiful gardens along with such a wide variety of butterflies

    - Sharon and Grant Bullock

  • We got to visit the butterfly farm in St. Martin this January, it was so pretty and our guide Molly was fantastic. Made me wish for spring seeing all the beautiful flowers. I ca ... read more

    - Paula Sledge
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