I never realized how much one must do to mount butterflies correctly. Wish my fingers were more nimble. Afraid with my arthritis I would destroy the wings before getting them into place. Also I am shaky. It would be a wonderful hobby. I love this.
You can use forceps to move the wings, so you don't have to pin them! My hands are also very shaky, so using forceps to hold them in place is a lot easier for me.
i have ADHD and i constantly shake because of the meds im taking. i figured out that if i clear my mind with a good cup of tea and really focus with some calm music, im able to do it without shaking at all :) just find what works for you, love :) it might take some experimenting but itll be way more than worth it in the end
Hello! I'm currently a first year science student and am painstakingly studying biology. We just covered speciation last semester and this semester, we are going more in depth into evolution and species classification. Coincidentally, while procrastinating, I stumbled onto your fascinating videos! I've spent the last hour watching your videos and will continue to do so for the rest of tonight and continually from here on out. Thank you so much for sharing with us how fascinating biology can be and making me appreciate biology much more. It makes me look at my biology textbook with less of a grudging eye. I really enjoy your small educational snippets towards the end of your videos. Can't wait to see what you will upload next!
Let me tell you this is the best video I have seen so far on mounting a butterfly. 3 questions. You dont lose some color while manipulating the butterfly with your hands? and What kind of glue are you using? Where I can buy the pieces of paper you are using on the video? Currently I am using wax paper but yours looks way more easy to use. Dont worry about the length of your videos people that are really interested in this subject appreciate the details.
+Rolando Perez (OutdoorFanatic) I'm happy that you enjoy the video, thanks. Some lepidoptera have their wing scales more firmly attached and touching the wings gently does no harm. Others are more fragile and must be handles very carefully. These butterflies are very sturdy. I usually use water-based clear or blue gel. It's easier to see the attachment points through the transparent glue and if you make a mistake, it's easy to soften the glue with water and try again. I buy the glassine paper from BioQuip, a company in California that sells biological supplies. I get all my equipment from them.
@Yohan helitha BioQuip sadly went out of business this spring. It's a terrible loss as they were the most important supplier for researchers. I've been using tracing paper from an art supply shop and it works just as well.
@@insectsafari WOW! An update on a comment SIX years later?! I’m only like 3min into this video and it’s the first I’ve watched of yours….gonna go ahead and subscribe immediately
Last year I got very into gardening and making it into a butterfly garden oasis. I learned so many different types of plants and butterflies nearby, and one day a couple months ago I found a fully intact monarch just randomly on the sidewalk, picked it up and took it home. It wasn’t til Christmas was rolling around and I was struggling to figure out what to get my dad for a present, I thought about mounting the butterfly! My dad always collected framed butterflies from his travels and I grew up with them all around the house. I thought it would be extra special if I framed one for him too 😊 This video was absolutely amazing and so helpful!! My butterfly is drying out currently as I had grossly underestimated what it took to mount butterflies until seeing this video 😅 I’m hoping to give it to him in a couple days. Thanks so much for such a perfect explanation! My only question would be, how do we mount the butterfly into the frame? Do you glue it or pin it? The kit I got comes with the foam board so I figured I’d just glue that in the frame and push pin it in 🤔 how do they not fall apart?
I'm sorry but I just saw this comment now! I'm happy that the video was useful to you and I hope your project turned out well. I prefer pinning specimens when framing them but will glue the pin into the platform. I have videos showing how I do this. If well cared for they will last a long time. I've seen specimens in museum collections from the 1700's! The dried muscles in the body will hold them together.
Thank you so much for these videos. I have a praying mantis who will pass in the next few months and I've been trying to figure out the best way to preserve her. No one else has shown the process after pinning and I couldn't figure out what the drying process was. Thank you so much for showing it all from beginning to end!
Thank you so much! Successfully pinned my butterflies up (though I may have waited a little long with my relaxing chamber, they're a tiny bit moldy), and found that using the back of the pin to move the wings was more gentle than the sharp end. Also, I used chopsticks instead of my fingers to move the butterfly into place! And tracing paper instead of glassine. Watching your technique was most helpful.
Yes, it doesn't take very long sometimes for the mold to show up. Try dabbing a little acetone on it with a small paintbrush to clean and kill it off. I can't get glassine any longer since BioQuip went out of business so I'm using tracing paper now too. What species did you pin?
Very informative video, I found a spicebush swallowtail today and I wanted to preserve it for a specimen board for my classroom and this was the first video I came across. Definitely will be checking out the rest.
Amazing video, fellow Tuber! I'm new at working with butterflies and moths. Im studying as much as can, about this whole prosses. Thanks for telling us, that it takes a couple days, to a week for them to fully dry. Many others on TH-cam, don't say that important information. That's what I was looking for. I have mine pinned and waiting for them to dry. I make "New Life" jewelry with my wings... mainly unique earrings and now, full body moths or butterfly necklaces. 🦋 I call it New Life, because it's giving the beautiful creatures, a New purpose. They will now, LAST FOR many decades.
I love these kind of butterflies Please do more videos I hope You love wild life like me i'm Just 9 and I went to the Zoo. The first time I went to Zoo I Thought it was going to be Boring but actually I had a Great time with the animals I Played with lion Cubs! - Zoe Phung - 9 yrs old
Hi Zoe. I will do more videos like this. It's summertime now so there are a lot of fun things to do outside. I will make more videos in the fall and winter for sure. I'm glad to hear that you love nature too. Playing with lion cubs must have been amazing!
You're tutorial was perfect...i tried it with a butterfly i found for my project...and it came out almost perfect on my first try...At first it was hard to manoeuvre around the pins but eventually i got the hang of it...thanks so much...😁🤩
+Lauren Stanley Thank you. I try to improve as I go along. I have heard that the length of the videos is much longer than what people normally post on TH-cam and that many people won't watch if it's longer than about 7 min. I decided to make them as long as I feel they need to be to show what I want to show and the people who appreciate that will watch them.
Yeah I've heard that too, but I think if the right people watch your videos, you could never make them long enough. I don't mind the length, it's enjoyable content. Some people might have short attention spans. lol
Thank you very much, its a very well explained on how to mounth butterfly and moth...it helps me mount my atlas moth I'll preserve them when they died. I've read an article says they're lifespan is very short like 5-7days coz they only lives off energy stored as a caterpillar. I found this moth as a very weak in our backyard now it lays so many eggs after it flown away. I hatched them and they are now caterpillar. Again thank you very much for a very informative video.
I am a bird taxidermist (been doing it since I was 15).. but this is amazing. it's basically the favorite part of my work (pinning/making things perty). how exactly do you get your specimens? I know I'd be great at this but where would you think a beginner should get specimens to mount? Since I want to try my hand at this amazing hobby.
I have several sources for purchasing exotic specimens. I just saw a good price on these Trogonoptera butterflies the other day at TBIA: www.tropicalbutterflies.com/oriental_papilionidae.htm Another reliable supplier: www.butterfliesandthings.com/product/category-19bae3dd-e9a1-466d-a5da-9bb2c55c85cd.aspx Also: iannibutterfly2.net/index.php?option=com_mijoshop&route=product/search&search=trogonoptera
Hi there! I hope you don't mind me reaching out like this, but do you happen to work in Australia? I am trying to find a taxidermist who works with birds to preserve my beautiful quail Truffle, who recently died, and you seem quite trustworthy and experienced.
@Beanz305 no, I'm sorry I'm in the U.S but you could probably find someone via reddit or Facebook in taxidermy groups in your area. Just make sure you get pictures of their work before hand, and they have experience with smaller birds, as it can be more difficult working with smaller little ones since they don't hold up as easily. I wish you good luck!
I enjoyed watching your video and listening to your instructions. It was very detailed and informative. I am looking to mount insects as a hobby, so I am doing my research before I begin. Thank you so much for your video!
I'm happy to help. Don't be discouraged if it seems difficult at first. With some practice it will become easy. Expect to make some mistakes. I still do sometimes!
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I will be making more curating videos this fall and winter. I've been too busy surviving the pandemic with the loss of my usual teaching work to spend time on the channel. Now that things are returning to a new normal I'm eager to get back to making content.
Long ago j l9ved bugs , i had a a REALLY CUTE AND CALM FLY he always stayed whit me.. but i ...killed it by a mistake , i cried for a day long and now im RLLY afraif of them
Wow, really detailed video thank you I appreciate it, I just found a dead butterfly 🦋 and I was wondering how to preserved it, thank you this really helps
I'm happy that you enjoy the video. What kind of butterfly did you find? It does take some practice to become capable so please don't be discouraged if you find it frustrating at times. You can get pins and supplies from entomological supply companies. Here is the USA we have one called BioQuip that I get all my supplies from. There are also companies that sell dried specimens for you to prepare. Let me know if you are interested and I might be able to help you find sources for other specimens.
