key point
- In a nutshell, the steps on this checklist are selecting the butterfly species, picking the best supplies, relaxing the butterfly, and installing the butterfly pin.
- There are many different ways to preserve butterflies, including keeping them in drawers, mounting them, or keeping them in shadow boxes.
- It is important to manage pest control to keep butterflies in good shape.
Butterflies are easily considered one of the most beautiful creatures by children and adults alike. Fortunately, insects can be preserved after death, and butterflies are no exception.
Whether you want to display it in a jar, resin, cassette, or mount it on a board or frame, you need to know how to keep a dead butterfly from breaking down. Here are six easy steps on how to preserve a butterfly to collect, mount and otherwise preserve so it lasts for years to come.
Read on to learn how to protect butterflies.
Step 1: Choose a butterfly
We do not recommend collecting butterflies by killing them for artistic purposes. Ideally, collecting a butterfly requires finding a dead butterfly outside. But if you can’t, and you have a specific species in mind, your best bet is to buy a caterpillar from a butterfly farm.
You will be able to watch it transform from a chrysalis into a butterfly. Once it dies of natural causes, you’ll get your stuffed butterfly, which you can keep in an envelope with mothballs until you’re ready to start installing it.
Step 2: Get Supplies
You will need specific tools to handle butterflies for collection, installation and display purposes:
- Dresses, shifts or insect pins.Insect needles should be number two
- A piece of Styrofoam or decking larger than a butterfly
- wax paper or tracing paper
- pliers
- a glue gun
- Airtight glass jars or plastic containers with lids and bottoms with screens, wire mesh, or aluminum foil
- Paper towels and disinfectant (such as Lysol or Pine-sol)
Step 3: Relax the Butterfly
The next step is to relax the butterfly positioning. If your butterfly has been dead for a few days, it will become stiff. But if it died recently and you won’t be dealing with it for a few days, put it in the fridge. When you take it out, you can help it stay fresh and remove the dust with hairspray. Otherwise, skip this step.
To relax the butterflies, place a few paper towels in the jar, followed by a few drops of preservative, which will prevent mold growth. Put screens, wire mesh, or a piece of aluminum foil on top, then the butterfly and the lid.
It usually doesn’t take more than a day or two to relax, but if you can’t move its wings, you might need three or four days. Check it daily to know when it’s loose enough and make sure it’s dry. When you’re ready, you can keep the colored flakes in and dust them off with hairspray.
Step 4: Mount the Butterfly with Pins
The next step is to mount the butterfly with pins so that it fits just right into your display. Cover a piece of Styrofoam or spread sheet with wax or tracing paper, either a single sheet or one sheet per wing, so as not to rub off the scales, then pin the sheets in place at the corners.
Gently place the butterfly on top with the tongs, then pin them on either side of the belly, between each wing and the belly, and then between each wing and the thorax, keeping the butterfly still. You can also push a needle in the middle of the chest if it’s still moving.
Now that you’re ready to work on each wing, start by placing a piece of wax or tracing paper on the opposite wing to protect the scales from your hands. Use a pin on the forewing to gently push the large vein running along the top edge until the forewing is evenly perpendicular to the body, then place the paper on top.
Start pinning the paper as close to the wing as possible. When you’re ready to work on the hind wings, use a pin to push the bottom of the paper away. Do the same for the hindwing and the other side of the butterfly.
The final step is to secure the antenna, which is standard practice in a V shape. Use pins to straighten them and get as close to the V shape as possible. Once it’s all done, you’ll need to wait at least 48 hours but up to 6 days for the butterflies to dry completely and keep them frozen. Remove the pins and paper, and you’re ready to display your butterfly.
Step 5: Displaying the Butterflies
There are several ways to display your butterfly. Whichever you choose, you’ll want to keep your butterfly in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight:
In jars, glass domes, vials or double-glazed frames
This method of display is simple and does not require any pins. Just make sure it’s big enough to accommodate butterflies. You will also need an antiseptic solution such as alcohol in the vial. For the glass dome, glue the butterfly to a stem or piece of wood and line it with other dry materials, then glue the glass dome to the base with clear silicone or epoxy glue. For a double-glazed frame, you can use clear silicone to glue the butterfly to the glass, or glue it to a piece of cork and stick it to the glass.
in the specimen drawer
The specimen drawer is a large wooden display case with Styrofoam and glass lids inside. It’s an investment, but it’s a good choice if you want to display several butterfly specimens.
Some of these specialized wooden boxes are designed to keep butterflies for as long as possible. They keep other insects, dust, and other natural elements out to keep the butterfly from degenerating over time. Cases can be found online, but they can be expensive.
on wrecker hill
Available at craft stores, the wrecker stand allows you to display your butterfly in a frame with velveteen backing, glass cover, and side cotter pins. It’s affordable and holds the butterfly in place without any pins.
in tai chi
A shadow frame is another way you can display butterflies in a frame. It is available at several craft and retail stores. You don’t need pins either, all you need to do is glue the butterfly to the glue stick which is clear so it won’t be obvious. Alternatively, you can get different types of storage boxes, such as Schmidtt boxes, Cornell drawers, cabinets, and even humidors with foam or cork backing.
in resin
For this method, you’ll need clear casting resin, rubber molds, and silicone mats, which you can buy from craft stores. The resin has a catalyst (hardener) to make it set, which is toxic, so you’ll also need disposable gloves. This method requires experimentation to center the butterfly, remove air bubbles, and cure the resin properly. The rubber mold should be an inch or two larger than the butterfly’s wingspan.
First, you must mix the resin and catalyst well. You will then slowly pour the thin bottom layer into the mold. Use spatula tweezers to partially dip the butterfly into it and let the resin dry for at least 15-20 minutes, longer if necessary – long enough for it to gel but not harden, while also not allowing the butterfly to move.
If your butterfly can still move after each layer, then you’ll add another layer or two of resin. Allow the resin to cure for three days before removing it from the mold, preferably at 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit or near a space heater. Once cured and removed from the mold, you can sand it and optionally add a coat of clear plastic spray.
Step 6: Conduct Pest Control
Your butterfly is now on display and you have to keep it looking beautiful to make all the work worth it. If you store it in the dark, pest control will prevent other insects from destroying it. You can do this with mothballs, paradichlorobenzene crystals (or other insecticides), fumigant strips, or cedar planks. Note that mothballs will melt Styrofoam. If you store the butterfly in a container that allows dust to get in, you can use hairspray to remove the dust.
Now that you’re familiar with how to preserve a butterfly in six easy steps, you know how to turn it into a beautiful work of art in a jar, frame, shadow box, resin, or any other option inside. Decide which display option works best for you, or try a different technique to preserve it. If you follow these steps correctly, your butterfly is sure to stay looking good, clean and bright for a long time to come.
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.