The Butterfly Company
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The Butterfly Company
@thebutterflyco.bsky.social
38 followers 60 following 58 posts
Leading supplier of dried, unmounted butterflies and insects for collectors, artists & educators 🦋 Chicago, IL
www.thebutterflycompany.com
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THIS WEEK: Spring Entomology Sale @ The Bridgeport Art Center, April 9-12 from 11am-4pm! 🔥🪲🦋

Get THOUSANDS of ethically-sourced insect specimens and vintage collections at 40+% off retail price! Open to the public; drop in and say hi! 👋

#nature #sale #taxidermy #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities
Spring Cleaning Entomology Sale April 9-12 | Wednesday-Saturday Bridgeport Art Center 1200 W 35th St, Floor 4R, Chicago, IL 60609
April 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
thebutterflyco.bsky.social
Lucanidae ssp. in progress, feat. a little aqua-colored weevil! 🪲

#taxidermy #coleoptera #nature #art #odditiesandcuriosities #oddities #curiosities
A green foam board with three Stag Beetle specimens (Lucanidae ssp.) spread with their legs outstretched symmetrically. While one of the beetles is completely black, two beetles have coffee-brown elytra, indicating these beetles are distinct species. Yellow pins hold their legs and mandibles in place as they dry. A green foam board with three Stag Beetle specimens (Lucanidae ssp.) spread with their legs outstretched symmetrically. While one of the beetles is completely black, two beetles have coffee-brown elytra, indicating these beetles are distinct species. A small aqua-blue weevil is also present on the edge of the board. Yellow pins hold their legs and mandibles in place as they dry.
April 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
thebutterflyco.bsky.social
Some recent spreads of fiery Hebomoia leucippe 🔥🔥🔥

#taxidermy #lepidoptera #odditiesandcuriosities #entomology #nature #art
An array of Fire Orange Tip butterfly specimens (Hebomoia leucippe), spread with their wings outstretched symmetrically. These brightly-colored butterflies are vibrant, with bold orange forewings and neon yellow hindwings.
April 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
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These amazing Giant Water Bugs use their sharp rostrum to feed on all sorts of aquatic life, including fish, frogs, and snakes.💥 Though humans aren't on their menu, their defensive bite is among the most painful in the world!

#entomology #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities #nature
Two Giant Water Bug specimens, Lethocerus ssp., displayed against a white foam backdrop with their legs and wings outstretched symmetrically. These are two different species from around the world, with one specimen twice as big as the other.
April 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
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A small array of cicadas endemic to Asia! Did you know each species has its own unique song? 🎶

#entomology #insects #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities #odditiesandcuriosities #natureart
Five colorful cicada specimens displayed on a white foam backdrop, all with their wings spread out symmetrically. The cicadas range in size and pattern, showing how diverse the cicada superfamily is even within the same continent.
March 30, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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With such incredible iridescent patches on its wings, Papilio karna looks stunning as ever 💎✨

#lepidoptera #insects #entomology #taxidermy #odditiesandcuriosities #oddities #curiosities #natureart
A Peacock Swallowtail specimen, Papilio karna, photographed from the top, its wings symmetrically outstretched in a flat position.
March 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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These fiery Red-Splashed Sulphurs are found ONLY in Cuba, and are rarely on the market due to their protected status. What a privilege to spread this quartet 🔥

#entomology #insects #oddities #curiosities #taxidermy
Four Red-Splashed Sulphur butterfly specimens (Phoebis avellaneda) spread flat with their wings outstretched symmetrically.
March 16, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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A gorgeous leaf insect ready to dry 💚

#taxidermy #entomology #oddities #curiosities
A leaf insect specimen (Phyllium westwoodi) spread symmetrically on a foam board, its legs and wings outstretched. Yellow pins are positioned around the insect to affix its limbs and body in place, while two glass slides flatten the wings.
March 15, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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It's official: we're hosting a Spring Cleaning Entomology Sale on April 9-12, 10am-5pm! 🦋🪲🐛🐞🪰🕷

We are downsizing our inventory and have THOUSANDS of specimens available for low prices. Swing by our office at the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, IL to build your own collection ✨

#taxidermy
A collection of many earth-toned beetle specimens pinned onto white foam. All are spread with their legs and antennae symmetrical, an entomological pin through one side of their elytra. A pile of papered butterfly and moth specimens, all ranging in size and color. Some packages are semi-transparent, showing a glimpse of the folded butterfly inside. A pile of colorful weevil specimens, individually packaged against cardboard strips and secured with cellophane. A close-up shot of dried, unmounted butterfly specimens of different species, shapes, and colors.
March 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
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Taking a quick look at some of the LARGEST butterflies on Earth 🦋 One of several Birdwing drawers here at our office!