Your video on relaxing and mounting butterflies is extremely educational. This is my first time trying to relax and mount a butterfly. Is the glassine paper you’re using similar to waxed paper and are the pins you’re using the same pins used for sewing?
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, thanks. Wax paper is slippery and won't work as well for holding the wings. You can get glassine from BioQuip which is a good source for all other entomological supplies. Similar thin paper may be available at craft stores. The mounting pins through the insect are special insect pins. The glassine holding pins are regular sewing pins.
I have a butterfly to pin, I was wondering if it would be okay to use baking paper instead of the material you use? It will be for a one time butterfly spreading so I wouldn't want to order anything specific. Thanks for the detailed process!!! I'm looking forward to trying it out! :)
I think that would work just fine. As long as you can see where the top wings line up with the bottom wings so you can get them symmetrical. What type of butterfly are you pinning?
The procedure for a luna moth would be the same. The scales on their wings are much more fragile so you need to be very careful about touching the wings or moving anything across them. This will leave a mark that can't be repaired. The colors on moth wings will fade quickly if exposed to light so hang your frame in a hallway or somewhere that light is dim.
This might be silly question 🤔 but you said it can take a few days or week to dry once it's pinned but because it was in moisture and you out a bit of water inside there's no chance it would become moldy??? Also if your not ready to mount them and want to keep them stored is it safe for just keep them in the paper in a box? Or like a zip lock bag? Would it create mold or get weird? What's a good way to store them prior to being ready to mount them? 😳
With your very long glass headed pins you would be much better using a setting needle, just mount a pin shank into a short dowel, it gives you a much better reach over the long pins you use. I am sure you came to the correct conclusion over the sub species you have just set, but you would think the breeder would just write the origin on the envelope. Many thanks for posting this, it will be very helpful to a lot of new entomologists !
Thanks, I'm glad you found it informative. It may seem difficult at first but you will quickly develop the skill with practice. I still make mistakes sometimes and some days I just seem to struggle with it so don't be discouraged.
Watching this to figure out how to preserve a Deaths Head Hawkmoth I found dead on the side walk (yeah I know, I couldn't believe my eyes at first either) and now I got a brand new, cool pandemic project to do! Thanks a bunch!
Thank you this is amazing, haven't been able to find a good pinning video. Im just starting out so working with small moths is difficult, where do you suggest getting ethically sourced butterflies/moths? Also what do you use for the pinning board, looks like wood to me but i can't tell. How do you keep your hands steady and not afraid of breaking them?
It just takes practice and patience to get good at pinning. Small moths are particularly difficult. Keep practicing and don't give up! Practice on the cheap stuff. I get all my pinning boards and supplies from BioQuip in California. I have used several sources for purchasing specimens: www.thebutterflycompany.com/ www.bioquipbugs.com/ bicbugs.com/shop/ iannibutterfly2.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=26
I thought i knew what I was doing, but this has a lot tips that aren't always obvious. Whether your a newbie or just looking for great instructions, this is the video to watch.
Hi. Have a question or two about the relaxing process. Do you keep the specimens at room temp and I still cannot get my specimens to soften up, even after injecting the thorax with water. I leave then soften for 1-2 days. Any suggestions? Thank yoiu.
This is super helpful! I was afraid to start mounting butterflies in fear that it'd be extremely difficult but this explanation is very clear and helps a lot. :)
I'm glad you found it useful. It does take some practice but you'll get the hang of it. There are other ways to hold the wings in place, with long strips of paper or pieces of glass. This is the method that works best for me but you can experiment and see what works best for you.
Fantastic videos! I was in NYC and I visited a store called evolution. It sells preserved specimens and things. So fascinating! It might be something I'd be interested in doing myself, where do you get your specimens from?
Did you make this wood block or do you recommend one to purchase... I'm sure the depth of the carved out piece is important right? Thank You, this is very helpful
You could make one, some people do. I sometimes make custom spread boards out of styrofoam for special mounts. It's worth it to buy an adjustable one. They work very well. I recommend BioQuip in California USA. www.bioquip.com/Search/DispProduct.asp?pid=1024C
If they are kept dry they shouldn't get mold. Fumigants like moth crystals prevent tiny beetles and other insects from damaging the specimens. I prefer Vapona which is less smelly than moth crystals.
I was recently looking up pictures of butterflies and was gobsmacked at how thickly they can cover trees and swarm. I never really think about that because it's not like they sting or anything.
You were probably looking at migrating monarchs. I've seen groups of them in Minnesota on their way to Mexico and in California where another group overwinters.
This vid is so helpful and really made it easy to understand! Do you buy the butterflies or is there another way of getting them? I know it’s kind of a stupid question but I’m very interested in this and really would like to start doing it!
Not a stupid question at all. Some of the specimens I catch or raise myself. I trade with other collectors and some are gifts. I do buy specimens that are impossible for me to collect. The butterflies in this video are protected from collecting but are captive raised to sell to collectors.
Hi, great video! I was wondering how you store the spreaded ones while waiting for them to dry, do the pests not get to them if we leave them out in the open?
Hey I just found a dead butterfly outside last week and I kept the butterfly to hopefully put it in a frame, but I realized it smells bad is that going to go away eventually? 😅
This video was so helpful and lovely! My best friend just got me a morpho menelaus butterfly but it's wings are closed so I want to open them and put me in a shadow box
What is the glasseine (spelling?) paper made from? Could I use wax paper for the same purpose? Thank-you for your video! Extremely informative and easy to follow!
Glassine is a translucent paper that butterfly envelopes are made from. You can get pads of glassine sheets from BioQuip, located in California USA www.bioquip.com/ I suppose you could use wax paper, but it's surface is slippery and probably wouldn't hold the wings down well.
I prefer clear, water-based glue. Elmer's is one brand and there are others. Regular white glue is good but I like that I can see through the clear glue to more accurately mate the parts when reattaching legs and antennae.
Get the best equipment you can afford, pins, spreading board, tweezers etc. and be patient with yourself. It may take some practice but you will get better at it with experience. Start with less expensive or damaged specimens to work out the process. Good luck and let me know if you need any advice.
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed watching this video. I am currently trying to mount my own butterfly's but had a hard time finding detailed instructions on how to rehydrate, mount etc. You're instructions really helped me allot, thank you. I am curious about the material you're board is made from, my board is made of Styrofoam. Is one better than the other or is it a preference kind of thing? And if you have any more tips or tricks please do share if you can. And my sincere apologies for my poor English grammar and mistakes.
It depends on the size and freshness of the specimen. A large butterfly that it very dry may take so long to hydrate that it could get moldy. I prefer injection for all but the smallest dry specimens. You want the muscles soft so that you can position the wings without damaging them and injection works fast to do this. Some people use mold inhibitors when hydrating and that's not a bad idea. It's important to prevent the wings from becoming wet as this can stain them.
This is wonderful! If I found a butterfly specimen in nature and want to mount it, do I need to do any other steps first to preserve it? I read an article they can get moldy and to use pine-sol or Lysol?? I would hate to damage the butterfly in any way. Thank you! 🦋
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, thanks! If the specimen is fresh and flexible and you have the supplies to mount it right away then you don't need to worry. If the specimen is dry then it won't get moldy until you re-hydrate it. If you leave it in a relaxing chamber too long it can get moldy. That's why some people use disinfectants in the relaxing chamber. I use plain water because I never leave the specimen to relax for long enough to get moldy. Injecting water into the thorax relaxes the specimen very quickly so it will dry out once mounted and not get mold. It does take a little practice so don't be discouraged if your first attempt is less than satisfactory.
I don't think it matters what the temperature is. I know some people prefer hot water and I suppose it speeds up the process a little, but what's the rush?
I enjoy it. Don't be discouraged if you don't get the best results right away. It takes some practice to get the hang of it. Practice with damaged or common specimens before trying something valuable. Even with all I've done, many thousands of specimens, I still screw up sometimes. Some days I'm just not at my best and I'll wait until another day to try again.
Beautiful work! I wanted to ask, what farm did you get your specimens from? I'm working on getting a license to own a birdwing specimen, but I'm having a lot of trouble finding a place to source one
Where do you live? In the US if you buy them from a dealer in the US you don't need a permit. The dealer has obtained the permit for importing them into the country. I get these from dealers in the US.
@@Beanz305 I remember finding a dealer in Australia years ago but I never ordered anything from them. I suspect that they're still around. Some dealers don't sell Ornithoptera because of the permitting hassles and some won't ship outside their own country. I have seen farming operations in NG selling directly to collectors but then you have to deal with importing issues. While restrictions are a hassle, I appreciate the efforts to protect species.
@@Beanz305 To be clear, the Australian dealer was not a breeder. The farms where the butterflies are raised are mostly in Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries in Asia. There may be butterfly farms for specimen collectors in Australia but I haven't heard of any.
Hi, not sure if you read comments still, but I am new to this hobby! I have finally received all my supplies and have started looking into specimens to pin. I'm particularly interested in moths. Do you have any recommendations for sturdier subjects that might be easier to help ease a first timer in? Love the videos!
