How to Mount Butterflies for Framing
If you enjoy catching butterflies, then you know how disappointing it can be when the butterflies eventually die and break apart. One solution is to mount the butterflies for display soon after they die, which will preserve the look of the butterflies' wings. Once mounted, you can identify and label the butterflies so that they can be remembered for posterity. Everything you need in order to mount a butterfly can be purchased from an entomology shop.
Things You'll Need
- Glass jar
- Cotton ball
- Foam block
- Waxed paper
- T pins
- Riker mount
- Foam sheet. 1/2 inch thick
Instructions
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Place a deceased butterfly into a glass jar using a pair of flat-tipped tweezers, and insert a damp cotton ball. Screw the lid onto the jar. Allow the butterfly to remain in the jar for six hours. This will soften the butterfly's wings so that you can adjust them without breaking them.
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Place the softened butterfly onto a foam block, and stretch out and flatten the wings using flat-tipped tweezers. Place waxed paper strips over the flattened wings, and insert T pins into the waxed paper. The T pins will hold the wings in place so that they can dry. Allow the butterfly to dry for 24 hours.
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3
Remove the T pins from the waxed paper, and insert a singular T pin into the thorax of the butterfly, which is located between the abdomen and the head.
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4
Hold the T pin to transfer the butterfly onto the foam sheeting inside a Riker mount that is 1/2 inch thick. Position the butterfly as you prefer with the T pin. Place the top onto the Riker mount by sliding it on top of the foam before displaying the mounted butterfly.
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References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
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Comments
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I raised some common lime butterflies from caterpillars that I gathered which I fed with citrus leaves for days until they turned into pupae. After about ten days, beautiful butterflies emerged from their respective chrysalises. An expert mounted them for me for framing.
