Butterfly Farming Seminar
Shady Oak Butterfly Farm
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Butterfly Farm
Are you interested in learning to raise butterflies in mass production? From table top in your spare bedroom to thousands raised in laboratories, at this seminar we will share our personal methods of raising butterflies.

A special thank you to entomologists, pathologists, and other professionals who have willingly shared their knowledge. Dr. Tom Emmel, Dr. Jaret Daniels, Dr. Norm Leppla, Dr. Drion Boucias, Dr. Leellen Solter, Dr. Frank Davis, Amanda Lawrence, and many more generous professionals have shared thier time and knowledge with people who are interested in butterflies.

We are located one hour north of Ocala, one hour southwest of Jacksonville, thirty minutes northeast of Gainesville, one half hour west of Keystone Heights, and fifteen minutes south of Starke. Please contact us for directions to the farm. MapQuest as well as other map sites may not give accurate directions to the farm.
Why do we call these butterflies 'breeding stock'? It is very important to keep your breeding stock and wild butterflies separate. Learn why!
From disease detection and prevention, we cover several lepidoptera diseases of which butterfly farmers and enthusaists become aware. You will use the microscope, slides, and slide covers to learn to detect disease in your breeding stock. Hands-on egg sterilization is part of this portion of the seminar.
You need butterfly eggs to produce adult butterflies for a butterfly release at a garden dedication. How can you collect these eggs when outdoor temperatures are in the forties and it is raining?

If your butterflies have not paired, how can you coax them to pair or to hand-pair these butterflies?
Rearing butterfly and moth larvae is fun. From cannibalism to frass, it does have it's moments, though!

From raising Luna Moths on sleeved trees to raising butterflies in laboratories, we have discovered that in our part of the country, different species are best raised by different methods.
So you raised thousands of pupae this week and need to 'pin' a thousand pupae today. How can this be done quickly yet safely for the pupae? Your caterpillars pupated early and you need to delay their emergence; how can you slow their development?
You have an order for butterfly eggs, another for caterpillars, another for pupae, and others for adults. Packing and shipping are critical. Packed improperly, your butterflies will arrive dead. Refunding a customer's payment as well as expensive shipping fees is not in the budget!

Thanks to Dan and Kay for introducing us to packing and shipping safely!
Butterflies and moths eat and eat and eat. They need tons of food ... well, not literally tons but it sure feels like it when you've grown plants to feed them.

Learn how to propagate plants to feed your larvae!
Raising healthy butterflies is NOT enough. Marketing is essential. Learn some of the basics of marketing to sell your butterflies to pay those bills you find in your mailbox.
Besides the essentials of lunch and snack time, we also cover other basics such as:
  • Release Containers
  • Centerpieces
  • Farm Setup
  • Website
  • Sterilization of Rearing Containers
  • Adult Butterfly Care
  • Supplies Sources
  • And more!

We hope to see you Saturday! ~Edith, Stephen, Ester, and Michelle
Edith Smith
Shady Oak Butterfly Farm

phone: 352-485-2458
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