I always read the comments! Larger specimens are easier to work with when you are learning. Start with common species so you can gain some skills before you try something more expensive. I have several sources for buying specimens in the USA. Where do you live?
I don't use wax paper because it's slippery. With the pins stuck in very close to the edge and the paper pulled tight across the wing it holds the wing in place. If the specimen is not well-relaxed the wing will sometimes move out of place in which case I replace the paper and use more pins to hold it.
Your videos are great! Thanks. I have a question: where exactly do you put the seringe? since I don't really want to mess up specimens. By the way do more videos of mounting lepidoptera.
Thank you, I'm glad you find the videos helpful. I insert the needle into the thorax from below, just where the abdomen is connected. The goal is to fill the thorax "box" where the wing and leg muscles are located, with water. I keep pushing in water until it comes out. I will be posting more videos. I've been preoccupied with working and settling in after a recent move.
How long does the butterflies wings body take to dry after their wings are spread out? I just found a beautiful butterfly today and I want to frame it. The only imperfection with the butterfly I found today is that one of the attena is broken off.
I have collected a lot of insects over the years and I do use nets for some of them. It does take some practice to capture butterflies. All the slow or stupid ones are already someone's lunch so I've had a lot more misses than captures.
@@samuelryan4021 Larger butterflies are easier because they are sturdier and easier to manipulate. Small butterfliy's wings are more delicate and need to be handled with extra care. The process needs one's full attention and patience. Of course with enough practice nearly anything can become easy.
Hello. i have a question. If i have a fresh dead butterly, i think its fresh though cuz i just found it and like a hour ago it wasnt there. So, how shoukd i prepare a fresh Butterfly? Just pin ?
awesome video, very informative!! i have a couple questions, though. i just got done spreading and pinning a cecropia moth, and i have done absolutely nothing to the body except pin around it-- i did not feel comfortable pinning his body. 1. is it possible to glue him to a display instead of puncturing him? also, 2. where should i keep the specimen while it dries? in a dark place, in direct sunlight, under a lamp? finally, 3. once he's dried and i put him in a display case, is there anything i need to do to prevent him from rotting and smaller bugs from getting in and eating him?
I am curious as what made you uncomfortable about pinning the moth. Were you afraid to damage it? The benefit of pinning is that you can attach the pin to the display instead of the body. If it's glued you can never remove it without damage. Also, with a pin you can mount it raised above the surface which gives it some visual dimension. I let specimens dry set out in the room. If it was very humid you could make a drying space with an incandescent light bulb in a box. Avoid direct sunlight as the UV fades the colors. If it's kept dry it should not decay. I've seen specimens from the 1700's that looked just fine. You do need to watch out for dermestid beetles and psosids which can destroy a specimen. Moth ball or Vapona fumigant will keep pests out of a drawer. If the specimen is in a sealed frame the fumigant will eventually fade. You can put a frame in a freezer for a couple of days to kill pests.
@@insectsafari thank you for the info! i'm just uncomfortable with pinning the moth because as silly as it sounds i think i feel a little love for it lol! it's more of an internal conflict of not wanting to cause harm to something i cared for, i suppose. anyways- so i should put moth balls in the frame to deter these pests?
@@xonatasha I understand that but pinning is the best way to preserve a specimen. I feel a sense of responsibility towards a bug to do the best possible job of preserving it to honor it's life. If you're planning to frame it and hang it on the wall then you don't want a mothball in the picture. I put a mothball in the frame with the specimen for a day and then take it out before I seal it up to kill any eggs or larvae that might be there as a precaution. There probably aren't any. Keep an eye on it and if you see any dust or damage you can put the whole thing in the freezer to kill the pests.
@@insectsafari awesome, thank you so much. and well put, i'll definitely have to find the guts to pin him so i can properly honor him. that way if i ever have to move him, i can, like you said! again, thanks for the advice :)
I have seen brief and simple references to preparation techniques but nothing published with any great detail. This is one of the reasons I decided to make videos to share what I have learned over the years.
I appreciate your hard work and your detailed videos. Thanks a lot for such replying. I wasn't expecting replies soon bcz this video is 5 years old i think. May God bless you and your family.❤️From 🇵🇰
I saw a video someone put a couple drops of pine sol on the wet paper towel so mold doesn’t create then placed the butterfly on top of the paper towel. And left the butterfly inside the Tupperware for no more than 3 days. After the wings were able to move etc. is wax paper ok to use or tracing paper to hold the wings down? Also does it matter what size pins you use ?
It's not a bad idea to use something to prevent mold in the relaxing chamber but I don't since I usually inject the specimen with water, it's never in there long enough to get moldy. Wax paper is a bit slippery but tracing paper will work fine. The size of the pin that goes through the specimen should not be too large relative to the size of the thorax to prevent damage to the specimen. If the pin is too small it will not hold the specimen well in the box.
After pinning the specimen, is it OK to let them dry in open air for a few days? Or is there a better method? Then, are the special types of frames/cases to get to display it, or will anything work?
Yes, I just set them up on a shelf and they usually are dry in a few days. Some people use a drying cabinet which is a closed box with a light bulb inside to warm and dry the air. I keep specimens in professional insect museum drawers but they can be mounted for display in any frame deep enough to accommodate their body. Special insect frames and boxes are available from BioQuip. It's important to seal the back of the frame as tightly as possible to prevent pests from getting in and destroying the specimen. I usually seal the edges with silicone rubber.
Yes, they will remain intact indefinitely as long as they are protected from moisture and insect pests. I have seen specimens in museums that were collected in the 1700's in very good condition and aome from the 1800's that could be mistaken for modern examples. I have two 19th century moths in my collection and some from the 20's, 40's and 50's.
You could do that. If you live in a humid environment it could be especially useful. I've seen illustrations in books of "drying boxes" for that purpose. They had just an incandescent light bulb inside to provide a little heat. I've used a regular electric oven set on "warm" but that can be risky.
I get all my supplies from BIoQuip in California. They do have a kit package with everything needed but I would instead buy the components separately to upgrade to better quality items. An assortment of pins, an adjustable spreading board, a pad of glassine sheets, fine curved tweezers and a storage box should be enough to get him started. bioquipinc.com/catalog/?gclid=CjwKCAjwwab7BRBAEiwAapqpTFHEYjmcv9oKRp1mwOCstjXQVqV5Kbae2i0hI3jW_PwifXSoudeGdhoCgLEQAvD_BwE
do you have to inject the water? also sorry for the questions but do you have any recommended stores for buying the pinning equipment & sourcing butterflies? I'm not sure what they individual equipment pieces are called and how many to get haha.. Anyways thanks!!!
I'm glad that you find the video useful. Thanks. You don't have to inject water to relax a specimen but it helps it to take less time to be ready to pin. I get all of my equipment ans supplies from a company in California called BioQuip. I have purchased insects from several sources over the years. Some sellers have restrictions on where they will ship specimens because of import regulations. I will put a list together for you. Where do you live?
You don't need to inject water into the thorax, the specimen will soften in the humid environment. Just watch for mold which can grow quickly. Don't leave them in the relaxing container longer than needed.
Hello Insectsafari :), First of all, thank you so much for your video. It's amazing :) Secondly, I'm Huu from VietNam, I'm so interested in animal, especialy, Butterfly. Here, we have alot of kind of Butterfly. For me, I'm having more than 20 cocoons of Attacus atlas. recently, there are two of them came out. one male, one female, they are alive, fly around my room now :). They're so beautiful, you know, but they will die soon. I googled alot just to find a way to mount them, store them over the time. Unfortunately, i have not seen any full detail video. Your video is the best i have ever. I have alot of question and i hope you don't mind and help me with this. I really need your help. It would be amazing if i can be your friend on Facebook, Skype that I can learn things from you and keep watching your video, document. 1. I don't know how to kill Butterflies when they're alive without damaging them. my Moths are too big and strong you know 2. I saw in your video, when you inject water into butterfly when relaxing them. What kind of that water? is pure and hot water or you mixed water with something ? and what time should we inject that water into a butterfly boddy? is it the middle time ? 3. How long does it take for the relaxing process. ( 20 hours or 24 hours) 4. After pinning a butterfly down on the wood to keep it in position. Is there anymore i need to do? do i need to put the specimen under the sunshine ? and how long should a let it being pinning on the wood ? 5. Alot people tell me that i need to use Formaldehyde solution for keeping them > Is it true. if that, how much Formal should i user for a Moths. and just you pure Formal or mix them with water? One more time again/ Thank you so much, i will waite for your answer :)
I apologize for not responding to your comment earlier, for some reason I am just seeing it now. 1) The most humane way is to freeze them. If you can't, the next best way is to inject the head with alcohol . This kills them very quickly. 2) Just plain water will relax the muscles in the thorax. 3) The length of time it takes depends of=n how big and how dry the insect is. Usually a day or two. 4) It's best to put the pinned specimen somewhere that is warm and dry. If you are in a damp climate this will be more important. Some collectors use a drying cabinet which is a box with a light bulb inside. 5) I don't use formal for anything, it's very toxic. They are probably using it to keep insect pests from eating the specimens. I use Vapona in my storage boxes to protect them from being damaged. Please ask if you have more questions and I will hopefully see it right away!
