Our Breeders and their Communities
Understanding the connection between our breeders and the nearby ecosystems is essential to appreciating the true value of our breeders and the butterfly farming network.
This section celebrates the work of our breeders and offers an in-depth look at how this distributed farming network has positioned Costa Rica as the world’s leading exporter of butterflies.
Sustainable Butterfly Farming Metrics
Every small-scale conservation initiative in butterfly farming is unique. However, we’ve established key metrics to track the growth and impact of our most important beneficiaries.
Each butterfly reflects a successful conservation story!
Butterfly farming in Costa Rica has allowed the integration of communities into conservation efforts aimed to protect natural habitats, while consolidating a network of breeders capable of supporting the global butterfly exhibition industry.
Contributions to the Industry
Thanks to the dedication of each butterfly farmer in Costa Rica, we support key aspects that are essential to the success of the butterfly exhibition industry.
Resiliency & Reliability
Each farm plays a vital role in ensuring a continuous supply of butterfly pupae to the industry, helping exhibits remain vibrant and uninterrupted year-round.
Access to 6+ bioregions
Offer access to species from a variety of bioregions—including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, and dry forests—each with distinct altitudes, rainfall, and sunlight patterns
Butterfly Conservation
Breeders consistently plant & protect areas with host plants essential for butterfly breeding—creating habitats that also support local wildlife in their communities.
Wildlife Legal Compliance
Our butterfly farms comply with strict local wildlife regulations, ensuring that all exhibitions receive legally bred pupae from Costa Rica.
costa rica conservation areas & butterfly farms
Quick status update of our Network (2025)
As of 2025, we are proud to partner with 86 butterfly breeders across 36 communities, spanning 6 distinct conservation areas throughout Costa Rica. By leveraging the country’s diverse climates and ecosystems, each region supports the breeding of native butterfly species unique to its natural conditions.
These conservation areas offer distinct environmental resources to their surrounding communities—differences in altitude, humidity, and flora all contribute to the high diversity of butterfly species. This ecological variety, combined with strong local partnerships, enables us to maintain a consistent and reliable supply of high-quality pupae for our customers worldwide.
All butterfly farms must report their operations to the local office of their respective Conservation Area. This includes data on the number of pupae produced and sold, as well as a list of species currently in flight at each facility. These reporting requirements allow Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) to closely monitor all butterfly farming activities, ensuring they are carried out in a sustainable and legally compliant manner that respects national wildlife regulations.
At CRES, we stay close with our breeders...
Our Social Aspiration
To serve as a collaborative platform for all Butterfly Farmers in Costa Rica so they can thrive in sustainable butterfly farming, international trade, and successfully consolidate their small-scale conservation projects in their communities.
Get in Touch
Contact CRES
Reach out to us for collaboration, inquiries, or pricing for pupae!
- Email: cres@butterflyfarm.co.cr
- Phone: +506 2438 040
- Calle Nuestro Amo, La Guácima, Alajuela