#insects #entomology #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities #collection
A wooden display cabinet with a drawer labeled "Ornithoptera" partially pulled out, showing a variety of spread Birdwing butterfly specimens.
March 11, 2025 at 2:15 PM
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Measuring just under 6 inches, the wingspan of this katydid from Papua New Guinea is among the largest in our collection!! 🏆

#insects #entomology #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
A top-down view of a medium-sized helmeted katydid (Siliquofera sp.) posed with its wings and legs outstretched, pinned to a white foam background.. Its forewings are remarkably leaf-like, with yellow-green veins and spots mimicking those in a leaf. Other insect species can be seen in the periphery of the photo.
March 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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This "Umbrella Rhinoceros Beetle" has a fitting name indeed! ☂️🦏

#insects #entomology #coleoptera #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
A three-quarters view of an Umbrella Rhinoceros Beetle (Golofa claviger) specimen pinned against white foam, its legs outstretched symmetrically. This robust scarab is the color of tanned leather, its limbs and horns fading into a darker umber. It has two horns curving towards each other: one curving up from its head, and one curving down from the top of its thorax. While the head horn is of a typical sickle shape, the latter widens into an umbrella shape at the tip.
March 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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Cattleheart butterflies have the prettiest complementary color combo 💚❤️🖤

#insects #entomology #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
A dried Cattleheart butterfly (Parides childrenae) specimen spread symmetrically, its triangular wings outstretched to show its topside. Its wings are pure black, save for the striking green and red iridescent color patches on its fore and hind wings respectively. Leaves of a yellow-green Pothos are in the backdrop.
March 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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A fuzzy swarm of blue bees 🐝 Xylocopa caerulea is a fave!

#entomology #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
A pile of blue carpenter bee specimens in their packaging. Each one is spread flat against cardboard, with a thin plastic wrap secured around the bee with staples. These bees have a striking layer of sky blue hair on their thorax and top of abdomen, while their wings are a dark violet color.
March 3, 2025 at 7:02 PM
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Jewel Beetle spread from last week, ready to take flight 🪲

#entomology #insects #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
A preserved Red-Speckled Jewel Beetle (Chrysochroa buqueti buqueti) posed symmetrically with yellow quilting pins on a green foam board. Its elytra and wings have been spread open as though it were flying, revealing its iridescent green-blue exoskeleton beneath. Its banded elytra shimmer with deep blue and cream, while its blue thorax has big ruby patches on either side.
March 2, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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Taking a peek inside our Owl Butterfly (Caligo ssp.) drawer for #InsectThursday 👀

#entomology #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
A wooden drawer with a foam bottom filled with various species of Owl Butterflies.
February 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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Here's what the two males look like spread 🌟

#entomology #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
February 25, 2025 at 5:37 PM
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New shipment of lovely Birdwing butterflies from the Philippines 💚💛 Trogonoptera trojana and Troides plateni, male AND female, are now available online!

#insects #entomology #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
February 25, 2025 at 5:27 PM
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Whether you're looking at their topside or verso, Numberwing butterflies are just spectacular! 🦋

#bugsky #entomology #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
A symmetrical assortment of warm-toned Numberwing butterflies in a matted square frame. While half of the butterflies are facing up, the other half is placed so their underside is visible, showcasing a variety of colors and patterns.
February 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
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Itsy-bitsy Giraffe Weevils... all the way from Madagascar 🦒 Aptly named for their very looooong neck!

#entomology #taxidermy #insects #weevils #oddities #curiosities
A cluster of Giraffe Weevils (Trachelophorus giraffa) lined side-by-side against cotton. These tiny beetles have a black head, thorax, and legs, while its elytra are deep red. Its neck is incredibly long, comprising most of its body length. Both males and females are shown, with males having double the neck length of females.
February 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
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Are you a Chicago local and bug enthusiast looking for a fun Friday night? Visit us during Open Studios tomorrow at the Bridgeport Art Center, from 7pm-10pm!! Our office space has thousands of butterfly and insect treasures ready to be discovered ✨

#taxidermy #entomology #artgallery #curiosities
A closeup of a large resin keychain with a beetle, flower, and leaves preserved inside. The beetle is gold with black elytra markings, while the flower it rests on is a soft yellow. Other similar keychains hang behind it. A green foam board tightly packed with Blue Morphos (Morpho menelaus). The photo is at an angle, showcasing the iridescent blue spectrum of the butterflies' wings. A shelf in a glass cabinet with an assortment of insect curiosities: mounted specimens, glass vials with butterfly wings, and metal casts of underground ant tunnels.
February 20, 2025 at 6:40 PM
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Eight hours of intense spreading later... over 400 Morpho menelaus ready to ship! 🦋🎉

#insects #entomology #lepidoptera #oddities #curiosities
An overhead shot of a table showcases hundreds of dried Sky Blue Morpho specimens, Morpho menelaus, tightly packed on four large foam squares. Every butterfly is posed in the same way: wings spread flat to reveal its iridescent blue topside.
February 16, 2025 at 6:01 PM
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Lots of butterfly and moth domes in progress! 🔮🦋

#entomology #insects #taxidermy #oddities #curiosities
A cluster of glass domes with colorful butterfly and moth specimens inside. The butterflies and moths are mounted on a wooden dowel, giving them the appearance of floating in the center of the dome.
February 15, 2025 at 6:01 PM
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An enchanting Euphaedra ssp. from our collection 🌈

#entomology #insects #butterflies #taxidermy
The underside of a colorful butterfly specimen, posed symmetrically with its wings flat. A vibrant gradient of yellow, seafoam green, and turquoise washes over its wings, with small spotted patterns throughout. The top of its hindwings has a vibrant magenta patch.
February 13, 2025 at 3:11 PM
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When the sun hits your Lepidoptera collection just right... ☀️

#entomology #insects #invertebrates #oddities #curiosities
A close-up of a preserved butterfly and moth collection. The closest specimen, a Madagascar Sunset Moth, is black with rainbow bands of iridescence throughout. It's posed with its wings slightly raised. The sunlight on its wings make the colors more vibrant.
February 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM