Hobbies And Interests
Catching Method
Because of the delicacy of the butterfly's wing structure, you must use the right equipment and technique to catch the insect without damaging it. Butterfly nets are available at hobby stores to help you capture your butterfly specimen. A butterfly garden is an area that contains plants that are known to attract butterflies. This is a good place to begin your "hunt" for the right butterfly for your collection. Other good places for butterfly capture are woodland areas, parks and your own back yard. Keep the net open and in a side position, scooping up the butterfly and carefully closing or covering the open part of the net to keep it inside.
Relaxing The Wings
First, you must kill the insect by grasping its thorax, or middle section, between your thumb and forefinger and pinching it. This will stun the butterfly causing it to relax, according to Texas A&M University Extension Service. Place the butterfly with its wings folded on its back into a paper envelope and preserve it with moth balls until it relaxes its wings. Placing collected specimens in a plastic bag in the freezer will also preserve them in preparation for mounting.
The Resting Jar
After the insect is dead and dried, place the butterfly into a "resting jar." This is a jar large enough to contain the insect with a folded, damp paper towel at the bottom to provide humidity to allow the wings to relax and open. Cover the insect and allow two days for relaxation for small specimens, and about five to seven days for large specimens.
Mounting
Pierce the insect with a pin through its thorax and its gently spread wings with a pair of small forceps. Uses pieces of Styrofoam as mounting board, according to University of Minnesota entomologist Jeffrey Hahn. Insert the pin into the mounting board with the side of the body where the wings are hinged just above the surface of the board. As you spread the wings out in a natural position, hold them in place with insect pins. Only insert pins right behind the larger wing veins to avoid tearing. Then place paper over the adjusted wings and allow them to dry for several days to a week, depending on environmental conditions. After the specimen has thoroughly dried, remove the paper and wing pins. Keep the specimens out of direct sunlight and in low humidity.