bugunderglass.com

Yes. Bug Under Glass sells real butterflies, beetles, moths, cicadas and other insects—not replicas or printed facsimiles. Each piece is hand-mounted and framed in Sonoma County, California, by founder Kevin Clarke, a conservation biologist with an M.S. in Conservation Biology who did field research in South Africa and worked at the California Academy of Sciences before starting the company in 2002. Specimens come from conservation farms, breeders and museum collections, and every frame carries a natural history card on the back explaining the specimen's story.

What "real" means for each product type

The shop's catalog is organized so you can tell what you're buying before you order:

The Skeleton Butterflies™ line is worth noting if authenticity is your concern: the wings are the actual specimen's wings after descaling, not a printed pattern. Dioramas are the one category where the "real" part is the insect itself—the surrounding scene is constructed.

How the specimens are sourced

The site states specimens come from three channels: conservation farms, breeders, and museum collections. Two things follow from that:

• Farmed and breeder-sourced specimens are the standard path for ethically sourced insect art—the insects are raised for this purpose rather than taken from wild populations.
• Museum collection specimens account for pieces that aren't available through farming.

The company publishes a dedicated sourcing page ("How we source specimens"), which is the place to check if you need detail on a specific species or collection before buying. If ethical sourcing is a deciding factor for you, read that page against the specific piece you're considering rather than assuming every listing follows the same path.

How each piece is made

Every frame is mounted and assembled by hand in the Sonoma County workshop. The framing itself is part of the product, not an afterthought:

• 99% UV-blocking glass — the stated purpose is protecting specimen colors from fading
• Archival, acid-free materials — chosen so the piece is "built to last generations"
• Natural history card on the back — identifies the specimen and tells its story

For a buyer, the UV glass and archival materials are the two specs that matter most for longevity. A framed insect displayed in direct sun will fade regardless of glass quality, so treat the 99% figure as protection under normal indoor display, not a license to hang it in a bright window.

What it costs and how fast it ships

Current listed prices for customer-favorite pieces:

Shipping is free within the US and orders ship in 1–2 business days. New specimens are added every few weeks, so availability shifts—a piece you see today may not be restocked on the same timeline.

How to verify before you buy

1. Check the product page for the species name. Listings use scientific names (e.g., Ascia buniae for the Great Southern White), which lets you confirm you're getting a described species rather than a generic "butterfly."
2. Read the sourcing page if provenance matters for your purchase—especially for museum-sourced pieces.
3. Check the back-card description in listing photos where shown; it's the company's own record of what the specimen is.
4. Look at review volume as a signal, not proof. The site cites 18,000+ five-star reviews and links to Etsy, where reviews are tied to verified purchases—useful for judging packing quality and arrival condition, which is the most common concern with fragile framed specimens.

Common sticking points

• "Is it a print?" No—but the dioramas and Skeleton Butterflies™ are the two lines most likely to prompt the question, so read those listings carefully.
• Fading over time. The UV glass helps, but placement still matters. Keep frames out of direct sunlight.
• Availability. Because specimens are added in batches every few weeks, a specific species may sell out; the "Just arrived" section is where new stock appears first.
• Shipping damage. Multiple reviews specifically praise packaging and protection, which is the practical thing to watch for given glass frames.

If your goal is a genuine, documented specimen with a known maker and a stated sourcing policy, the site provides enough information to confirm that before ordering. If you need species-level provenance for a particular piece, the sourcing page and the product listing are the two places to check first.

Bug Under Glass protects its framed insects primarily through 99% UV-blocking glass, which shields specimen colors from the light damage that causes fading. The frames are also built with archival, acid-free materials and assembled by hand in a museum-style mounting process, so each piece is designed to last for generations. These measures make the framed butterflies, beetles, and dioramas suitable as long-term collectibles and decor, provided they are displayed sensibly.

The main protection: 99% UV-blocking glass

Ultraviolet light is a leading cause of color loss in displayed natural specimens. The site states that every frame uses glass that blocks 99% of UV light, described as protecting colors from fading. In practice, this means the glass filters most of the harmful portion of daylight and indoor lighting before it reaches the specimen.

What this does and does not cover:

• It reduces fading risk from UV exposure, which is the most damaging part of light.
• It does not make a frame light-proof. Visible light and heat still reach the specimen, so prolonged direct sun is still worth avoiding.
• It is a preventive measure, not a restoration one — once colors fade, glass cannot bring them back.

Archival, acid-free materials for long-term storage

The site specifies archival, acid-free materials in the framing. This matters because ordinary paper, cardboard, and some adhesives are acidic and can, over years, degrade delicate organic material and cause discoloration or brittleness. Acid-free backing and mounting materials are the standard approach for museum and archival framing, and they support the claim that pieces are built to last generations.

A practical way to think about it: the glass addresses light damage from the front, while archival materials address chemical damage from contact with the frame's interior.

