Entomology

[AmeraucanaHank]

I am currently rehydrating a dried butterfly it will take a while for it to be done though.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Ready to learn?!? @Kiki,@StinkyAcres, @BigBlueHen53, @BenlynFarm, @OneHappyDuckie, @hirundinidae, @All4Eggz, @Idaho Chicken Bungalow, @Chikyboy, and @Sussex19 Here we go!
1. Pop your insect in the freezer for a few minutes, make sure it's died before you start pinning! If you found it died then look at the video I posted above.
2. Lay your butterfly, moth or skipper's body on your furrow on the mounting block(Styrofoam covered in parchment or wax paper).
3. Then stick a pin right in the middle of the thorax like so...

4. Then with forceps or a pencil also works fine too. Move the wings so they are symmetrical with each other, it's easiest to move the wing on the topst most part of the butterflies wing there is a hard line that is easy to move without damaging the wing here is a couple pictures to help:

(Where the easy to move part is)

(with the forceps)

(with a pencil)
5. Next with your little pieces of parchment paper put it on the symmetrical wings to hold it down with pins:

Now you wait about a week for it to dry in that position then your done! And you can proudly put entomologist in your tags!

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! stay tuned for more future posts!


P.s: My butterfly I found surprisingly in a great position most are going to be a bit harder. But my first butterflies weren't great at all! So if you like it and want to get good at it keep on trying!
AmeraucanaHank

 

[Cold-Blood]

Not pinned, too nice for that, but...

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Not pinned, too nice for that, but...View attachment 3220770

Wow, at first I didn't know what it was! I love praying mantises!

 

[Cold-Blood]

This one I'm going to set in resin.

 

[Fwoof]

Wow, at first I didn't know what it was! I love praying mantises!

Me too! I found a GIANT white one in my backyard on my peas about a year ago!

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

This one I'm going to set in resin.View attachment 3220779

Cool. What does set in resin mean?

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Me too! I found a GIANT white one in my backyard on my peas about a year ago!

Wow! That's big!

 

[Fwoof]

Wow! That's big!

I know, right? I was so shocked when I saw it while watering one day!
It was probably a female because I found an egg sack on the peas after she passed away one day.

 

[Cold-Blood]

Cool. What does set in resin mean?

Epoxy resin. It's two liquids you pour together. When mixed, a chemical reaction takes place, and it becomes like glass. Simply put, you pour a layer of resin down in a mould, set the insects on top of the first layer, let it harden some, pour a second layer to hold wings/antennae/legs, then let that harden some, then pour the lay layer to seal it. End result is the insect encased in a glass like rectangular prism/ whatever shaped mould you put it into.