Blair Leano-Helvey founded Idlewild Butterfly Farm in 2015, after working to provide sustainable biological control for plant pests in greenhouses, nurseries, farms and home gardens with her first enterprise, Entomology Solutions LLC. Idlewild Butterfly Farm makes it possible for the public to experience the big little world of bugs and butterflies, while also functioning as a commercial rearing facility that serves exhibitors across the country with high-quality, healthy specimens.

Always passionate about insects and plants, Blair went from playing with bugs in her own backyard to earning her bachelor’s degree in Entomology from the University of Kentucky School of Agriculture where she was advised by Dr. Dan Potter and gained valuable experience rearing insects in Dr. Doug Dahlman’s insect physiology lab. As the founder of a commercial rearing lab, countless hours of priceless knowledge have been gained over the course of her many years working with not only butterflies, but many other invertebrates as well.

The Idlewild team consists of a small but highly-trained and knowledgeable staff of "bug-tenders" who also understand the greater importance of the work. Furthermore, they love to share their knowledge with visitors!