Overview
DMV Beneficials has the ultimate goal of making beneficial insects financially accessible. We recognized the biggest barrier to purchasing beneficial insects was the shipping cost, which is so expensive due to required overnight shipping. To remedy this, we collect individual orders and submit one bulk order. This allows us to split the shipping cost between everyone who orders and drives the shipping cost down to about $5-$10 per person.
The beneficial insects are not shipped to individual residences. Instead, they are shipped to our headquarters and sorted. On the day the beneficial insects are delivered, lovingly called “Bug Day”, they are sorted and sent to various pick-up locations throughout the DC/MD/VA area. Read the information below to get more details.
When are deliveries?
Orders and deliveries happen on a Thursday every two weeks. To find out when our next order will be, check out the Calendar on the Home Page.
Currently, orders for the DC/MD/VA area are placed on a spreadsheet. Simply enter your name, contact info, indicate what beneficial insects you would like, and enter your pick-up logistics. After making your selections, you will see your order total (this includes shipping costs).
How do I pay?
Right now payments can be made using Venmo or PayPal. Please pay as soon as you enter your order.
Venmo: @dmvbeneficials
PayPal: dmvbeneficials@gmail.com
When are deliveries?
Orders and deliveries happen on a Thursday every two weeks. To find out when our next order will be, check out the Calendar on the Home Page.
Currently, orders for the DC/MD/VA area are placed on a spreadsheet. Simply enter your name, contact info, indicate what beneficial insects you would like, and enter your pick-up logistics. After making your selections, you will see your order total (this includes shipping costs).
How do I make a payment?
Right now payments can be made using Venmo or PayPal. Please pay as soon as you enter your order.
Venmo: @dmvbeneficials
PayPal: dmvbeneficials@gmail.com
When are deliveries?
Orders and deliveries happen on a Thursday every two weeks. To find out when our next order will be, check out the Calendar on the Home Page.
Currently, orders for the DC/MD/VA area are placed on a spreadsheet. Simply enter your name, contact info, indicate what beneficial insects you would like, and enter your pick-up logistics. After making your selections, you will see your order total (this includes shipping costs).
How do I pay?
Right now payments can be made using Venmo or PayPal. Please pay as soon as you enter your order.
Venmo: @dmvbeneficials
PayPal: dmvbeneficials@gmail.com
Can I cancel my order?
You can cancel your order for a full refund at any time before 5PM on bug delivery day. If it is past that time, a full refund may not be possible unless the bugs can be reallocated to a different group member. However, if there are special circumstances please reach out to us and we will do our best to help you!
DMV Beneficials currently has 4 consistent pick-up locations in the DC/MD/VA area. If none of these locations work, don’t worry! We have a distribution network thanks to our amazing community. A volunteer in our community will offer to pick up bugs and bring them to an area in DC/MD/VA for members to pick up there. You will be matched with one of our volunteer distributors.
How do I get my bugs?
We have five consistent pick-up locations as well as a distribution network. When you order, you will fill out a form that explains each location. The day before Bug Day, on Wednesday, someone will confirm your pick-up location. If you are picking up from one of our distributors, they will contact you on Bug Day with pick-up details.
What if I'm not in the DC/MD/VA area?
We currently have DMV Beneficials chapters in 8 states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin. To see which cities and get contact information, check out our DMV Beneficials Chapters page.
Pick-Up Locations
DMV Beneficials offers four consistent pick-up locations.
- Headquarters (2803 Cortland Place NW): Message Jamie when you are on your way via Facebook messenger or Instagram DM. Message her again when you have arrived and she will come outside with your bugs.
- Union Market (1309 5th St NE): Amelia will be at Union Market between 7-8pm. Please pick up your bugs anytime between that timeframe. If you will be a little late, message her via Facebook messenger or Instagram DM. Typically, Amelia is set up in the far right corner as soon as you enter Union Market, near Peregrine Espresso. If that location changes, Amelia will let you know.
- Plants Alive! (15710 Layhill Rd, Silver Spring, MD): Nick will be at Plants Alive! between 5-6pm. You can find him in the parking lot. He will create a group chat to keep you updated.
- Ellicott City (8320 Main St, Ellicott City, MD): Nick will be at this location at 7pm. You can find him in on the front porch of the building. He will create a group chat to keep you updated.
