How to Mount Moths

Relaxing

• 1

  Fill a jar with 1 inch of clean sand.

• 2

  Mix a solution that is ½ disinfectant, like Lysol, and ½ water. Avoid bleach, as it might discolor the moth's wings.

• 3

  Wet the sand lightly with the disinfectant solution.

• 4

  Cut a piece of cardboard that fits in the jar, but which is larger than the moth.

• 5

  Place the cardboard flat over the sand.

• 6

  Place the dead moth on top of the cardboard.

• 7

  Put the lid on the jar.

• 8

  Leave the dead moth there overnight. This softens the moth so it can be spread.

• 9

  Position the moth on the spreading board so the body of the moth fits over the groove in the center and the wings are over the solid wood.

• 10

  Cut four strips of paper that are 1/8 inch wide and 2 inches long.

• 11

  Lay the strips of paper over the corners of each wing.

• 12

  Pin the strips to the board with pins at each end of each paper strip. The gentle pressure of the paper holds the wings down flat as they dry. Do not pin through the moth's wings.

• 13

  Leave the moth in place for two weeks in order for it to dry.

Mounting

• 14

  Remove the pins from the spreading board and pick up the moth. It should be stiff and dry with its wings outspread.

• 15

  Push an insect pin through the center of the moth's thorax, going from the top of the moth's back to the bottom. Continue pushing until there is at least 1 inch of space between the point of the pin and the moth's body.

• 16

  Push the pin into a sheet of Styrofoam. This holds the moth suspended on the pin against a blank surface.