How to make a specimen of a butterfly with its wings open diagonally
As the next work of 3D zotrope using drone beetles (link), I created a 3D zoetrope using butterfly.
I used specimens of a black-veined white (Aporia crataegi).
I purchased ten specimens for 400 yen at Insect Fair. I prepared poses like flapping motion frame-by-frame.
The general method of making a butterfly specimen is introduced on YouTube (for example, here). Procedure is basically like the following steps.
Step 1: Cover the specimen from the head to abdomen with wet tissue and leave it covered for 1 to 3 days.Step 2: Prick the chest of the specimen several times with a needle to destroy the solidified muscles.Step 3: Put a needle in the chest, open the wings on the setting block and fix it with the setting tape.Step 4: Leave it for 3-4 weeks to complete.
In this post, I will introduce how to make a butterfly specimen with its wings open diagonally.
Generally, we use setting boards for making butterfly specimen. Typically the board is designed horizontally, and some of them are slightly V-shaped.
However, if you want to make a strong V-shape as shown in this picture, you will have difficulty finding the right setting board.
Although there was an option cutting wood and making a self-made setting board, I made a simple and cheap setting board with a cardboard.
Place two cardboard sheets with small gap in between and connect them with duct tape. Put a sponge on the gap in order to fix the specimen of the butterfly with a needle.
Place a butterfly specimen that has finished Step 2 and fix it using setting tape, sponge and needles.
Once fixed, fold the cardboard at the desired angle and fix it with duct tape.
Leave for 3-4 weeks to complete.
Note
・Needle:
I used the Shiga Insect Pins with stainless solid head No. 3. The number is the size of the needle, and the larger the number, the thicker it becomes. It seems that the number 3 to 4 is good for specimen preparation of medium-large butterfly (Link to a Japanese shop).
・Setting tape:
I used a cheap paper for paper flower bought at 100-yen shop to hold the butterfly wings, but in fact, it is better to use the setting tape to keep the scale with better conditions.
Later I bought the setting tape from Roppon-Ashi Entomological Books. The tape was cheap and useful.