How to Pin a Moth Insect in a Shadow Box

Rehydrating the Specimen

• 1

  Place four damp paper towel into an air-tight container. This will serve as a relaxing chamber, which will help you regain pliability in the specimen. This is only required if the moth is dry and inflexible. If you can already move the moth easily, you can skip this section.

• 2

  Place a wire mesh or screen over the paper towels so that the moth will not touch the towels and the lid will still close.

• 3

  Place the moth in the relaxing chamber, seal it and place it in an safe area. Leave the moth for two days before checking it.

• 4

  Check the moth for flexibility. If gently squeezing the body with forceps makes the wings move, the moth is sufficiently hydrated. If not, keep the moth in the relaxing chamber for another day. Keep checking daily until the moth is flexible.

Pinning the Specimen

• 5

  Cover a block of Styrofoam with wax or tracing paper and put it aside.

• 6

  Spread the wings of the moth apart gently using the forceps. Be careful not to touch the wings with your fingers or damage may result. This will give you better access to the thorax, or body, of the moth.

• 7

  Push a pin through the back of the thorax of the moth and leave a half an inch sticking out. Turn the moth over and carefully press the head of the pin into paper-covered block of Styrofoam, so that the moth is laying flat, belly-up.

• 8

  Place pins around the thorax of the moth to secure it in place. Do not puncture the moth; simply place pins around it for stability. You don't want the moth to move while re-positioning the wings. Carefully move the wings perpendicular to the body of the moth using one of the pins. Once in the proper place, secure it with strips of wax or tracing paper over the wings and secure the strips with pins. Careful not to puncture the wings; the pins only need to secure the paper. Repeat this process with the other wing and antennae, if present. You want the wings to be symmetrical, so take your time. You will also need to pin the thorax down to prevent it from curling up. This is done, without puncturing it, by crossing pins over the thorax and pushing them into the Styrofoam, such that the thorax is held down by the crossing of the pins.

• 9

  Place the moth, still pinned, in a dry place, away from any disturbances. It will take a few days for it to dry out again, but keep checking its status. After a few days it should be dry and ready for formal mounting. Carefully removing the pins from the wax paper until only the upside-down pin through the thorax is left. Pull the pin out of the Styrofoam, but leave the moth impaled. Turn the moth belly-down and gently press the pointed end into the shadow box for a beautiful display of your moth.