Questions?  Answered.

Are the insects used in your displays real?

Yes, all the insects we use are 100% real.  They look the same way they do in nature, we do not alter their appearance in any way. Color changes can occur once the specimen is no longer alive, so it may look a little different than a living specimen of the same species, this is normal and varies according to the individual species.

Where do the insects come from?

All of our insects come from insect farms located all across the world, many in tropical regions.  These farms raise insects as a source of income instead of destroying the landscape and forests to log, farm, or raise livestock.  Simply put, farming saves rainforests and protects insect populations. We are licensed with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and comply with all US and International Import/Export Laws and Regulations.  Buying butterflies and insects, dead or alive, has rules and regulations that we must be in compliance with.  Import and export requirements are regulated by The US Fish and Wildlife Service and further by International Law and Treaties that the US Government has entered into with other nations.

Are the insects killed?

Many insects have short lifespans. Some insect specimens live only a few weeks as an adult, others only a few days. Most of our butterflies and insects come from Insect Farms where the specimens are taken through their whole life-cycle and bred to ensure a new generation before death. Those specimens that do not die of natural causes are humanely killed. Specimens that are not from farms come only from licensed breeders and professional field collectors, this helps ensure our material is sustainably and ethically sourced. Your purchases will help the farming industry continue without threats to the natural wild populations of butterflies and insects. Please know that the biggest threat to the survival of most everything living creature on this planet, including insects, remains habitat loss. Unlike birds and mammals for instance, who have smaller numbers of young and often only one group of offspring per season, insects often have large numbers of offspring and can have multiple generations per season. Insect collecting in any given habitat will not pose a significant threat to that species survival. Insects disappear from an area when they lose habitat and thus their host plants and food source. Other factors affecting insect populations are environmental pollution and agricultural chemicals. If insects are dear to your heart you can get involved by helping preserve natural areas in or around your local community and across the world. Leaving some wild flowers and weeds in your yard or planting them is a great way to give insects a boost!

Are the insects endangered?

We do not work with insects that are endangered or restricted. There are strict laws protecting endangered species in many countries, including insects.  Many countries require permits, and customs forms to sell insects internationally.  We only use insects from farms that file the proper documentation for legal insect sales. Our shipments from outside the US are inspected for compliance with these rules and regulations. Insect farms are also part of the conservation effort for many insect species, as they help ensure that those insect will be found in the wild for years to come. Our support and yours for their operations and livelihood will ensure that these insect farmers remain good stewards who can run a sustainable and environmentally friendly business in geographic areas that often do not value those ideals.

Do you spread, pin, and mount the insects yourself?

Yes!  We do all of the delicate work by hand, in house.  This includes all of the re-hydration, spreading, pinning, posing, and mounting.  Each leg, wing, and antennae are repositioned to make sure each specimen look their best.

Where do you get your frames?

We handcraft each shadowbox frame to fit and match our insects.  This means we measure each and every specimen before our cases are cut, assembled, and painted.  

How do I know where my insect is from?

All of the details of your insect is included on the back of our cases.  You go home with the common name, scientific name, and country of origin.  We also sign and number each piece, because they are all unique.

Do you sell online?

Yes we do sell our products on our online shop, visit the shop by clicking the “SHOP” tab above.  We would love for you to visit us at one of our upcoming shows, check our schedule to see where we will be next.  Our work is best viewed in person, and since we curate our collections, and they are ever changing it is hard to keep up with our inventory. If we look a little low in our inventory, please bear with us and know that we are working hard to bring new inventory to you our fans all the time!

What is your shipping, exchange, return policy?

As all pieces are unique and hard to source, all sales are final. No refunds, or exchanges will be given. Products shipped by Green Beetle Shop are all insured for proper delivery. We us the United States Postal Service for all shipping needs, as they are proven to be the kindest to our packages. It is very rare for packages to arrive damaged. In the event that a products arrives to you damaged, please send us photos of the original packaging, and damaged product photos to greenbeetleshop@gmail.com. Damaged product photos must be sent within 24 hours of delivery to be eligible. Specimen may be repaired or replaced at our discretion. Repaired or replaced specimen are completed in the order they are received, we do not guarantee return times, as these are all handmade, sourced worldwide, and take time to complete. Return shipping will be refunded if sent through the United States Postal Service, and a receipt is submitted to our email. Please note that products may be submitted for repair for a small charge, if the damages were incurred by the customer. If you have an accident with your new purchase, simply be honest and will be glad to repair or replace the specimen. We love keeping our clients happy, and make every effort to help in any way we can, if you have a question just let us know!

Do you use eco-friendly materials?

We do our best to be green here at Green Beetle Shop, and we try to use responsible materials whenever possible.  The wood used in all our frames is FSC certified and the paper backing we mount all our insects on is made using hydroelectric power. We use eco-friendly packing paper in every box we ship, and you can help us by recycling the box and packing materials after they arrive.  All our business cards and promotional materials are printed on recycled paper.  

Are your displays archival and UV protected?

We use only acid free papers and adhesives in all our displays.  Each display is sealed to protect it from moisture, dust, and pests.  The glass used in all our frames is 99% UV protected.

 *Please note that we recommend keeping all our products out of direct sunlight and extreme temperatures as an additional precaution*