 About UsWe are a family-run business, founded at the turn of the 21st century by Arnold Johnson. Arnold's initial passion for insects began in the 1950s with the collection and identification of butterflies. At the age of 16 this interest developed into a desire to breed British butterflies, firstly as a hobby and from the 1980s on a small commercial scale.
Growing increasingly dissatisfied by the range of insect cages on the market, Arnold decided to buy a sewing machine and make his own cages, offering the ideal habitat for his insect collecting and breeding activities. Arnold's cages proved so effective that friends and colleagues started to ask him to make cages for them, and he decided to begin commercial manufacture. The company, founded as 'Johnson Cages', soon gained a reputation for quality and price and was supplying cages for individuals, retail outlets, and research organisations both within the UK and internationally.
The business is now run by Arnold's nephew David, and David's wife Emma. David was introduced as a child by his uncle to the fascinating world of butterflies and has always retained a keen interest in the subject. Emma, a capable DIYer and seamstress, has a background in management, administration, and customer service. Insectopia remains a family enterprise with depth of experience and expertise in insect cage manufacture.
Featured image: Monarch (Danaus plexippus). This beautiful, large butterfly is a rare immigrant to the UK from America. You're most likely to spot it in the West Country and Isles of Scilly. |
 Our ServicesOur aim is to provide a wide range of competitively priced, high quality, effective netting cages and traps for the amateur, the enthusiast, and the professional researcher.
Because all our products are manufactured on-site we are able to make items to order, providing the design can be accommodated within our usual material range. Therefore if you have a specific cage, trap or netting requirement that is not met by our standard items, please do not hesitate to email us and we will do our utmost to meet your needs with our bespoke design service.
Featured image: Stag beetle (family Lucanidae). There are about 1,200 species of this beetle, whose mandibles resemble the antlers of stags, hence the English common name. |
 Face to FaceInsectopia is an 'online only' shop. However if you would like to visit us in Austrey to view or buy our products this can generally be arranged. Please phone 01827 830 606 before starting on your journey to check that the items you would like to see will be available, and to make an appointment.
A limited range of our products are also often available from a number of special interest retailers, including: Anglian Lepidopterist Supplies, Bioquip, NHBS,
UK Safari and Watkins & Doncaster.
Featured image: Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa). This predatory insect is well known for its sexual cannibalism, which is commonly observed among captive specimens but less often seen in the wild. |
 Our Main MaterialsNylon netting - is used for all our cage and sleeve covers. It is washable, can be sterilised, is fray and ladder resistant, soft, and of high transparency. So fine that tiny flies cannot pass through, it is also parasite and ant resistant. Field testing has shown that this netting is able to last for over 2 years of continuous UK outdoor weather exposure, with minimum colour loss. Lycra (spandex) is used where additional stretch properties are required. NOTE: In a small proportion of locations, insects such as aggressive biting ants, beetles and hornets can be encountered which might damage trap and cage netting.
Double or single slider zipped access - where fitted with a double slider zip a small or large opening can be made at any position along the zip-line, allowing the easy addition or removal of insects, flowers, plants, or for camera use. Single slider zips allow access from one end of the cage only.
Plastic coated wire - of various grades is used to provide a rust-resistant framework for most of our cage designs. Some frames have 'legs' or support rods which are jointed using push-fit brass tubing. This ensures our cages take up minimal storage space when not in use, and also makes them easy to transport. Our cages are stable, sturdy, and yet easy to assemble or disassemble without the need for tools.
PVC board - is used for our tabletop cage bases. Lightweight when compared with many other products, our board is non-toxic, semi-rigid, weather resistant, and non-warping in damp conditions.
Geotextile - lightweight, rot and mildew resistant, porous, non-fraying and with good stab-puncture resistance, this offers the ideal groundsheet for our tent cage bases.
Featured image: European garden spider (Araneus diadematus). Possibly the most well known orb-weaving spider in the UK and found all over Britiain except for some areas of northern Scotland. |
 Bulk Buy DiscountsA discount is available on larger orders where customers pay for their goods by BACS (bank-to-bank transfer, e.g. internet banking) or Cheque. Please note that your order may not be dispatched until payment has cleared our account.
The following savings are available and will be applied at checkout:
Orders exceeding £300.00 - 5.0% discount.
Orders exceeding £500.00 - 7.5% discount.
Featured image: Aphid (superfamily Aphidoidea). These are a destructive pest in temperate regions, feeding on the sap of phloem vessels in plants, and providing a vector for the transmission of plant disease. |
Company DetailsIn writing:
Emma Fish, Insectopia, Rothay, Church Lane, Austrey CV9 3EE
By email:
sales@insectcage.net
By phone (8am-4pm, Monday to Friday):
#44 (0)1827 830 606
By fax (UK only):
07092 000 587
Insectopia is a trading name of JoTech Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales, no 6808478 |