Hand-assembly and museum-style mounting

Each framed butterfly, beetle, and insect shadow box is mounted and assembled by hand in the Sonoma County, California workshop. The maker, Kevin Clarke, holds an M.S. in Conservation Biology, did field research in South Africa, and worked at the California Academy of Sciences before founding Bug Under Glass in 2002. The site describes the framing as "museum framing," and each piece includes a natural history card on the back telling the specimen's story.

Hand assembly matters for protection because specimen mounting involves positioning and securing fragile wings and bodies — work that is difficult to standardize by machine and where poor handling is a common source of breakage.

What the specimens are and where they come from

The framed pieces contain real insects, not replicas. Specimens are sourced from conservation farms, breeders, and museum collections, which the site presents as ethical sourcing. This is relevant to longevity only indirectly: farmed and museum-sourced specimens are prepared for display, but the site does not publish specimen-level age or preparation details, so buyers should not assume a specific specimen age.

Practical display and care guidance

The product pages do not publish a detailed care manual, so the following are general practices consistent with the stated materials rather than site-specific instructions:

1. Keep frames out of direct sunlight even with UV glass, since visible light and heat still reach the specimen.
2. Avoid humid rooms such as bathrooms, and avoid prolonged damp conditions, which can affect organic material and framing.
3. Handle by the frame, not the glass or backing, and keep the natural history card on the back intact.
4. Dust the glass gently; avoid spraying cleaners onto the frame or letting liquid reach the specimen.

What to expect and what is not stated

The site does not publish a warranty period, a specific expected lifespan in years, or detailed cleaning instructions. It also does not state that the frames are sealed against pests or humidity. If generational longevity is central to your purchase, treat "built to last generations" as the maker's design intent and follow the display practices above.

Bottom line

Bug Under Glass protects framed insects mainly by blocking 99% of UV light at the glass and by using archival, acid-free materials in hand-assembled, museum-style frames. That combination targets the two main threats to a displayed specimen — light fading and chemical degradation — and makes the pieces reasonable choices for long-term display. The main thing the glass cannot do is stop visible light and heat, so placement away from direct sun remains the buyer's job.

Bug Under Glass ships in 1–2 business days and offers free shipping within the United States, according to the site. Orders are placed through the website's cart, and customer reviews are hosted on Etsy rather than on the site itself.

Shipping at a Glance

The site does not publish international shipping terms, carrier names, or delivery-time estimates beyond the dispatch window, so treat the 1–2 business days as time to leave the workshop, not time to your door.

How to Place an Order

1. Open a collection — Framed Butterflies, Insect Dioramas, Framed Beetles, Insects & Arachnids, Collections, or Skeleton Butterflies™ — or go straight to a customer favorite.
2. Select the piece and use Add to Cart. Listed examples include the Pearl Morpho (6×6, $82.00), Death's Head Hawkmoth (6×6, $78.00), and Blue Mountain Swallowtail (6×6, $62.00).
3. Complete checkout on the site. The page shows Login and Register options, so an account may be part of the flow.
4. Expect dispatch within 1–2 business days and free US shipping.

Expected result: a hand-assembled, framed specimen arriving with a natural history card on the back describing the specimen's story.

What Buyers Report About Packaging

Etsy reviews quoted on the site speak directly to the shipping experience:

• McKenzie: "Shipped and arrived super quickly! The packaging was very good and item was well protected."
• Jennifer, a repeat customer: "Wonderful quality, fast shipping."
• Taylor: "Incredible quality, beautiful specimen, and fast shipping."

These are the seller's selected reviews, not an independent sample, but they consistently point to protective packaging — relevant because the pieces are glass-framed.

Common Points to Check Before Ordering

• Delivery date vs. dispatch date. The site commits to 1–2 business days to ship, not to a delivery date. If you need a piece by a specific date, order with buffer time.
• International orders. No international shipping terms appear on the page; if you're outside the US, confirm before checkout.
• Framing durability in transit. Each piece is framed behind 99% UV-blocking glass with archival, acid-free materials. The UV protection guards colors from fading over time; it does not replace careful handling on arrival.
• Authenticity questions. Specimens come from conservation farms, breeders, and museum collections, and each is mounted by hand in the Sonoma County workshop.

The Short Answer

If you're in the US, shipping is free and your order should leave the workshop within 1–2 business days. Order through the site's cart, and check Etsy reviews if you want more detail on how pieces arrive.

Bug Under Glass sells real, hand-framed insects—butterflies, beetles, moths, cicadas and arachnids—plus miniature insect dioramas, with listed prices from $56 to $98 for the pieces shown on its homepage. Every piece is mounted by hand in Sonoma County, California, behind 99% UV-blocking glass, and ships free within the US in 1–2 business days. If you want a ready-to-hang specimen rather than a DIY kit or a print, this is the range to shop.

