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How to Make a Butterfly Spreading Board

Butterflies can be killed in a jar of rubbing alcohol like other insects, but without proper spreading, their wings will dry crumpled and wrinkled. A spreading board forces the insect's wings to lie flat as it dries, preserving the wings and allowing the signature colors and markings to be seen.

Things You'll Need

¼-inch thick balsa wood
1-inch thick wood board
Saw
Pencil
Glue
Brush

Instructions

- 1
  Cut two strips of ¼-inch thick balsa wood that are 2 inches wide and 8 inches long.
- 2
  Cut a piece of 1-inch thick wood board that is 5 inches wide and 8 inches long.
- 3
  Position the two strips of balsa wood side by side on top of the board, matching the 8-inch lengths. There should be a gap of ¼ of an inch between the two pieces of balsa wood. This channel is where you lay the thorax of the butterfly, allowing you to spread the wings over the balsa wood.
- 4
  Mark where you have placed the balsa wood with a pencil.
- 5
  Brush a thin layer of glue to one side of the balsa wood and press it back down on the wood board where you marked it. Attach the other piece of balsa wood to the board in the same way.
- 6
  Allow the glue to dry thoroughly before using the spreading board.

Insects & Science