Why Conservation Matters

When I was in college, I had the opportunity to work in Samoa with the Dept. of Marine and Wildlife Resources. One of my responsibilities was helping search for a bat species that hadn’t been seen in years. Scientists were worried it might already be extinct.

Each night we would head into the darkness, put on headphones, and use special 'bat detectors' designed to pick up their ultrasonic calls. If the species was still out there, we hoped to hear it.

Night after night we listened, hoping to hear even a single call.

All we ever heard was silence.

That silence stayed with me. It was a powerful reminder that species can disappear quietly—and often without most people even realizing it.

Over the years I’ve been fortunate to work with wildlife in many other ways: helping release baby sea turtles, tagging migrating monarch butterflies, and even preparing food for giant pandas. These experiences reinforced the same lesson again and again—our natural world is incredibly beautiful, but it is also fragile.

That belief is what led to the creation of The Little Caterpillar.

People who love butterflies and insects should be able to appreciate their beauty without worrying that their purchase contributes to harming them. That’s why we focus on ethical, sustainable, and transparent sourcing for the specimens we offer.

Our Goal Is to Be the Most Sustainable and Ethical Insect Supplier in the World

This is not a slogan or a marketing claim — it is a responsibility we take seriously.

The insect trade touches fragile ecosystems, wildlife, and communities around the world. Our goal is to prove that it can be done ethically, sustainably, transparently, and with measurable positive impact.

 

 

How We Will Reach This Goal

1. Giving Back to Conservation

We believe stewardship means generosity.

Each month, our company gives back a portion of our sales to conservation efforts around the world. These funds are directed toward organizations and initiatives that are actively working to protect ecosystems, wildlife, and biodiversity.

We intentionally partner with like‑minded conservation groups — organizations that are doing real, on‑the‑ground work to safeguard the natural world we all depend on.

 

Our Conservation Partners we Support:

 



 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing — With Accountability

Ethical sourcing is the foundation of everything we do.

We are a licensed importer, and every single insect we sell is inspected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, has been legally imported into the USA and has been legally exported from its country of origin. This ensures that all imports meet strict legal and conservation standards. Yes, this makes insects more expensive-inspections and permits all cost money, but our goal isn’t to compete in price against sellers who can have low prices because of cutting corners or skipping steps, our goal is for you to have confidence you are buying fully legal, sustainable insects that follow all international conservation laws.


We work exclusively with ethical, sustainable farms and suppliers around the world, and we go further than paperwork- we are one of the only companies to personally visit farms and suppliers to verify that their promises match their practices. We avoid sources that harm ecosystems, over‑collect, or exploit wildlife

 

 

3. Active Participation in Conservation

Conservation is not something we only support financially — it is something we actively participate in.

For example: our team volunteers in Monarch migration tagging efforts in cooperation with Monarch Watch, contributing data that helps scientists understand migration patterns, population health, and long‑term trends.  We have also participated in butterfly monitoring with the National Park Service, and have volunteered internationally with giant panda breeding programs and sea turtle hatching.  Professionally, our staff also has backgrounds with The American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Rainwater Basin Joint Venture.

We KNOW conservation and believe in a hands-on approach.

Tagging Monarchs as a Family

 

 

4. Community, Livelihoods, and Respect for Indigenous Partners

Sustainability is not only environmental — it is human.

Many of the farms and partners we work with operate in regions where employment opportunities are limited. These farms provide:

  • Stable jobs

  • Fair income

  • Skills and long‑term livelihoods

During the COVID pandemic, some of these farms were among the only sources of employment available in their communities.


We also give back to our LOCAL COMMUNITY, participating in community insect education programs through non-profit organizations, libraries, and churches.

 

 

Our Commitment Going Forward

We recognize that sustainability and ethics are ongoing commitments — not boxes to check.

We are committed to:

  • Continuous improvement

  • Transparency

  • Accountability

  • Listening, learning, and adapting as science and best practices evolve

Our goal is simple, but ambitious:

To prove that the insect trade can protect ecosystems, support communities, and operate with integrity — at every level.