I got a luna moth and I need to do all this to it and I’ve done a lot of research the only thing I’m kinda confused about is how do I frame them?? Is it a specific frame? I’m not sure what to even ask I just don’t know how I should be framing them. My intent is to hang them on my wall
The "shadow box" is the way to go. Look for them at art and craft supply shops. They may be available at on-line shops. I usually use foam core for the back and use spray adhesive to cover it with nice acid-free art paper. I use wire cutters to clip the sharp tip of the pin and put a dab of glue in the pin hole the specimen is set in. I then clip the top of the pin so it will fit in the box and not show so much. A moth like a luna will fade quickly in bright light so hang it in hallway or darker space. If you have any questions please ask. Good luck and let me know how it goes. I will make a video about how to do this at some point.
insectsafari thank you so much for the help! I wanted to hang it in my room which is pretty dark and it would be away from natural sunlight and windows but there are some decorative color LED lights in there. would that damage it in any way or should it be fine? And also Whats your favorite color? Not an important question I just want to know :)
@@bearriver6952 LEDs should hurt it at all. I'm not sure that I have a favorite color. I like bright flowers in the garden and intense colors in bugs. I want my retinas to strain. I am fond of the blue on black Eunica butterflies.
Where can I source dead butterflies? I live in the UK and there aren’t very many interesting big butterflies around that I could find. Where do you buy yours?
It's usually best to order specimens from inside your own country to avoid importation issues. I found this supplier in the UK. I have not purchased from them myself. You can also find specimens for sale on EBay.
I get it from a company called BioQuip located in California USA. I don't know of other sources for it. You might be able to find similar paper at an art supply store.
I just watched the whole video, and I'm intrigued. This looks a bit hard, but amazing and I would like to try this myself. I have two questions though. How do I know if the butterfly is dried properly after mounting it? I suppose I could just wait a few days, but I don't want to ruin the butterflies by taking off the paper and pins too early. I'm from Holland (Europe), and I don't really know where I can get/order a reliable mounting board. Do you maybe know where I could get one? Thank you so much for making video's, I'm sure this video will help me a lot!
Following for answers ! En je kunt een prepareer beginner set kopen bij nature-deco.nl, ik krijg de mijne binnenkort binnen. Ze zijn 40 euro en zit ook een selectie aan gedroogde vlinder enzo bij. :)
I'm sorry it took so long to reply. I get all my supplies from a company called BioQuip in California, USA. I think they do ship outside the US. I have at times removed the pins too early and the specimen lost it's shape and I had to re-pin it. I usually touch the abdomen with a pin and if it's stiff the specimen is dry.
You can relax specimens without a syringe but it takes longer and there is more chance for the specimen to get wet or moldy. If injecting I use warm water but it doesn't matter that much.
The spreading board is made out of Balsa wood. You can get them at BioQuip in California USA. There are other sources in other parts of the world I'm sure.
There are several brands of insect pins and spreading boards are available from biological supply companies. The pins are of a standard length and come in a variety of thicknesses. Sizes 1 and 3 are the best size for most purposes. The spreading boards also come in a variety of widths and some are adjustable, which I recommend. In the USA I get all of my supplies from BioQuip located in California. The paper is called glassine and comes in pads of sheets of different sizes. Also available from BioQuip. www.bioquip.com/Search/WebCatalog.asp?prodtype=1
I get entomology equipment from BioQuip in California. The pins used to mount the specimens are special insect pins. Those used to hold the glassine or prop the specimens are regular large sewing pins that I get from local stores.
I just noticed that I did not respond to your comment. There must be some humidity for mold to grow so they were not kept dry enough. You can remove the mold with a fine paint brush and then soak them in acetone to kill the mold. It won't hurt the specimen. Use a wide jar, if the specimen is small enough or a metal pie tin covered with foil for larger specimens. Leave them soaking for a day or so, upside down with the pin still attached. Use glassene paper to flatten the wings, like when you pin them, when you take them out of the acetone. See this video: th-cam.com/video/fQB8zXn0bE0/w-d-xo.html When finished, store the specimens in a good insect box or drawer to keep humidity out.
I never realized how much one must do to mount butterflies correctly. Wish my fingers were more nimble. Afraid with my arthritis I would destroy the wings before getting them into place. Also I am shaky. It would be a wonderful hobby. I love this.
You can use forceps to move the wings, so you don't have to pin them! My hands are also very shaky, so using forceps to hold them in place is a lot easier for me.
i have ADHD and i constantly shake because of the meds im taking. i figured out that if i clear my mind with a good cup of tea and really focus with some calm music, im able to do it without shaking at all :) just find what works for you, love :) it might take some experimenting but itll be way more than worth it in the end
Hello! I'm currently a first year science student and am painstakingly studying biology. We just covered speciation last semester and this semester, we are going more in depth into evolution and species classification. Coincidentally, while procrastinating, I stumbled onto your fascinating videos! I've spent the last hour watching your videos and will continue to do so for the rest of tonight and continually from here on out. Thank you so much for sharing with us how fascinating biology can be and making me appreciate biology much more. It makes me look at my biology textbook with less of a grudging eye. I really enjoy your small educational snippets towards the end of your videos. Can't wait to see what you will upload next!
+VivianCarmenLiang
Thank you! Glad you're enjoying the videos.
I will be making more so keep watching.
this is so damn helpful! thank you so much for posting. will be doing this for a moth display soon.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I will be making more specimen prep vids this fall and winter.
insectsafari
wonderful, they are so relaxing. what kind of glue and paper do you use on these guys?
The paper is glassine, available from BioQuip.
I usually use water soluble clear gel glue.
Let me tell you this is the best video I have seen so far on mounting a butterfly. 3 questions. You dont lose some color while manipulating the butterfly with your hands? and What kind of glue are you using? Where I can buy the pieces of paper you are using on the video? Currently I am using wax paper but yours looks way more easy to use. Dont worry about the length of your videos people that are really interested in this subject appreciate the details.
+Rolando Perez (OutdoorFanatic)
I'm happy that you enjoy the video, thanks.
Some lepidoptera have their wing scales more firmly attached and touching the wings gently does no harm. Others are more fragile and must be handles very carefully. These butterflies are very sturdy.
I usually use water-based clear or blue gel. It's easier to see the attachment points through the transparent glue and if you make a mistake, it's easy to soften the glue with water and try again.
I buy the glassine paper from BioQuip, a company in California that sells biological supplies. I get all my equipment from them.
@Yohan helitha BioQuip sadly went out of business this spring. It's a terrible loss as they were the most important supplier for researchers. I've been using tracing paper from an art supply shop and it works just as well.
@@insectsafari WOW! An update on a comment SIX years later?! I’m only like 3min into this video and it’s the first I’ve watched of yours….gonna go ahead and subscribe immediately
This is so cool, and so interesting! So awesome how you packed so much in!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'll be making more videos like this so check back now and then.
Last year I got very into gardening and making it into a butterfly garden oasis. I learned so many different types of plants and butterflies nearby, and one day a couple months ago I found a fully intact monarch just randomly on the sidewalk, picked it up and took it home. It wasn’t til Christmas was rolling around and I was struggling to figure out what to get my dad for a present, I thought about mounting the butterfly! My dad always collected framed butterflies from his travels and I grew up with them all around the house. I thought it would be extra special if I framed one for him too 😊
This video was absolutely amazing and so helpful!! My butterfly is drying out currently as I had grossly underestimated what it took to mount butterflies until seeing this video 😅 I’m hoping to give it to him in a couple days. Thanks so much for such a perfect explanation! My only question would be, how do we mount the butterfly into the frame? Do you glue it or pin it? The kit I got comes with the foam board so I figured I’d just glue that in the frame and push pin it in 🤔 how do they not fall apart?
I'm sorry but I just saw this comment now! I'm happy that the video was useful to you and I hope your project turned out well. I prefer pinning specimens when framing them but will glue the pin into the platform. I have videos showing how I do this. If well cared for they will last a long time. I've seen specimens in museum collections from the 1700's! The dried muscles in the body will hold them together.
Thank you so much for these videos. I have a praying mantis who will pass in the next few months and I've been trying to figure out the best way to preserve her. No one else has shown the process after pinning and I couldn't figure out what the drying process was. Thank you so much for showing it all from beginning to end!
I have two videos on preparing a mantis.
th-cam.com/video/Z70qDzgQuxs/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/Rp_dAfZuPZg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much! Successfully pinned my butterflies up (though I may have waited a little long with my relaxing chamber, they're a tiny bit moldy), and found that using the back of the pin to move the wings was more gentle than the sharp end. Also, I used chopsticks instead of my fingers to move the butterfly into place! And tracing paper instead of glassine. Watching your technique was most helpful.
