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Do you sell wholesale?
No we do not, however on large orders we can offer a discount and you can e mail us with a list of items you wish to purchase and we can arrange some kind of discount.

How many butterfly species are there worldwide?
Like most things scientific, there is debate on how to classify different species and because of this, estimates vary depending on what criterion is used. There are between 15,000 and 20,000 species.

What are the differences between a butterfly and a moth?
Butterflies and moths are very similar. There are some basic differences but as ever, there are exceptions to just about every rule.

  • Butterflies generally rest with their wings folded, above the body, perpendicular to the ground. Moths usually rest with their wings folded back along their body.
  • Most butterflies have antennae which are clubbed at the end, whereas the moth's antennae are pointed or feathered.
  • Butterflies fly in the daytime and so do some moths, but the majority of moths fly at night.
  • Butterfly caterpillars are extremely fussy about which plant they feed on - moth caterpillars will generally eat a variety of plants.

Why do butterflies have colourful wings?
Most butterflies are active in the daytime and have good eyesight. Visual attraction is the primary way they attract the opposite sex. The more beautiful they look the better chance they have of gaining the appreciative attention of a mate. For the butterfly, evolution has favoured beauty as the mechanism to ensure their survival. Moths are closely related to butterflies and have a similar body structure with large scaled wings. However, because most moths are active at night, visual attraction is not so important to them and they are dull in colour. Although there are some moths active in daylight and therefore colourful and some butterflies active after sunset, such as the Evening Brown Butterflies, which are quite dull. Their wing patterns are similar to those of a moth and they attract mates with fragrance.

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