How to Preserve Hard-Bodied Insects

Place the insect in a relaxing jar and allow its limbs to become loose by leaving it there for several days. This makes the insect easier to manipulate when you preserve and mount it.

Insert a mounting needle into the thorax of the hard-bodied insect, making sure that about 1/2 inch or so is sticking out from underneath. The needle should be inserted at a 90-degree angle, which allows the insects to be mounted properly, and will also allow you to move the insect without touching its body.

Place the insect on a spreading board, with its body fitted securely into the groove.

Spread the wings out gently with a needle and pin them in place. (Steps 4, 5 and 6 are not necessary if you wish to preserve a hard-bodied insect without displaying its wings.)

Lay strips of paper over the wings to keep them steady, and place pins at either end of the paper to hold them down.

Insert one pin into each wing through the strip of paper. This will hold it in place while the insect's position is set.

Remove the other needles holding the wings in place. At this point, you only want needles running through the paper strips to be pinning the insect's wings.

Pin the legs, abdomen and antennae in place on the board, making sure they are oriented properly to give your hard-bodied insect a natural look. It should appear as if it were alive and standing motionless on the spreading board.

Leave the insect pinned in place for 7 to 10 days. It will dry and set during that time. Without the pins, the body would shrivel and you would be left with an empty carapace.

Remove the pins and paper carefully. You should be left with just the main needle in the thorax which you can use to move the insect without touching it.

Place the insect on a mounting board or shadow box for display.