What Bug Under Glass does

Bug Under Glass is a handcrafted biological art business that designs, mounts, and sells museum-quality framed insect specimens and butterfly wing jewelry. Founded in 2013 by entomologist Kevin Clarke, who holds a Master's degree in Conservation Biology, the company serves collectors, nature enthusiasts, educators, gift buyers, and wholesale resellers in the United States and select international markets. All products are hand-assembled in a single studio in Sonoma County, California.

The core product line consists of framed insect display pieces — including signature framed butterflies, beetles, and bees — alongside a Skeleton Butterflies™ collection produced through a proprietary descaling process that exposes wing venation. Each piece is built with 99% UV-blocking conservation glass, archival mounting materials, and solid wood shadowbox frames intended for long-term preservation. The catalog also extends to butterfly wing jewelry, insect dioramas, and a Maps with Insects series that combines real specimens with cartographic designs. Specimens are sourced from sustainable butterfly farms worldwide, and the business holds a license with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service governing lawful trade in protected species.

Bug Under Glass sells direct-to-consumer through bugunderglass.com and an Etsy storefront — where the company self-reports 17,500+ five-star reviews and identifies as the highest-rated framed-insect seller on the platform — and operates a wholesale channel serving resellers. Pricing ranges from approximately $30 for jewelry pieces to $250 for premium framed specimens. Strategic emphasis has been placed on trademark protection ("Bug Under Glass™" and "Skeleton Butterflies™"), product-line diversification, and modest community-building initiatives such as the B.U.G. Scholarship for entomological research and education.

Name

Bug Under Glass

Legal name

Bug Under Glass

Website

https://bugunderglass.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bug Under Glass is a Sonoma County, California artisan studio founded in 2013 by entomologist Kevin Clarke that designs and sells handcrafted museum-quality framed insect specimens and butterfly wing jewelry to collectors, educators, and gift buyers via DTC, Etsy, and wholesale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handcrafted Entomology Art

NAICS

Jewelry Retailers (458310)

SIC

Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910)

akta.pro primary industry

Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Handcrafted insect art
• Framed butterfly specimens
• Butterfly wing jewelry
• Museum specimen displays
• Entomology decor

Headquarters

HQ city

Petaluma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Framed Insect Displays: One-time sale of handcrafted museum-quality framed insect specimens including butterflies, moths, beetles, cicadas, and other insects. Products range from single-species displays to multi-specimen collections. Price range $40-$170.
2. Real Butterfly Wing Jewelry: One-time sale of butterfly wing jewelry including pendants, necklaces, rings, cuff links, and earrings using real butterfly wings set in sterling silver and glass. Price range $30-$90.
3. Gift Certificates: Pre-paid gift certificates available in denominations from $5 to $250 for recipient use on any product.
4. Wholesale Orders: Wholesale orders available to verified resellers (both online and brick-and-mortar) with a resale number. Bulk/order volume terms negotiated individually.
5. Custom Orders: Custom design orders for individuals, weddings, or companies. No returns allowed on custom orders. Pricing negotiated individually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bug Under Glass handcrafts museum-quality framed insect displays (butterflies, moths, beetles, cicadas, spiders, scorpions, and other arthropods) and real butterfly wing jewelry set in sterling silver and glass. All items are personally designed, assembled, and shipped by entomologist Kevin Clarke from Sonoma County, California, using 99% UV-blocking conservation glass, archival mounting materials, and specimens ethically sourced from licensed butterfly farms worldwide.

Product overview

Bug Under Glass is a handcrafted biological art business offering museum-quality framed insect specimens and jewelry. The core product portfolio includes Framed Butterflies, Framed Moths, Framed Beetles, Framed Cicadas, Framed Insects (spiders, scorpions, walking sticks, mantids), Framed Insect Collections, Maps with Insects, Skeleton Butterflies™, Insect Designs, Insect Dioramas, and Black Background Series. Complementing these are Real Butterfly Wing Jewelry pieces (pendants, necklaces, earrings, rings, cuff links), Glass Lockets, and Gift Certificates. All framed displays feature 99% UV-blocking conservation glass, solid wood shadowbox frames, and ethically sourced sustainable specimens. The company operates as a single artisan studio in Sonoma County, California, with products distributed through their e-commerce platform and Etsy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Skeleton Butterflies™: Original trademarked line of descaled butterflies and moths that reveal intricate patterns hidden beneath their wings.

