Transcript
Transcript
To have a nice more of a modified
collection like this one, we have to
start by relaxing your specimen. For that
you will need a relaxing. Your
relaxing can be glass or plastic.
Inside place a piece of wet cotton put
your specimen inside for 24 to 48 hours.
After that period of time, your insect
will be ready for pin amount. Now we are
ready to start pinning our butterfly or
moth. What you need is your spreading
boards, there's two types of those: the
fixed one and the adjustable one. I
prefer to use the adjustable one. You
will also need some pins (again number
two or three is what we recommend you
will need), your pinion block, your forceps,
works paper that I've already
pre-cut here for our demonstration, and
some scissors. And with that we're ready to
step in pin our moth. For the
demonstration we'll be using the
adjustable spreading board, so grab your
insect. Remember that always a pin goes
through the second thoracic segment so
carefully put the pin through that
segment. Have your pinion block next to
you and push the insect through the pin.
Place your insect next to the fix side
of this adjustable ball and press. You
may need to use your forceps to do that.
In the meantime carefully lift the wing
and close the adjustable side and close
more. Some butterflies have names on the
wings and the vein that runs through the
edge of the first pair of wings, it's very
strong so that's when where you want to
pull carefully the wings from.
Don't be afraid to break it, but pull
carefully so pull slowly - oh that was
beautiful the first pair of wings. The
base or the first whirlwinds have to be
perpendicular to the length of the body
of the insect and the second pair of
wings have to go underneath the first one.
Have your wax paper ready and use extra
pins to hold that.
We follow the same procedure for the
other side for the other pair of wings. Get
them from the strong being, pull it
the second pair underneath - beautiful -
your wax paper underneath. Painted sign
if you have several moths or butterflies.
Start from the top and then you can walk
your way through the bottom. Leave your
butterfly on the spreading board for at
least 48 hours before you move your
specimen to your collection box.
Oregon State University entomologist Silvia Rondon shows how to pin butterflies and moths for an insect collection.
Learn equipment and process for relaxing and positioning your insects when pinning.
This piece is part of the collection
Collecting and Preserving Insects