The collections you can browse

The site organizes inventory into six shop-by-collection entries:

A "Just arrived" section adds new specimens every few weeks—for example, a Framed Great Southern White Butterfly (Ascia buniae) at 6×6 for $56.00.

What the featured pieces cost

These are the six customer favorites listed with prices and sizes:

Two patterns are worth noting before you budget. First, most framed butterflies and moths sit at 6×6 and cluster in the $62–$82 band, while the 6×8 diorama and cicada format runs $66–$98. Second, the descaled Skeleton Butterfly™ at $75 is priced above several full-wing butterflies—you're paying for the extra preparation step, not a larger frame.

What you get for the price

Each frame includes:

• 99% UV-blocking glass, which the site says protects colors from fading
• Archival, acid-free materials, described as built to last generations
• A natural history card on the back telling the specimen's story
• Ethically sourced specimens from farms, breeders and museums

The maker is Kevin Clarke, a conservation biologist with an M.S. in Conservation Biology who did field research in South Africa and worked at the California Academy of Sciences before founding the company in 2002. The site reports 18,000+ five-star reviews, with review text hosted on Etsy.

How to buy

1. Pick a collection from the shop-by-collection menu, or start from the customer favorites row.
2. Open a product page to confirm the specimen, frame size and current price.
3. Use Add to Cart on the product page; checkout follows from the cart.
4. Expect dispatch in 1–2 business days with free US shipping.

The site also shows Login and Register options, so an account is available but the homepage does not state that one is required to order.

Choosing between pieces

• Smallest footprint, lowest entry price: a 6×6 framed butterfly such as the Blue Mountain Swallowtail at $62.
• Statement color: the Pearl Morpho at $82 is the priciest butterfly shown.
• Something unusual: the Toilet Beetle diorama at $98 is the top listed price and the only 6×8 scene among the favorites.
• Natural-history angle: the Skeleton Butterfly™ at $75 if the wing structure itself is the appeal.
• Gift under $70: the Ghost Cicada at $66 or the Great Southern White at $56.

Prices and availability reflect what the site displayed when this was written; confirm on the product page before ordering, since new specimens are added regularly and the "Just arrived" stock rotates.

Bug Under Glass is a California-based studio that sells real framed butterflies, beetles, and insect dioramas, hand-assembled by a conservation biologist. If you want a single preserved specimen or a small insect “world” in a frame, this is the core of what the site offers. The pieces are presented as display objects rather than kits or prints: real insects, museum-style framing, and a natural history card on the back telling the specimen’s story.

What the site sells

The catalog is organized around framed insects and insect art. The main collections shown on the site are:

• Framed Butterflies — including species such as the Pearl Morpho and Blue Mountain Swallowtail.
• Framed Beetles — framed beetle specimens.
• Insect Dioramas — miniature insect scenes, such as the Toilet Beetle diorama.
• Insects & Arachnids — a broader category beyond butterflies and beetles.
• Collections — grouped offerings across the shop.
• Skeleton Butterflies™ — descaled butterflies presented in a distinct style.

Customer favorites listed on the site give a sense of format and price:

| Piece | Type | Size | Price | |---|---|---|---|---| | Pearl Morpho | Framed butterfly | 6×6 | $82.00 | | Death’s Head Hawkmoth | Framed moth | 6×6 | $78.00 | | Toilet Beetle | Insect diorama | 6×8 | $98.00 | | Skeleton Butterfly™ | Descaled butterfly | 6×6 | $75.00 | | Ghost Cicada | Framed cicada | 6×8 | $66.00 | | Blue Mountain Swallowtail | Framed butterfly | 6×6 | $62.00 |

How the pieces are made

The site describes each framed butterfly, beetle, and insect shadow box as mounted and assembled by hand in the Sonoma County workshop. The framing uses 99% UV-blocking glass, intended to protect colors from fading, along with archival, acid-free materials. The stated goal is framing built to last generations.

Specimens are described as ethically sourced from conservation farms, breeders, and museum collections. Each frame includes a natural history card on the back with the specimen’s story.

Who makes them

Bug Under Glass was started in 2002 by Kevin Clarke, a conservation biologist. According to the site, he earned an M.S. in Conservation Biology, did field research in South Africa, and worked at the California Academy of Sciences before founding the studio. The maker profile is part of the site’s positioning: an entomologist framing real insects for a living, rather than a general decor retailer.

Practical details before ordering

• Shipping: Free US shipping, with orders described as shipping in 1–2 business days.
• Reviews: The site cites 18,000+ five-star reviews and links to reviews on Etsy.
• New stock: New specimens are added every few weeks, so the catalog changes over time.
• Account access: The site has Login and Register options, but the provided material does not describe any membership benefits or login-only pricing.

If your goal is a real, framed insect specimen with archival framing and documented sourcing, the site’s collections and customer favorites above are the direct starting points. If you need a specific species or size, check the current collection pages, since inventory is updated regularly.