Yes, it doesn't take very long sometimes for the mold to show up. Try dabbing a little acetone on it with a small paintbrush to clean and kill it off. I can't get glassine any longer since BioQuip went out of business so I'm using tracing paper now too. What species did you pin?
If you add a bit of rubbing alcohol to your wet paper towels it'll help with the molding
Very informative video, I found a spicebush swallowtail today and I wanted to preserve it for a specimen board for my classroom and this was the first video I came across. Definitely will be checking out the rest.
Amazing video, fellow Tuber! I'm new at working with butterflies and moths.
Im studying as much as can, about this whole prosses.
Thanks for telling us, that it takes a couple days, to a week for them to fully dry.
Many others on TH-cam, don't say that important information.
That's what I was looking for.
I have mine pinned and waiting for them to dry. I make "New Life" jewelry with my wings... mainly unique earrings and now, full body moths or butterfly necklaces. 🦋
I call it New Life, because it's giving the beautiful creatures, a New purpose. They will now, LAST FOR many decades.
10 minutes into the video
Me: man that's a big a$$ butterfly
They sure are.
I love these kind of butterflies
Please do more videos I hope
You love wild life like me i'm
Just 9 and I went to the Zoo.
The first time I went to Zoo I
Thought it was going to be
Boring but actually I had a
Great time with the animals I
Played with lion Cubs!
- Zoe Phung
- 9 yrs old
Hi Zoe. I will do more videos like this. It's summertime now so there are a lot of fun things to do outside. I will make more videos in the fall and winter for sure. I'm glad to hear that you love nature too. Playing with lion cubs must have been amazing!
hi zoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 9 + 3 = 12 so YAY ur 12 now!!
omg youre 12 now hi
@@addy666 NOW 13!! CONGRATS TO HIM
My favourite video is you preparing the giant isopod as that is one of my favouite deep sea creatures.love the videos !keep it up!
You're tutorial was perfect...i tried it with a butterfly i found for my project...and it came out almost perfect on my first try...At first it was hard to manoeuvre around the pins but eventually i got the hang of it...thanks so much...😁🤩
I'm happy that it was helpful to you. With some practice it will become easier.
Awesome video! I really appreciate how informative, and in depth they are, I could (and may have...lol)binge watch them all day.
+Lauren Stanley
Thank you. I try to improve as I go along.
I have heard that the length of the videos is much longer than what people normally post on TH-cam and that many people won't watch if it's longer than about 7 min.
I decided to make them as long as I feel they need to be to show what I want to show and the people who appreciate that will watch them.
Yeah I've heard that too, but I think if the right people watch your videos, you could never make them long enough. I don't mind the length, it's enjoyable content. Some people might have short attention spans. lol
Thank you for video. Best entomological greetings from Ukraine!
I am happy that you enjoyed the video. Слава Україні!
Thank you very much, its a very well explained on how to mounth butterfly and moth...it helps me mount my atlas moth I'll preserve them when they died. I've read an article says they're lifespan is very short like 5-7days coz they only lives off energy stored as a caterpillar. I found this moth as a very weak in our backyard now it lays so many eggs after it flown away. I hatched them and they are now caterpillar. Again thank you very much for a very informative video.
I'm happy that you found the video useful. I enjoy raising caterpillars. It's a fun hobby!
I am a bird taxidermist (been doing it since I was 15).. but this is amazing. it's basically the favorite part of my work (pinning/making things perty). how exactly do you get your specimens? I know I'd be great at this but where would you think a beginner should get specimens to mount? Since I want to try my hand at this amazing hobby.
I have several sources for purchasing exotic specimens. I just saw a good price on these Trogonoptera butterflies the other day at TBIA: www.tropicalbutterflies.com/oriental_papilionidae.htm
Another reliable supplier: www.butterfliesandthings.com/product/category-19bae3dd-e9a1-466d-a5da-9bb2c55c85cd.aspx
Also: iannibutterfly2.net/index.php?option=com_mijoshop&route=product/search&search=trogonoptera
What kind of glue do you use?
Hi there! I hope you don't mind me reaching out like this, but do you happen to work in Australia? I am trying to find a taxidermist who works with birds to preserve my beautiful quail Truffle, who recently died, and you seem quite trustworthy and experienced.
@Beanz305 no, I'm sorry I'm in the U.S but you could probably find someone via reddit or Facebook in taxidermy groups in your area. Just make sure you get pictures of their work before hand, and they have experience with smaller birds, as it can be more difficult working with smaller little ones since they don't hold up as easily. I wish you good luck!
@@eptile Thank you so much! I will hunt around ♥
I just ordered my first butterflies, im going to try and start working on this amazing skill
I enjoyed watching your video and listening to your instructions. It was very detailed and informative. I am looking to mount insects as a hobby, so I am doing my research before I begin. Thank you so much for your video!
I'm happy to help. Don't be discouraged if it seems difficult at first. With some practice it will become easy. Expect to make some mistakes. I still do sometimes!
Best TH-cam video I've ever seen! That was really good❤️
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I will be making more curating videos this fall and winter. I've been too busy surviving the pandemic with the loss of my usual teaching work to spend time on the channel. Now that things are returning to a new normal I'm eager to get back to making content.
@@insectsafari
Waiting for it👏❤️
Bugs terrify me but I adore your videos.
+NeonRain
Thank you. Hopefully by watching them you may eventually become less terrified.
Long ago j l9ved bugs , i had a a REALLY CUTE AND CALM FLY he always stayed whit me.. but i ...killed it by a mistake , i cried for a day long and now im RLLY afraif of them
Wow, those butterflies are very beautiful.
Sofiya Malkinova Agreed. Was gonna say the same thing
Wow, really detailed video thank you I appreciate it, I just found a dead butterfly 🦋 and I was wondering how to preserved it, thank you this really helps
I'm happy that you enjoy the video. What kind of butterfly did you find? It does take some practice to become capable so please don't be discouraged if you find it frustrating at times. You can get pins and supplies from entomological supply companies. Here is the USA we have one called BioQuip that I get all my supplies from. There are also companies that sell dried specimens for you to prepare. Let me know if you are interested and I might be able to help you find sources for other specimens.
Your video on relaxing and mounting butterflies is extremely educational. This is my first time trying to relax and mount a butterfly. Is the glassine paper you’re using similar to waxed paper and are the pins you’re using the same pins used for sewing?
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, thanks. Wax paper is slippery and won't work as well for holding the wings. You can get glassine from BioQuip which is a good source for all other entomological supplies. Similar thin paper may be available at craft stores. The mounting pins through the insect are special insect pins. The glassine holding pins are regular sewing pins.
I have a butterfly to pin, I was wondering if it would be okay to use baking paper instead of the material you use? It will be for a one time butterfly spreading so I wouldn't want to order anything specific. Thanks for the detailed process!!! I'm looking forward to trying it out! :)
I think that would work just fine. As long as you can see where the top wings line up with the bottom wings so you can get them symmetrical. What type of butterfly are you pinning?
So i have a luna moth that i want to mount and make a shadow box for, would this also work for moths or would i use a different way?
The procedure for a luna moth would be the same. The scales on their wings are much more fragile so you need to be very careful about touching the wings or moving anything across them. This will leave a mark that can't be repaired. The colors on moth wings will fade quickly if exposed to light so hang your frame in a hallway or somewhere that light is dim.
This might be silly question 🤔 but you said it can take a few days or week to dry once it's pinned but because it was in moisture and you out a bit of water inside there's no chance it would become moldy??? Also if your not ready to mount them and want to keep them stored is it safe for just keep them in the paper in a box? Or like a zip lock bag? Would it create mold or get weird? What's a good way to store them prior to being ready to mount them? 😳
They are so beautiful! Thanks for taking the time to make this video!
With your very long glass headed pins you would be much better using a setting needle, just mount a pin shank into a short dowel, it gives you a much better reach over the long pins you use. I am sure you came to the correct conclusion over the sub species you have just set, but you would think the breeder would just write the origin on the envelope. Many thanks for posting this, it will be very helpful to a lot of new entomologists !
Wow. What a master and fabulous teacher 👏 😍
Thank you for the kind words. I've been teaching professionally for 27 years and pinning butterflies for over 50 years.
@@insectsafari it definitely shows and it is so fabulous to watch you work. I was able to learn so much from your technique 🥰🦋
@@ashes_menagerie I've been side tracked by moving and the pandemic but I will be making more videos in the future.
@@insectsafari looking forward to them 😁
Very beautiful, and truly educating. Thank you. Wish me luck on pinning!
Thanks, I'm glad you found it informative. It may seem difficult at first but you will quickly develop the skill with practice. I still make mistakes sometimes and some days I just seem to struggle with it so don't be discouraged.
