This is an overview of the process of spreading a butterfly or moth
specimen. Here you can see how a commercial, farm raised, papered
specimen is handled. We do not suggest that you collect WILD specimens
in order to mount your own. There are many species, that due to their
shrinking natural habitat because of mans activities, have drastically
decreased in numbers. This article is prepared for information purposes
only and it is not intended to solve all problems that may be
encountered while spreading a specimen. The equipment used to perform
this technique will not be discussed here in this article. For this
example we have chosen a Cithaerias Merolina from Peru.
When you are done with this page, or if you are just interested in the overall process, please see The Process page for a brief description of the entire process of making these butterfly and insect display cases from start to finish.
When you are done with this page, or if you are just interested in the overall process, please see The Process page for a brief description of the entire process of making these butterfly and insect display cases from start to finish.
First the specimen must be “relaxed”. Relaxing is where the dried
specimen is re-hydrated in order to make it soft and pliable which will
allow us to spread the wings. Here you can see how the specimen is pulled out of the “relaxer” and is held by the corners of the paper envelope so as not to damage it. Carefully grasp the specimen between the thumb and index finders. Insert an entomology pin thru the thorax of the specimen from the dorsal side. Here you can see the pin as it traverses the thorax. Carefully pin the specimen to the spreading board and separate the wing pairs. Here you can see the butterfly wings spread out unevenly and temporarily held in place. Carefully position the left fore-wing with an entomology pin by gently pulling on the main wing veins with the tip of an entomology pin. Then position the left hind wing in a similar manner until the left side is positioned as desired. In this step you can see the right fore-wing being positioned in symmetry with the left fore-wing. The right hind wing is being positioned to mirror the left hind wing. Next the specimen is pinned to the spreading board. The pins do not puncture the wings. They are placed just above and below the wing perimeter. With the right side pinned, the wing cover is carefully applied to the left side while removing the temporary wing restraint. While holding the wing cover in place it is pinned to the board just below the left hind wing. The upper pin is inserted and holds the wing cover in place while the specimen dries. Next, the entomology pin that was previously inserted thru the thorax is slowly removed without causing damage to the butterfly. The pin is now removed. Next the abdomen is pinned in place in the desired position by restraining it with two pins until it is dry. In a similar fashion, the left and right antennae are held in place by crossing two pins. Here you can see the specimen fully pinned in place. It will remain like this for several days. After several days of air drying, the pins holding the specimen in place can be removed and the specimen mounted. |                      |