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.

    Step #1
    Submit your order into the spreadsheet. Order submissions are open until exactly 8 days before Bug Day. All orders must be submitted End of Business on that Wednesday. See the calendar below.
    Step #2
    The order spreadsheet closes and a final bulk order is placed with the beneficial insect supplier. At this point all payments are due ASAP.
    Step #3
    A DMV Beneficials admin will contact you with order logistics. You will either pick up from one of our consistent Pick-Up Locations or you will be connected with one of our volunteer Distributors to coordinate a pick-up near you.
    Step #4
    The beneficials insects arrive to DC and are carefully packaged into your own individual bag. That bag is then either transported to one of our Pick-Up Locations or taken by a volunteer Distributor for you to pick up from.
    Step #5
    Arrive home and release your beneficial insects ASAP!
    12 Days Before Bug Day
    8 Days Before Bug Day
    1 Day Before Bug Day
    Bug Day!
    After Bug Day
    ORDER SPREADSHEET

    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.

    Calendar

    How do I place an order?

    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).

    Order Spreadsheet

    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

    Venmo QR Code

    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.

    Calendar

    How do I place an order?

    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).

    Order Spreadsheet

    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

    Venmo QR Code

    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.

    Calendar

    How do I order?

    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).

    Order Spreadsheet

    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

    Venmo QR Code

    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!

    Where can I pick up?

    DMV Beneficials currently has multiple 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 multiple DMV Beneficials chapters in several states. To see which cities and get contact information, check out our DMV Beneficials Chapters page.

    DMV Beneficials Chapters

    Pick-Up Locations

    DMV Beneficials offers multiple consistent pick-up locations in DC, MD, and VA. Click the button below to see our current pick up locations and their available times. If you live in a city with a DMV Beneficials Chapter, please contact your local chapter head for pick-up location information!

     

    DC/MD/VA Pick Up Locations