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How to Frame a Moth & Butterfly

Framed, preserved insects, particularly colorful butterflies and moths, make interesting additions to home decor. Collectors and hobbyists also use framing to preserve and protect their specimens from damage. Butterflies and moths belong to the insect order Lepidoptera. This group is one of the more difficult ones to preserve and display, as their wings are extremely fragile. Improper handling of the wings can remove the scales, which make up the color and pattern of the insect's wings.

Things You'll Need

Riker mount or display box
Insect pins
Forceps
Plastic foam or wood spreading board
Tissue paper strips (1/4 inch wide)

Instructions

Preparing The Dead Insect
- 1
  Gently squeeze and hold the middle section, the thorax, from the underside to open the wings. Butterflies and moths usually die with their wings folded over the top of their body. If the insect is recently deceased, it will be flexible enough for the wings to open. If the insect has been purchased from a supplier and stored in folded paper, or has been dead for a long period and become dry, it will need to be rehydrated (relaxed). Place the insect in a sealed container with a wet paper towel and few drops of ethyl acetone for approximately 24 to 48 hours to rehydrate the specimen.
- 2
  Insert an insect pin through the upper right side of the thorax.
- 3
  Insert the pinned insect into a piece of plastic foam or onto a spreading board of wood.
- 4
  Use tissue paper to open the wings further on the right side of the insect. After the pin has been inserted through the thorax, the wings will still be upright. The tissue paper allows you to flatten the wings so that they are more visible and suitable for framing. Pin the tissue paper to the foam above and below the two right wings. Do not insert pins through the wings.
- 5
  
  Position upper and lower wings at 90 degrees from the body.
  
  Position the wings perpendicular to the body using the forceps. After flattening the wings on the right side, they will still require manipulation so that the bottom of the top wing, and the top of the bottom wing, are at 90 degree angles from the body. Re-pin the tissue paper as necessary to hold the wings in place.
- 6
  Repeat the process on the left side of the insect. Leave the specimen in a dry room, at room temperature, for a couple of days to dry. Keep the specimen out of humid areas in the home, as excess humidity encourages mold growth on the specimen. Rapid drying with heat is not recommended as it will damage the specimen. Ensure that the pinned moth or butterfly is kept in an area where it will not be disturbed.
Framing the Insect
- 7
  Place the pinned insect into the display box. Insect display boxes have a thin foam base for easy pinning. Ensure that the box is deep enough for the insect and the pin.
- 8
  Optionally, place the insect into a riker mount and remove the pin. A riker mount is a shallow box, usually made of hard cardboard and filled to its complete depth with cotton wool or foam. They are used for displaying entomological or botanical specimens. Once the specimen is placed on the foam, the glass top of the riker mount is added, which holds the specimen in place.
- 9
  Mount the framed insect display to the wall. Position the frame out of direct sunlight to preserve the colors.

Insects & Science