Thank you
Watching this to figure out how to preserve a Deaths Head Hawkmoth I found dead on the side walk (yeah I know, I couldn't believe my eyes at first either) and now I got a brand new, cool pandemic project to do! Thanks a bunch!
That's exciting, What species is it? Are you in Asia or Europe/Africa?
Thank you this is amazing, haven't been able to find a good pinning video. Im just starting out so working with small moths is difficult, where do you suggest getting ethically sourced butterflies/moths? Also what do you use for the pinning board, looks like wood to me but i can't tell. How do you keep your hands steady and not afraid of breaking them?
It just takes practice and patience to get good at pinning. Small moths are particularly difficult. Keep practicing and don't give up! Practice on the cheap stuff. I get all my pinning boards and supplies from BioQuip in California. I have used several sources for purchasing specimens:
www.thebutterflycompany.com/
www.bioquipbugs.com/
bicbugs.com/shop/
iannibutterfly2.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=26
I'm still learning to pin butterflies and this has helped me a lot, thank you so much!
I'm glad to hear it was useful. Keep practicing and you will continue to gain skill. I'm still learning all the time.
I thought i knew what I was doing, but this has a lot tips that aren't always obvious. Whether your a newbie or just looking for great instructions, this is the video to watch.
Thanks so much for sharing! Great quality video 😊
I'm happy that you enjoyed the video. I will be posting more pinning videos in the future.
Hi. Have a question or two about the relaxing process. Do you keep the specimens at room temp and I still cannot get my specimens to soften up, even after injecting the thorax with water. I leave then soften for 1-2 days. Any suggestions? Thank yoiu.
This is super helpful! I was afraid to start mounting butterflies in fear that it'd be extremely difficult but this explanation is very clear and helps a lot. :)
I'm glad you found it useful. It does take some practice but you'll get the hang of it. There are other ways to hold the wings in place, with long strips of paper or pieces of glass. This is the method that works best for me but you can experiment and see what works best for you.
Fantastic videos! I was in NYC and I visited a store called evolution. It sells preserved specimens and things. So fascinating! It might be something I'd be interested in doing myself, where do you get your specimens from?
+Scott Campbell
I have heard great things about that store over the years but have never had the opportunity to visit it.
Did you make this wood block or do you recommend one to purchase... I'm sure the depth of the carved out piece is important right? Thank You, this is very helpful
You could make one, some people do. I sometimes make custom spread boards out of styrofoam for special mounts. It's worth it to buy an adjustable one. They work very well. I recommend BioQuip in California USA. www.bioquip.com/Search/DispProduct.asp?pid=1024C
Don't you need like something to prevent mold? (Moth Crystals and more)
If they are kept dry they shouldn't get mold. Fumigants like moth crystals prevent tiny beetles and other insects from damaging the specimens. I prefer Vapona which is less smelly than moth crystals.
I was recently looking up pictures of butterflies and was gobsmacked at how thickly they can cover trees and swarm. I never really think about that because it's not like they sting or anything.
You were probably looking at migrating monarchs. I've seen groups of them in Minnesota on their way to Mexico and in California where another group overwinters.
This vid is so helpful and really made it easy to understand! Do you buy the butterflies or is there another way of getting them? I know it’s kind of a stupid question but I’m very interested in this and really would like to start doing it!
Not a stupid question at all. Some of the specimens I catch or raise myself. I trade with other collectors and some are gifts. I do buy specimens that are impossible for me to collect. The butterflies in this video are protected from collecting but are captive raised to sell to collectors.
Hi, great video! I was wondering how you store the spreaded ones while waiting for them to dry, do the pests not get to them if we leave them out in the open?
I've never had any problem with leaving them out for a few days. It's possible that they could be infested that way.
@@insectsafari I see. Thanks!
Hey I just found a dead butterfly outside last week and I kept the butterfly to hopefully put it in a frame, but I realized it smells bad is that going to go away eventually? 😅
This video was so helpful and lovely! My best friend just got me a morpho menelaus butterfly but it's wings are closed so I want to open them and put me in a shadow box
What is the glasseine (spelling?) paper made from? Could I use wax paper for the same purpose? Thank-you for your video! Extremely informative and easy to follow!
Also, what type of glue are you using? Thank you!
Glassine is a translucent paper that butterfly envelopes are made from. You can get pads of glassine sheets from BioQuip, located in California USA www.bioquip.com/
I suppose you could use wax paper, but it's surface is slippery and probably wouldn't hold the wings down well.
I prefer clear, water-based glue. Elmer's is one brand and there are others. Regular white glue is good but I like that I can see through the clear glue to more accurately mate the parts when reattaching legs and antennae.
Awesome! Thank-you so much for the information, I appreciate it!
Wow how beautiful. I order a few moths can't wait to play around with them
Get the best equipment you can afford, pins, spreading board, tweezers etc. and be patient with yourself. It may take some practice but you will get better at it with experience. Start with less expensive or damaged specimens to work out the process. Good luck and let me know if you need any advice.
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed watching this video. I am currently trying to mount my own butterfly's but had a hard time finding detailed instructions on how to rehydrate, mount etc.
You're instructions really helped me allot, thank you.
I am curious about the material you're board is made from, my board is made of Styrofoam. Is one better than the other or is it a preference kind of thing? And if you have any more tips or tricks please do share if you can.
And my sincere apologies for my poor English grammar and mistakes.
Thank u for this video, your tips were very helpful.
Do you have to inject vs just allowing humidity to absorb, or does that take way longer? I am looking at trying this.
It depends on the size and freshness of the specimen. A large butterfly that it very dry may take so long to hydrate that it could get moldy. I prefer injection for all but the smallest dry specimens. You want the muscles soft so that you can position the wings without damaging them and injection works fast to do this. Some people use mold inhibitors when hydrating and that's not a bad idea. It's important to prevent the wings from becoming wet as this can stain them.
This is wonderful! If I found a butterfly specimen in nature and want to mount it, do I need to do any other steps first to preserve it? I read an article they can get moldy and to use pine-sol or Lysol?? I would hate to damage the butterfly in any way. Thank you! 🦋
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, thanks! If the specimen is fresh and flexible and you have the supplies to mount it right away then you don't need to worry. If the specimen is dry then it won't get moldy until you re-hydrate it. If you leave it in a relaxing chamber too long it can get moldy. That's why some people use disinfectants in the relaxing chamber. I use plain water because I never leave the specimen to relax for long enough to get moldy. Injecting water into the thorax relaxes the specimen very quickly so it will dry out once mounted and not get mold. It does take a little practice so don't be discouraged if your first attempt is less than satisfactory.
@@insectsafari awesome, thank you so much for all of your help + insights!
I’m a little late to the party but can I ask you if your using warm, cool are room temp water. Does it matter? Ty. Great vid”
I don't think it matters what the temperature is. I know some people prefer hot water and I suppose it speeds up the process a little, but what's the rush?
thank you for this, I'm leaning and this was so helpful
I'm happy that you found it helpful. Keep practicing and you will soon be an expert!
Thank you 😊
Would love to try this! Seems challenging, but extremely fun.
I enjoy it. Don't be discouraged if you don't get the best results right away. It takes some practice to get the hang of it. Practice with damaged or common specimens before trying something valuable. Even with all I've done, many thousands of specimens, I still screw up sometimes. Some days I'm just not at my best and I'll wait until another day to try again.
Beautiful work! I wanted to ask, what farm did you get your specimens from? I'm working on getting a license to own a birdwing specimen, but I'm having a lot of trouble finding a place to source one
Where do you live? In the US if you buy them from a dealer in the US you don't need a permit. The dealer has obtained the permit for importing them into the country. I get these from dealers in the US.
@@insectsafari I live in Australia, where birdwings are native, so I won't need to get an import permit
@@Beanz305 I remember finding a dealer in Australia years ago but I never ordered anything from them. I suspect that they're still around. Some dealers don't sell Ornithoptera because of the permitting hassles and some won't ship outside their own country. I have seen farming operations in NG selling directly to collectors but then you have to deal with importing issues. While restrictions are a hassle, I appreciate the efforts to protect species.
@@insectsafari Thank you so much for your help! I will try to find that farm. Conservation is what matters most to me
@@Beanz305 To be clear, the Australian dealer was not a breeder. The farms where the butterflies are raised are mostly in Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries in Asia. There may be butterfly farms for specimen collectors in Australia but I haven't heard of any.
Hi, not sure if you read comments still, but I am new to this hobby! I have finally received all my supplies and have started looking into specimens to pin. I'm particularly interested in moths. Do you have any recommendations for sturdier subjects that might be easier to help ease a first timer in? Love the videos!
I always read the comments! Larger specimens are easier to work with when you are learning. Start with common species so you can gain some skills before you try something more expensive. I have several sources for buying specimens in the USA. Where do you live?
Great video's! I could watch them all day !
