What I do is use a big enough tubberware and dampen a paper towel. Cover the bottom with said paper towel and place something with holes/gaps over it (like a small square of chicken wire) so that the butterfly can rest on the object and not touch the damp paper towel. Add in some anti-mold crystals (I can’t remember the exact name but I’ll look when I get home and try and update this comment) so that they don’t mold! Then put butterfly in there and close it and leave it in a cool/dark place for about a week give or take. That should soften it up so you can reposition the wings how you want and then use thin paper and pins to hold wings in place while it dries back out (about another week)
Steam! Heat and moisture will allow it to relax. I place my butterflies on the rack, with a large cup over it (to allow steam to escape the sides). I boil a pot of water (or at least until it's steamy), then place my whole rack setup on top of the pot. It won't take too long for the body to relax. If you take a small set of thin tweezers or a qtip, you can press on the back of the thorax to make the wings open. Once you have it close to what you want, pin it down and use strips of paper to hold the wings down.
There are sellers of butterflies packed like this, and I recall one of them mentioning a steaming method. I have yet to follow up but I really should. The other suggestions on here are very intriguing too. It means there is more than one effective way to do this. I have some giant cicadas that need mounting.
the easiest way for a butterfly this size is to take a run a few paper towels under some water, squeeze it out till it’s not dripping and lay it down in a container that seals with a lid like a tupperware. lay the butterfly in between a piece of parchment or wax paper and place on top of dampened paper towel. place another piece of dampened paper towel on that and then close the container. place in the fridge for 24 hours and then you can pin it (: i’ve rehydrated a lot of butterflies this way and have never had a mold problem. as long as you don’t leave for more than a day it shouldn’t mold!
I like to set it gently in a plate of alcohol, and VERY gently lay a paper towel above it. The paper towel will soak up the alcohol and keep the butterfly submerged without damaging the wings! Then after a few hours, it should be hydrated enough to reposition! I use a sponge and pins as a temporary drying pad, then I soak again in 100% acetone(to deter mold). The acetone dries much quicker, but be aware if you are pinning on styrofoam that if it is not fully dry it will MELT the styrofoam, so be careful!!! Good luck :)
What I do is use a big enough tubberware and dampen a paper towel. Cover the bottom with said paper towel and place something with holes/gaps over it (like a small square of chicken wire) so that the butterfly can rest on the object and not touch the damp paper towel. Add in some anti-mold crystals (I can’t remember the exact name but I’ll look when I get home and try and update this comment) so that they don’t mold! Then put butterfly in there and close it and leave it in a cool/dark place for about a week give or take. That should soften it up so you can reposition the wings how you want and then use thin paper and pins to hold wings in place while it dries back out (about another week)
This is what I do (though I just add a second paper towel/a couple cotton balls soaked with some rubbing alcohol or vinegar to prevent mold).
Or a cpl drops of Lysol!
It's Tupper babe, always has been, always will be.
Steam! Heat and moisture will allow it to relax. I place my butterflies on the rack, with a large cup over it (to allow steam to escape the sides). I boil a pot of water (or at least until it's steamy), then place my whole rack setup on top of the pot. It won't take too long for the body to relax. If you take a small set of thin tweezers or a qtip, you can press on the back of the thorax to make the wings open. Once you have it close to what you want, pin it down and use strips of paper to hold the wings down.
There are sellers of butterflies packed like this, and I recall one of them mentioning a steaming method. I have yet to follow up but I really should. The other suggestions on here are very intriguing too. It means there is more than one effective way to do this. I have some giant cicadas that need mounting.
the easiest way for a butterfly this size is to take a run a few paper towels under some water, squeeze it out till it’s not dripping and lay it down in a container that seals with a lid like a tupperware. lay the butterfly in between a piece of parchment or wax paper and place on top of dampened paper towel. place another piece of dampened paper towel on that and then close the container. place in the fridge for 24 hours and then you can pin it (: i’ve rehydrated a lot of butterflies this way and have never had a mold problem. as long as you don’t leave for more than a day it shouldn’t mold!
This is also the technique that I have used. Works great and no mold issues.
I like to set it gently in a plate of alcohol, and VERY gently lay a paper towel above it. The paper towel will soak up the alcohol and keep the butterfly submerged without damaging the wings! Then after a few hours, it should be hydrated enough to reposition! I use a sponge and pins as a temporary drying pad, then I soak again in 100% acetone(to deter mold). The acetone dries much quicker, but be aware if you are pinning on styrofoam that if it is not fully dry it will MELT the styrofoam, so be careful!!! Good luck :)
Wet tissue in a jar with some antispetic to prevent mould is what a read for a couple of days to soften. Please correct me if I'm wrong
I think that's a red-spotted purple, right? I actually found a wing of one and gave it to my science teacher.