An Introduction to Butterfly Preservation

From our Field Guide From a Taxidermist in Training Series,
our next episode; Butterfly Preservation
by Elise Hanson

 
 

Alessandra and I sat down recently to practice pinning some exquisite new specimens we will be selling in the shop soon, and I forgot how much I love the process of spreading butterflies! It honestly feels like magic when you sit down and begin prepping your specimen- like when would you ever even hold a butterfly?? It is a solidifying example of what we believe here at Oracle- that science is magic. That being said, I’m excited to share with you some basic tips Alessandra has taught me about setting butterflies. 


  1. Flex or relax all limbs before opening to pin! This step naturally allows the specimen to properly open before setting, that way you can minimize chances of damaging the butterfly’s delicate wings and limbs. With very dry hands, softly bend the wing joints slightly outward and open. Do this several times before you prepare to pin it onto your mounting board.

  2. Always, always hydrate your specimen. We have a hydration chamber here in the studio that houses multiple specimens at a time that will eventually be posed in assemblages, frames, and vials. But before you can pin anything, you must hydrate your specimen! All you need is a plastic box with a lid, paper towels, and rubbing alcohol! Simply drizzle a liberal amount of alcohol onto a small bundle of torn paper towels (we like to tear the towel into squares and stack them) and set it in the corner of your hydration chamber. Add your specimens around the paper towel bundle and let it sit for several days. The alcohol hydrates the joints of the butterfly and helps prevent breakage (to a degree). 

  1. X Marks the Attena. A very useful tip I picked up from Alessandra when I started was to use enamel pins to cross (or to make an X) above and around each antenna when pinning the specimen down. Again, it seems that tension is a pinner’s best friend! This sets the antenna so they do not move and it pronounces the separate angles of each antenna as they dry.

  1. Use a variety of different gauge wire pins. The anchor pin that holds the specimen to the mounting board should be thin, thus not to split the abdomen off of the specimen. Thicker gauge pins (such as label pins) can help create additional tension around the paper strips that hold your butterfly to the mounting board, thus allowing more flexibility with your butterfly’s pose. 

  1. Save the broken bits! If a wing should become displaced while pinning, do not fret! You should still recover the wing by pinning it separately off to the side of your specimen (as seen in the above picture), and worry about it after you are finished working on your specimen. Depending on the damage, you might be able to reattach the wing with glue once the specimen dries into its pose completely. Moral of the story, don’t juggle multiple components at the same time- all it does is make you unfocused on the incredibly delicate work at hand. 

    Oracle Bug Club 

Did you know that we have a bug club? It makes pinning specimens extremely easy and enjoyable when you have the right tools and in-depth instruction guides. I highly suggest joining our monthly subscription if you are a lover of all things invertebrate! ;) We also sell some products a la carte on our website.

  • Mickey Alice Kwapis Specimen Kits 

A dear friend of the shop, Mickey Alice is always inspiring us! She made these brilliant pinning kits you can order from her website, as well as other detailed, beautifully photographed instructions ranging from insect pinning to beginner’s taxidermy!



For additional inspiration, check out these artists who use invertebrate specimens in their own incredible bodies of work!