+karen chiavazzo
Thank you, I'm happy that you are enjoying them.
So what is the board made of is it just normal wood? Wondering because my pins don’t want to go into a wood board
The spreading bpards are usually made of balsa wood. It's very soft wood.
looked up butterfly mount because its a progression for the iron cross exersice but I was pleasantly surprised by what I got
Ha! That's funny. I'm glad you enjoyed your little surprise.
so the wing will just say in that position because of the wax paper and the pins? Couldn’t it just slide back down?
I don't use wax paper because it's slippery. With the pins stuck in very close to the edge and the paper pulled tight across the wing it holds the wing in place. If the specimen is not well-relaxed the wing will sometimes move out of place in which case I replace the paper and use more pins to hold it.
Your videos are great! Thanks. I have a question: where exactly do you put the seringe? since I don't really want to mess up specimens. By the way do more videos of mounting lepidoptera.
Thank you, I'm glad you find the videos helpful. I insert the needle into the thorax from below, just where the abdomen is connected. The goal is to fill the thorax "box" where the wing and leg muscles are located, with water. I keep pushing in water until it comes out. I will be posting more videos. I've been preoccupied with working and settling in after a recent move.
How long does the butterflies wings body take to dry after their wings are spread out? I just found a beautiful butterfly today and I want to frame it. The only imperfection with the butterfly I found today is that one of the attena is broken off.
It depends on how much moisture is in the specimen. Usually about a week, less if the air is very dry.
So interesting and informative. Where do you get the wooden form that you pin them to?
There are several sources for spreading boards. I get them from BioQuip located in California.
Thank you for your quick response and for sharing, moths and butterlies and insects are so interesting and beautiful.
Awesome job! This video makes the whole process so much easier. Do you use a butterfly net to collect butterfly specimens?
I have collected a lot of insects over the years and I do use nets for some of them. It does take some practice to capture butterflies. All the slow or stupid ones are already someone's lunch so I've had a lot more misses than captures.
@@insectsafari I just pinned a tiny blood red glider... Do you think smaller butterflies are harder to pin? Does pinning insects just takes practice?
@@samuelryan4021 Larger butterflies are easier because they are sturdier and easier to manipulate. Small butterfliy's wings are more delicate and need to be handled with extra care. The process needs one's full attention and patience. Of course with enough practice nearly anything can become easy.
Can you use wax paper instead of the fancy paper??
Yes, but it doesn't hold the wings as well because it's slippery.
Hello. i have a question. If i have a fresh dead butterly, i think its fresh though cuz i just found it and like a hour ago it wasnt there.
So, how shoukd i prepare a fresh Butterfly? Just pin ?
Yes, just pin it. I keep fresh specimens in the freezer until I'm ready to prepare them so I don't have to re-hydrate them.
@@insectsafari :D. THANKS!
awesome video, very informative!! i have a couple questions, though. i just got done spreading and pinning a cecropia moth, and i have done absolutely nothing to the body except pin around it-- i did not feel comfortable pinning his body. 1. is it possible to glue him to a display instead of puncturing him? also, 2. where should i keep the specimen while it dries? in a dark place, in direct sunlight, under a lamp? finally, 3. once he's dried and i put him in a display case, is there anything i need to do to prevent him from rotting and smaller bugs from getting in and eating him?
I am curious as what made you uncomfortable about pinning the moth. Were you afraid to damage it?
The benefit of pinning is that you can attach the pin to the display instead of the body. If it's glued you can never remove it without damage. Also, with a pin you can mount it raised above the surface which gives it some visual dimension.
I let specimens dry set out in the room. If it was very humid you could make a drying space with an incandescent light bulb in a box. Avoid direct sunlight as the UV fades the colors.
If it's kept dry it should not decay. I've seen specimens from the 1700's that looked just fine. You do need to watch out for dermestid beetles and psosids which can destroy a specimen. Moth ball or Vapona fumigant will keep pests out of a drawer. If the specimen is in a sealed frame the fumigant will eventually fade. You can put a frame in a freezer for a couple of days to kill pests.
@@insectsafari thank you for the info! i'm just uncomfortable with pinning the moth because as silly as it sounds i think i feel a little love for it lol! it's more of an internal conflict of not wanting to cause harm to something i cared for, i suppose. anyways- so i should put moth balls in the frame to deter these pests?
@@xonatasha I understand that but pinning is the best way to preserve a specimen. I feel a sense of responsibility towards a bug to do the best possible job of preserving it to honor it's life.
If you're planning to frame it and hang it on the wall then you don't want a mothball in the picture. I put a mothball in the frame with the specimen for a day and then take it out before I seal it up to kill any eggs or larvae that might be there as a precaution. There probably aren't any. Keep an eye on it and if you see any dust or damage you can put the whole thing in the freezer to kill the pests.
@@insectsafari awesome, thank you so much. and well put, i'll definitely have to find the guts to pin him so i can properly honor him. that way if i ever have to move him, i can, like you said! again, thanks for the advice :)
2021 jan 31at late night 2:13 watching your videos thanks so much for detail video. can you plz suggest me any book on this insects preserving etc.
I have seen brief and simple references to preparation techniques but nothing published with any great detail. This is one of the reasons I decided to make videos to share what I have learned over the years.
I appreciate your hard work and your detailed videos. Thanks a lot for such replying. I wasn't expecting replies soon bcz this video is 5 years old i think. May God bless you and your family.❤️From 🇵🇰
I saw a video someone put a couple drops of pine sol on the wet paper towel so mold doesn’t create then placed the butterfly on top of the paper towel. And left the butterfly inside the Tupperware for no more than 3 days. After the wings were able to move etc. is wax paper ok to use or tracing paper to hold the wings down? Also does it matter what size pins you use ?
It's not a bad idea to use something to prevent mold in the relaxing chamber but I don't since I usually inject the specimen with water, it's never in there long enough to get moldy. Wax paper is a bit slippery but tracing paper will work fine. The size of the pin that goes through the specimen should not be too large relative to the size of the thorax to prevent damage to the specimen. If the pin is too small it will not hold the specimen well in the box.
insectsafari thank you so much for replying back!
After pinning the specimen, is it OK to let them dry in open air for a few days? Or is there a better method? Then, are the special types of frames/cases to get to display it, or will anything work?
Yes, I just set them up on a shelf and they usually are dry in a few days.
Some people use a drying cabinet which is a closed box with a light bulb inside to warm and dry the air.
I keep specimens in professional insect museum drawers but they can be mounted for display in any frame deep enough to accommodate their body.
Special insect frames and boxes are available from BioQuip.
It's important to seal the back of the frame as tightly as possible to prevent pests from getting in and destroying the specimen. I usually seal the edges with silicone rubber.
Thanks for the reply
Question what’s the name of the wood table your using? Dose it even have a name and where can I find one ?
So once they’re dried you don’t have to spray them with anything to prevent decay you just put them in the frame?
Yes, they will remain intact indefinitely as long as they are protected from moisture and insect pests. I have seen specimens in museums that were collected in the 1700's in very good condition and aome from the 1800's that could be mistaken for modern examples. I have two 19th century moths in my collection and some from the 20's, 40's and 50's.
The thing in which you are pinning the butterfly,is it wood,if so can we use thermocol or foam?
Yes, I use it sometimes when pinning large moths or orthopterans with their wings open. th-cam.com/video/5bpkXIn3do8/w-d-xo.html
would you be able to place the whole board with butterfly’s in place in a box of silica gel to speed up the drying?
You could do that. If you live in a humid environment it could be especially useful. I've seen illustrations in books of "drying boxes" for that purpose. They had just an incandescent light bulb inside to provide a little heat. I've used a regular electric oven set on "warm" but that can be risky.
i was watching this at night so its very dark in my room and i literally collected a leafhopper of some kind right on my screen so that was funny
Do you have a suggestion for a kit to buy to start mounting? My 17 yo thinks this is wonderful. Loved the video!...;)
I get all my supplies from BIoQuip in California. They do have a kit package with everything needed but I would instead buy the components separately to upgrade to better quality items. An assortment of pins, an adjustable spreading board, a pad of glassine sheets, fine curved tweezers and a storage box should be enough to get him started. bioquipinc.com/catalog/?gclid=CjwKCAjwwab7BRBAEiwAapqpTFHEYjmcv9oKRp1mwOCstjXQVqV5Kbae2i0hI3jW_PwifXSoudeGdhoCgLEQAvD_BwE
Thank you!!!
do you have to inject the water? also sorry for the questions but do you have any recommended stores for buying the pinning equipment & sourcing butterflies? I'm not sure what they individual equipment pieces are called and how many to get haha.. Anyways thanks!!!
this video was insanely educational and I find it so inspiring!! thank you so much for this ☺️🖤
I'm glad that you find the video useful. Thanks. You don't have to inject water to relax a specimen but it helps it to take less time to be ready to pin. I get all of my equipment ans supplies from a company in California called BioQuip. I have purchased insects from several sources over the years. Some sellers have restrictions on where they will ship specimens because of import regulations. I will put a list together for you. Where do you live?
when you have the butterflies in the container to get moist do you keep them in the fridge or just out on the counter
If they take a while to relax I might but them in the fridge to prevent mold. It usually only takes a day so I just leave it at room temperature.
