6/14 We are now on a SUMMER SCHEDULE and so there are changes to all the shipping types below. (Rest assured that the live guarantee with slower/cheaper 2 day shipping option will resume in late August, when weather cools.)

Shipping Schedule and Weather

We ship on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday on the basis of weather, when you place the order, and our workflow. You will see a tracking number via the email address you place your order with (sometimes your PayPal address) when we ship. And so, orders placed Wednesday through Sunday ship the following week.

We include ice packs for every shipment through Sept and at no extra cost. We utilize packs of different sizes to get your order shipped safely to you all season long.

If you have special requests, please ask. US Holidays may affect shipping days.

We do not have a minimum order, unlike many sites, and so we want to mention that you might consider protecting your cost of shipping investment by ordering more than one thing. But that's your choice to make.

Effective Immediatey 6/14/25: Summer heat has arrived and so we currently require that you use the overnight shipping option for all living shipments (except house fly pupae and blue bottle fly pupae). If your local temperatures are above 83 degrees, we additionally require that you agree to pick up your package at a Fedex Hold for Pick UP location (including "FedEx Onsite" locations). Please enter your preferred pick up location in the order notes/instructions field as you go through checkout. Or, email us before you place the order to request a list of ones nearby to you.

In June, July and the first half of August, we do not ship anything living except house fly pupae and blue bottle fly pupae by 2 day shipping.

 

FedEx Overnight Live Shipments $47 to $55 based on state (except Arizona)

Overnight is a reference to time in transit, not "when" your order ships or delivers.

This is the ONLY option for living shipments in summer months, as follows. If there are any deaths or health issues within an hour of arrival and photographic proof is emailed within the hour, we will refund you for the specimens in question (and not shipping fees). Review DOA's section below for more info.

We require that you include a "Fedex hold for pick up location" request in notes/instructions field, during checkout if your weather is outside of an overnight low of 33 degrees or above 83 degrees for the daytime high. Write us if you have questions or want us to send you a list of your closest 5 pick up locations, including many Walgreen's and Dollar Generals with "FedEx Onsite." If you do not provide a Fedex pick up location or request on in the order notes, we will write you anyway and discuss locations near to you.

Some ZIP Codes may actually cost more for shipping than we charge (like VERY remote parts of Alaska). If there is a significant difference in what you paid vs what it actually costs, we'll contact you after you place the order.

 

Overnight Arizona $25-$35

If you live in Arizona, you have to choose overnight shipping when temps are over 83 degrees (June, July, Aug, Sept. Your ZIP Code will determine the cost. Metro areas of Phoenix and Tucson are $25, as are the SE part of the state. Areas distant from these to metropolitan ceners are $35. This is the only shipping option during May-Sept. Same state customers as us enjoy discounted overnight shipping but in warmer months MUST pick their shipment up at a Fedex location if temps are over 83 degrees. Put your requested Fedex pick up location in the order notes during checkout. Otherwise, we'll email and ask. We are happy to send a list of nearby locations.

 

2 Day NON-living shipments and fly pupae ONLY $15 

Only choose this service if your order contains non-living products or house fly pupae and/or blue bottle fly pupae in June, July and the first half of Aug, period. If your order contains anything else, we will write you and ask you to upgrade to overnight shipping, or cancel and refund (refund not including payment gateway fees for processing the transaction). No fruit flies with this shipping method in these hot months.

Substrate/Books Shipping $0 (free shipping)

Choose this $0 shipping option ONLY if you have substrates or books in your shopping cart.

 

Tracking Numbers

These are sent via email when we create your shipping label, and again a second time automatically after we ship. Check your spam/junk folder. The auto-generated email you get from Fedex will have the most information and so look for that one especially! It will contain a note from us, the shipping day and the expected arrival day and delivery-by time in most cases. You want to know these things and they are provided to you so that you can pull the package in from the porch immediately!

You know our shipping days. We will not be held responsible for you not receiving your tracking number and missing your delivery. Check your spam/junk folder. You know if you ordered LIVING material. If you don’t see your tracking number when you think you should and based on our shipping schedule, write us immediately! Don't depend on the delivery company to call you even if you requested that they do. You are given as much information as you need to responsibly watch the progress and delivery of your living shipment and we expect you to with respect to the living material we ship.