Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Relaxing the Moth
Select a preferred moth for framing. While some collectors catch their own, killing the specimen is upsetting to others, who prefer to purchase them from other collectors or online. The moths will likely be listed by Latin or scientific names, although some may be displayed by common names.
Remove the moth from the container in which it arrived. It will need to be relaxed in order to work with the moth without breaking the wings.
Cut off the corner of an envelope that will hold the moth.
Place the moth in the cut envelope, and fold the edges over.
Put a damp towel into the bottom of the plastic container, and place the envelope on it; this will allow the moth to take in moisture.
Sprinkle the envelope holding the moth with moth crystals, to prevent mold, and cover the envelope with another damp towel. Place the lid on the container and seal it.
Check the moth in approximately 24 hours. It will look freshly caught, and relaxed enough to go on to posing and drying.
Posing and Drying the Moth
Remove the relaxed moth from the envelope.
Open the wings by pinching the midsection or thorax of the moth gently with only fingertips.
Use the forceps, if needed, to gently open the wings further if they do not open as much as needed by just pinching the thorax.
Push a pin through the thorax once the wings are open. Push the pin through until it protrudes through the backside of the moth's thorax 1/2 inch.
Put the moth on the center of the mounting board, then push the pin through the board.
Secure each wing with a strip of heavy cellophane, about 1/4-inch wide and at least 2 inches long, at the top and bottom of each wing. This allows the pin placement through the cellophane and not the moth's wings.
Press pins through the cellophane edges hanging over each moth wing.
Tuck the moth's antennae under the cellophane strips so they make a V-shape.
Allow the moth to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
Framing the Dried Moth
Remove the packaging from the shadow box and separate the foam board from the frame. Pre-set shadow boxes are available in craft stores with the foam board for the moth already cut and fit to the frame.
Remove the cellophane and pins, except for the pin through the thorax, from the dried moth on the mounting board.
Pin the thorax of the moth into the foam board of the shadow box in the desired position.
Put the shadow box back together and the moth is ready to be displayed on a wall or with a shadow box holder on a table or desk.