@@insectsafari thank you!
Do you have to do the syringe part or can you just let them sit in the tub with the water for awhile longer?
You don't need to inject water into the thorax, the specimen will soften in the humid environment. Just watch for mold which can grow quickly. Don't leave them in the relaxing container longer than needed.
How do you tell when a butterfly is dry? Is the process the same for moths?
I usually touch the abdomen with a pin and it it doesn't flex the specimen is dry enough, same for moths.
Hello Insectsafari :),
First of all, thank you so much for your video. It's amazing :)
Secondly, I'm Huu from VietNam, I'm so interested in animal, especialy, Butterfly. Here, we have alot of kind of Butterfly. For me, I'm having more than 20 cocoons of Attacus atlas. recently, there are two of them came out. one male, one female, they are alive, fly around my room now :). They're so beautiful, you know, but they will die soon. I googled alot just to find a way to mount them, store them over the time. Unfortunately, i have not seen any full detail video. Your video is the best i have ever.
I have alot of question and i hope you don't mind and help me with this. I really need your help. It would be amazing if i can be your friend on Facebook, Skype that I can learn things from you and keep watching your video, document.
1. I don't know how to kill Butterflies when they're alive without damaging them. my Moths are too big and strong you know
2. I saw in your video, when you inject water into butterfly when relaxing them. What kind of that water? is pure and hot water or you mixed water with something ? and what time should we inject that water into a butterfly boddy? is it the middle time ?
3. How long does it take for the relaxing process. ( 20 hours or 24 hours)
4. After pinning a butterfly down on the wood to keep it in position. Is there anymore i need to do? do i need to put the specimen under the sunshine ? and how long should a let it being pinning on the wood ?
5. Alot people tell me that i need to use Formaldehyde solution for keeping them > Is it true. if that, how much Formal should i user for a Moths. and just you pure Formal or mix them with water?
One more time again/ Thank you so much, i will waite for your answer :)
I apologize for not responding to your comment earlier, for some reason I am just seeing it now.
1) The most humane way is to freeze them. If you can't, the next best way is to inject the head with alcohol . This kills them very quickly.
2) Just plain water will relax the muscles in the thorax.
3) The length of time it takes depends of=n how big and how dry the insect is. Usually a day or two.
4) It's best to put the pinned specimen somewhere that is warm and dry. If you are in a damp climate this will be more important. Some collectors use a drying cabinet which is a box with a light bulb inside.
5) I don't use formal for anything, it's very toxic. They are probably using it to keep insect pests from eating the specimens. I use Vapona in my storage boxes to protect them from being damaged.
Please ask if you have more questions and I will hopefully see it right away!
do you need to stuff for example a sphinx ligustris body ?
No, I haven't had to do that. They can sometimes be greasy from fats in the body. See one of my videos about using acetone to remove it
Thank you for showing how to do this.
I'm glad you found it helpful and interesting.
What type of glue do you use to attach the legs?
I got a luna moth and I need to do all this to it and I’ve done a lot of research the only thing I’m kinda confused about is how do I frame them?? Is it a specific frame? I’m not sure what to even ask I just don’t know how I should be framing them. My intent is to hang them on my wall
Not an expert here, but I’ve seen people use shadow boxes which are deeper and allow for more space. Another option would be a riker mount.
The "shadow box" is the way to go. Look for them at art and craft supply shops. They may be available at on-line shops. I usually use foam core for the back and use spray adhesive to cover it with nice acid-free art paper. I use wire cutters to clip the sharp tip of the pin and put a dab of glue in the pin hole the specimen is set in. I then clip the top of the pin so it will fit in the box and not show so much. A moth like a luna will fade quickly in bright light so hang it in hallway or darker space. If you have any questions please ask. Good luck and let me know how it goes. I will make a video about how to do this at some point.
insectsafari thank you so much for the help! I wanted to hang it in my room which is pretty dark and it would be away from natural sunlight and windows but there are some decorative color LED lights in there. would that damage it in any way or should it be fine? And also Whats your favorite color? Not an important question I just want to know :)
@@bearriver6952 LEDs should hurt it at all. I'm not sure that I have a favorite color. I like bright flowers in the garden and intense colors in bugs. I want my retinas to strain. I am fond of the blue on black Eunica butterflies.
insectsafari that’s cool my favorite color is any obnoxious bright green you can think of. I dyed my hair lime green because I like it so much haha
Where can I source dead butterflies? I live in the UK and there aren’t very many interesting big butterflies around that I could find. Where do you buy yours?
It's usually best to order specimens from inside your own country to avoid importation issues. I found this supplier in the UK. I have not purchased from them myself. You can also find specimens for sale on EBay.
@@insectsafari what supplier did you find?
@@eofrin1328 Sorry, I forgot to post the link!
www.insectsuk.co.uk/home
@@insectsafari thank you!!
Hi, I would ask you what kind of glassine you using (what grammage) and where can I buy this kind of "book" of glassine which you use in video?
I get it from a company called BioQuip located in California USA. I don't know of other sources for it. You might be able to find similar paper at an art supply store.
I just watched the whole video, and I'm intrigued. This looks a bit hard, but amazing and I would like to try this myself.
I have two questions though. How do I know if the butterfly is dried properly after mounting it? I suppose I could just wait a few days, but I don't want to ruin the butterflies by taking off the paper and pins too early.
I'm from Holland (Europe), and I don't really know where I can get/order a reliable mounting board. Do you maybe know where I could get one?
Thank you so much for making video's, I'm sure this video will help me a lot!
Following for answers !
En je kunt een prepareer beginner set kopen bij nature-deco.nl, ik krijg de mijne binnenkort binnen. Ze zijn 40 euro en zit ook een selectie aan gedroogde vlinder enzo bij. :)
@@VelvetPsycho
Cool!! Ik zal ernaar kijken, heel erg bedankt!:)
I'm sorry it took so long to reply. I get all my supplies from a company called BioQuip in California, USA. I think they do ship outside the US.
I have at times removed the pins too early and the specimen lost it's shape and I had to re-pin it. I usually touch the abdomen with a pin and if it's stiff the specimen is dry.
@@insectsafari Thanks for your reply! It's okay, we get busy haha:)
I'll check it out! Thanks again for making video's:)
Do you perse need a syringe? And is the tapwater hot or cold?
You can relax specimens without a syringe but it takes longer and there is more chance for the specimen to get wet or moldy. If injecting I use warm water but it doesn't matter that much.
Do you know where i can find the wood you initially mounted the butterflies on while waiting for them to dry?
The spreading board is made out of Balsa wood. You can get them at BioQuip in California USA. There are other sources in other parts of the world I'm sure.
They are so beautiful
It never gets old to see such things up close. I have great respect for their existence.
I always thoroughly enjoy your videos (o: Thanks so much for sharing x
I'm glad you like them, thanks. I'll be making more like this soon.
What pins do you recomend and how do I get that wooden thing? And what type of paper is that wax paper?
There are several brands of insect pins and spreading boards are available from biological supply companies. The pins are of a standard length and come in a variety of thicknesses. Sizes 1 and 3 are the best size for most purposes. The spreading boards also come in a variety of widths and some are adjustable, which I recommend. In the USA I get all of my supplies from BioQuip located in California. The paper is called glassine and comes in pads of sheets of different sizes. Also available from BioQuip. www.bioquip.com/Search/WebCatalog.asp?prodtype=1
Where did you get your pin board? And do you use regular sewing needles to pin them?
I get entomology equipment from BioQuip in California. The pins used to mount the specimens are special insect pins. Those used to hold the glassine or prop the specimens are regular large sewing pins that I get from local stores.
Can you please tell me why my butterflies got mould though I keep them dried. What kinds of chemicals should stop the mould?
I just noticed that I did not respond to your comment.
There must be some humidity for mold to grow so they were not kept dry enough. You can remove the mold with a fine paint brush and then soak them in acetone to kill the mold. It won't hurt the specimen. Use a wide jar, if the specimen is small enough or a metal pie tin covered with foil for larger specimens. Leave them soaking for a day or so, upside down with the pin still attached. Use glassene paper to flatten the wings, like when you pin them, when you take them out of the acetone.
See this video: th-cam.com/video/fQB8zXn0bE0/w-d-xo.html
When finished, store the specimens in a good insect box or drawer to keep humidity out.
thanks!!!
Great video! Can you use parchment paper?
You can use any kind of paper to hold the wings but the more transparent it is yhe easier it is to see the position of the wings.
Where can I get butterflies?
this is so helpful!
I'm glad you found it informative. I'm happy to help if you have any questions.