Products and services

• Framed Butterflies Ethically sourced butterfly specimens mounted in solid wood shadowbox frames with 99% UV-blocking conservation glass. Includes species such as Monarch, Blue Morpho, Swallowtail, and other exotic varieties from around the world. Sold directly to consumers and via Etsy.
• Framed Moths Real moth specimens professionally preserved and displayed in museum-quality shadowbox frames with UV-blocking glass. Includes Luna Moths, Atlas Moths, Death Head Moths, and other exotic moth species.
• Framed Beetles Jewel beetles, rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, and other beetle species displayed in solid wood frames with museum-grade UV-blocking conservation glass.
• Framed Cicadas Real cicada specimens mounted in shadowbox frames with conservation glass. Includes Ghost Cicada, Empress Cicada, and various tropical cicada species.
• Framed Insects & Arachnids Wide range of framed insects and arachnids including spiders, scorpions, walking sticks, mantids, lanternflies, and wasps mounted to museum standards in solid wood shadowboxes with 99% UV-blocking conservation glass.
• Framed Insect Collections Multi-specimen displays featuring front and back views of insects, male and female pairs, and curated biological groupings in gallery shadowbox frames.
• Maps with Insects Vintage and archival reproduction maps paired with authentic native insect specimens. Features maps of US states, countries, and regions with butterflies or moths native to the showcased area.
• Skeleton Butterflies™ Proprietary line of butterflies and moths that have undergone a specialized descaling process to reveal intricate wing patterns and structures hidden beneath colorful scales. Created through the trademarked Skeleton Butterflies™ process.
• Insect Designs Original framed insect art combining real insects with vintage natural history prints and original designs. Features Victorian-style entomology displays and themed arrangements.
• Insect Dioramas Creative displays featuring beetles and insects in imaginative miniature scenes such as riding bicycles, playing musical instruments, or engaged in recreational activities.
• Black Background Series Specimens mounted on archival black mounting board to create dramatic visual contrast. Available for butterflies, moths, beetles, and other insects.
• Real Butterfly Wing Jewelry Sterling silver jewelry featuring real butterfly and moth wings, including pendants, necklaces, earrings, rings, and cuff links. Handcrafted in Sonoma County using sustainable butterfly farm specimens. Price range $30–$90.
• Glass Lockets Sterling silver glass lockets that can hold small specimens, photos, or mementos. Available in various shapes including round and oval.
• Gift Certificates Digital gift certificates available in denominations from $5 to $250, for recipient use on any product in the catalog.
• Wholesale Orders Wholesale purchasing of framed insect displays and butterfly wing jewelry available to verified online and brick-and-mortar retailers with a valid resale number. Bulk terms negotiated individually.
• Custom Design Orders Custom designed framed insect art and butterfly wing jewelry for individuals, weddings, or companies. Pricing negotiated individually; no returns allowed on custom orders.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• US Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreOthersBug Under Glass is licensed with US Fish & Wildlife Service and complies with all US and International Import/Export Laws governing the trade of wildlife specimens. This regulatory compliance is fundamental to the company's ability to source and sell insect specimens.
• Butterfly Farms WorldwidecoreOthersBug Under Glass sources all specimens from sustainably operated butterfly farms, insect ranches, and independent breeders located in South America, Central Africa, Madagascar, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. These farms help preserve natural habitats and support local communities.
• Conservation Organizations (The Nature Conservancy, WWF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerButterfly farming projects are included in conservation programs of The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund, organizations that support the broader ecosystem of sustainable butterfly farming which Bug Under Glass benefits from.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Genuine Butterfly Art: Genuine Butterfly Art offers preserved butterfly and insect displays for decorative and collector use. It directly competes for customers seeking framed entomological specimens and natural-history decor.
• Framed Butterflies: Framed Butterflies is an online specialist in preserved butterflies and related framed insect art. Its direct-to-consumer focus and species-based presentation make it closely comparable to Bug Under Glass.
• Christopher Marley: Christopher Marley is an artist-led natural-history brand known for framed insects and biophilic compositions made from preserved specimens. Its premium, museum-style framing and direct retail model closely overlap Bug Under Glass's core category.
• The Insect Frame: The Insect Frame sells professionally preserved and framed insect specimens directly to consumers. Its product category, species assortment, and shadowbox presentation make it a direct comparison to Bug Under Glass.

Broad incumbents

• The Bone Room: The Bone Room supplies insects, entomology materials, taxidermy, bones, and other natural-history specimens to collectors and institutions. Its broader catalog overlaps with Bug Under Glass's insect displays and educational use cases.
• The Evolution Store: The Evolution Store is a broader natural-history retailer offering preserved insects, skeletons, taxidermy, fossils, and collectible curiosities. It competes for the same nature and decor shoppers but serves a much wider assortment.

Others

• Oddity Inc. Oddity Inc. sells mounted insects, taxidermy, skulls, and unusual natural curiosities for decor and collecting. It is a broader incumbent in the specimen-art and curiosity retail market rather than a framed-insect specialist.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bugunderglass
• Facebookfacebook.com/bugunderglass
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bug-under-glass

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bug Under Glass