So I know this is not the average BYC article but I thought it would be fun to make and a quick read!
here's the things you will need: A butterfly, moth, or skipper (I will first teach you how to pin Lepidoptera because they are the most fun!) A Piece of styrofoam one like this
works for me but, bigger is better! Next you will need to dig a little forrow in your styrofoam then cover it in parchment paper or wax paper, and I am holding it down with some sewing pins on the edge. And now for the wings make 2 little parchment or wax paper to hold the butterfly's wings like this:
And you will need the pins to stick in your bug, I use small entomology pins that I found on Amazon mine came with a box in which you put your finished bugs in when you done mounting them. Here's the set I bought:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LDLMSVD/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=897abd3e6531070be24c7302daf84b67&content-id=amzn1.sym.53aae2ac-0129-49a5-9c09-6530a9e11786:amzn1.sym.53aae2ac-0129-49a5-9c09-6530a9e11786&hsa_cr_id=6137027070201&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=dd74f275-0597-4e64-a875-b45a94a91358&pd_rd_w=QjqHl&pd_rd_wg=dMgsy&qid=1660135556&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0_title&sr=1-1-a094db1c-5033-42c6-82a2-587d01f975e8
It worked great when I was still learning!
And one more thing, forceps are not necessary but still the are really nice to have. Here's another link to what I bought:https://www.amazon.com/DR-Instruments-Entomology-Stainless-Steel-Construction/dp/B07B4767WR/ref=sxin_14_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-ZW50b21vbG9neSBraXQ=-ac_d_rm_rm_rm&content-id=amzn1.sym.568df61d-e115-4cb1-a96a-ba070b8f0935:amzn1.sym.568df61d-e115-4cb1-a96a-ba070b8f0935&crid=B5GCHU89A967&cv_ct_cx=entomology+kit&keywords=entomology+kit&pd_rd_i=B07B4767WR&pd_rd_r=f1bccc53-947d-4dbe-9ea0-06dd83de4d16&pd_rd_w=xuoyq&pd_rd_wg=jDFj9&pf_rd_p=568df61d-e115-4cb1-a96a-ba070b8f0935&pf_rd_r=N3M9CD5TWDRQ3TY8WPGW&psc=1&qid=1660135890&sprefix=ento,aps,1447&sr=1-1-7d9bfb42-6e38-4445-b604-42cab39e191b
1. Pop your insect in the freezer for a few minutes, make sure it's died before you start pinning! If you found it died then here's a good video on how to rehydrate it:
2. Lay your butterfly, moth or skipper's body on your furrow on the mounting block(Styrofoam covered in parchment or wax paper).
3. Then stick a pin right in the middle of the thorax like so...
4. Then with forceps or a pencil also works fine too. Move the wings so they are symmetrical with each other, it's easiest to move the wing on the topst most part of the butterflies wing there is a hard line that is easy to move without damaging the wing here is a couple pictures to help:
(Where the easy to move part is)
(with the forceps)
(with a pencil)
5. Next with your little pieces of parchment paper put it on the symmetrical wings to hold it down with pins:
Now you wait about a week for it to dry in that position then your done! And you can proudly put entomologist in your tags!
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!
P.s: My butterfly I found surprisingly in a great position most are going to be a bit harder. But my first butterflies weren't great at all! So if you like it and want to get good at it keep on trying!
AmeraucanaHank
here's the things you will need: A butterfly, moth, or skipper (I will first teach you how to pin Lepidoptera because they are the most fun!) A Piece of styrofoam one like this
works for me but, bigger is better! Next you will need to dig a little forrow in your styrofoam then cover it in parchment paper or wax paper, and I am holding it down with some sewing pins on the edge. And now for the wings make 2 little parchment or wax paper to hold the butterfly's wings like this:
And you will need the pins to stick in your bug, I use small entomology pins that I found on Amazon mine came with a box in which you put your finished bugs in when you done mounting them. Here's the set I bought:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LDLMSVD/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=897abd3e6531070be24c7302daf84b67&content-id=amzn1.sym.53aae2ac-0129-49a5-9c09-6530a9e11786:amzn1.sym.53aae2ac-0129-49a5-9c09-6530a9e11786&hsa_cr_id=6137027070201&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=dd74f275-0597-4e64-a875-b45a94a91358&pd_rd_w=QjqHl&pd_rd_wg=dMgsy&qid=1660135556&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0_title&sr=1-1-a094db1c-5033-42c6-82a2-587d01f975e8
It worked great when I was still learning!
And one more thing, forceps are not necessary but still the are really nice to have. Here's another link to what I bought:https://www.amazon.com/DR-Instruments-Entomology-Stainless-Steel-Construction/dp/B07B4767WR/ref=sxin_14_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-ZW50b21vbG9neSBraXQ=-ac_d_rm_rm_rm&content-id=amzn1.sym.568df61d-e115-4cb1-a96a-ba070b8f0935:amzn1.sym.568df61d-e115-4cb1-a96a-ba070b8f0935&crid=B5GCHU89A967&cv_ct_cx=entomology+kit&keywords=entomology+kit&pd_rd_i=B07B4767WR&pd_rd_r=f1bccc53-947d-4dbe-9ea0-06dd83de4d16&pd_rd_w=xuoyq&pd_rd_wg=jDFj9&pf_rd_p=568df61d-e115-4cb1-a96a-ba070b8f0935&pf_rd_r=N3M9CD5TWDRQ3TY8WPGW&psc=1&qid=1660135890&sprefix=ento,aps,1447&sr=1-1-7d9bfb42-6e38-4445-b604-42cab39e191b
1. Pop your insect in the freezer for a few minutes, make sure it's died before you start pinning! If you found it died then here's a good video on how to rehydrate it:
3. Then stick a pin right in the middle of the thorax like so...
4. Then with forceps or a pencil also works fine too. Move the wings so they are symmetrical with each other, it's easiest to move the wing on the topst most part of the butterflies wing there is a hard line that is easy to move without damaging the wing here is a couple pictures to help:
(Where the easy to move part is)
(with the forceps)
(with a pencil)
5. Next with your little pieces of parchment paper put it on the symmetrical wings to hold it down with pins:
Now you wait about a week for it to dry in that position then your done! And you can proudly put entomologist in your tags!
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!
P.s: My butterfly I found surprisingly in a great position most are going to be a bit harder. But my first butterflies weren't great at all! So if you like it and want to get good at it keep on trying!
AmeraucanaHank