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How to Start a Butterfly Collection

We've all seen the stereotype: an earnest-looking fellow in shorts leaping across a field with huge net on a stick over his shoulder. This is the butterfly collector. So he catches an interesting specimen and takes it home--then what? The process that follows, called "setting," takes a lot of time, patience and a fair amount of special equipment. But to the lepidopterist, adding one more winged wonder to his collection is worth it.

Things You'll Need

Catching and setting equipment
Reference books to identify types of butterflies
Display case or book

Instructions

Start a Butterfly Collection
- 1
  Start by setting aside a workplace, such as a section of your garage or basement. You will need a fairly large table, a chair of the right height for the table and an adjustable light, preferably fluorescent so that it doesn't give off heat.
- 2
  Explore websites such as The Insect Company for detailed lists of the equipment you will need. Be prepared to find a place in your workspace for a number of boxes including those used to manipulate the butterfly and those for storing your needles, syringes, tweezers, pins, scissors, glue and so forth (see Resources below).
- 3
  Investigate several methods of catching and mounting at sites like Practical Advice for Insect Collecting or The Insect Company (see Resources below). You may have to try more than one for yourself before you find the process with which you are comfortable.
- 4
  Identify local areas where butterflies feed or breed. Ask for help from fellow collectors, your park service or the biology department of a nearby college or university.
- 5
  Keep an identification guide handy in your work area such as "How to Identify Butterflies" or buy a paperback to carry with you (see Resources below).

Other Collecting