How to Preserve, Pin, & Display Butterflies or Moths

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Entomologist Samuel Ramsey, PhD, explains how to preserve and display dead butterflies

Co-authored by Samuel Ramsey, PhD and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: February 25, 2026 Fact Checked

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Pinning a Butterfly

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Displaying Your Butterfly

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Preserving in Resin

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Things You'll Need

Butterflies are beautiful to look at, and collectors enjoy preserving multiple species to admire their wing patterns. If you’ve found a dead butterfly or captured one that you want to save, preserving them is pretty easy! We spoke to entomologist Samuel Ramsey, PhD, to teach you the best ways to pin and display preserved butterflies. When you’re finished, you’ll have a beautiful display that can last a lifetime!

How do you preserve a dead butterfly?

Entomologist Samuel Ramsey, PhD, says there is very little that needs to be done to preserve insects like butterflies because their exoskeleton protects them from decay. However, here are the steps you do want to take to make a butterfly specimen last:

Place the specimen in paper towels dampened with water and alcohol to relax it.
Stick a mounting pin through the butterfly’s thorax.
Place the butterfly in the center of a spreading board.
Use forceps to carefully move the wings into your preferred position.
Pin wax paper on top of the wings to hold them in place.
Let the butterfly dry completely before removing it from the spreader board.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Pin a Butterfly

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Moisten your butterfly with rubbing alcohol and water to rehydrate it. When butterflies die, their bodies become very brittle and will break apart easily unless they’re relaxed (or rehydrated). Wet a paper towel with equal parts water and rubbing alcohol. Squeeze out the excess liquid, then place the paper towel in the bottom of a tight-sealing container. Lay a mesh screen over it and place the butterfly on top. Then, dome another wet paper towel over the butterfly, ensuring that it doesn’t sit on the specimen directly. Close the lid tightly, then let it sit for up to a week.^{[1]
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- The moisture from the paper towels will create humidity inside the closed container, rehydrating your specimen. The alcohol will prevent mold from forming.
- Be very careful when handling the butterfly, as it will be very fragile.
- Check on the butterfly’s pliability every 24 hours. When the antennae and wings can be easily moved, your specimen is ready to be pinned. Larger butterflies will take longer to rehydrate.
- You don’t actually need to “preserve” the butterfly itself. “Because the butterfly’s skeleton is on the outside of their body, it preserves their entire form perfectly. So, there’s very little that needs to be done to preserve an insect,” explains Dr. Ramsey.^{[2]
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Meet the wikiHow Expert

Samuel Ramsey, PhD, is an entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in entomology from Cornell University and a PhD from the University of Maryland.
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Push a mounting pin through the center of the butterfly’s thorax. Once the butterfly is relaxed, take it out of its container and carefully stick an insect mounting pin through the top of the middle of the butterfly’s thorax. Dr. Ramsey explains that this positioning works well if you want to spread the wings out.^{[3]
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Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist

Expert Interview} Use spade-tip forceps to slightly spread the butterfly’s wings apart if they aren’t already open. Push the pin through so that one-third of its length sticks out from the bottom of the butterfly.
- Insect mounting pins can be purchased online or in specialty science and lab equipment stores. These pins come in many different sizes, but you only need #2 or #3 pins with a diameter of about ¹⁄₅₀ in (0.51 mm).
- Be careful when handling the wings, as you could accidentally rub the scales off.
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Set the butterfly’s body in a spreading board. Spreading boards consist of two parallel soft-wood or styrofoam boards and are used to position, flatten, and dry an insect’s wings. Carefully pick the butterfly up by its body using your fingers or a pair of forceps, then place it in the gap in the center of the spreading board. Push the pin about ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) into the board so it stays in place. Slide the butterfly’s body down the pin until the wings are level with the sides of the board.^{[4]
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- Spreading boards can be purchased online in a fixed or adjustable size.
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Spread the top wings and pin them in place with wax paper. Cut several strips of wax paper about ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) wide, depending on the size of your butterfly. Use forceps to gently move the butterfly’s top wings (forewings) so they’re perpendicular to the butterfly’s body. Place a strip of wax paper over each wing, then insert a pin above and below each wing. Be careful not to go through the wing itself.^{[5]
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- Pinning through the wings causes permanent structural damage. It could ruin the specimen’s aesthetic by destroying the intricate scales. The wax paper is heavy enough to hold the wings in place without pinning them directly.
- Most people prefer the wings to be perpendicular to the body, but position them however you want.
- Make sure you’re happy with the position because Dr. Ramsey says, “If you try to move an old specimen of a butterfly, if you try to move one of its wings, you’re going to break the wing off the butterfly’s body. So, it’s very important to move any sections of the body into the exact orientation in which you want to display that creature.”^{[6]
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For the best results, open the bottom wings (hindwings) until the pattern lines up with the top wings. Like with the top wings, place a piece of wax paper over each bottom wing, and place a pin above and below each wing to keep them in place.^{[7]
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Tip: If you’re preserving multiple butterflies on the same mounting board, cut strips of wax paper as long as the board and place a pin on the tops and bottoms of each butterfly’s wing.
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Let the butterfly dry completely before removing it. Some butterflies will dry in as little as 24 hours, while large specimens may need up to 2 weeks. Leave the butterfly in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, such as a kitchen counter or on a desk. Once the butterfly is completely dry, remove the pins and strips of paper. You’re now ready to display it.^{[8]
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- Leave the pin in the thorax if you plan on displaying your butterfly in a display case. Remove it if you plan on preserving your butterfly in resin.
- Be careful handling your butterfly once it’s dry, as it will be very fragile.

Section 2 of 3:

How to Display & Store a Preserved Butterfly

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Pin your butterfly inside a display case. Using the pin going through the butterfly’s thorax, Dr. Ramsey says to stick the pin into the foam backing of a display case. “[This] allows you to easily remove the insect from the box by pulling on the pin, and you can look at it from a number of different angles,” he explains.^{[9]
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Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist

Expert Interview} Open the front of the case and press the pin into the back by about ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm).^{[10]
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- Shadow boxes and insect display cases can be purchased online, or you can make your own.
- Keep multiple butterflies or insects in your display case, or use multiple smaller cases to make a wall collage.
- If you want, label the specimen by writing the name of the butterfly on a small strip of paper. Use mounting pins to secure it next to the butterfly.
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Alternatively, display the butterfly in a jar or cloche. If you want a more three-dimensional display, grab some natural foliage like twigs, moss, or dried flowers and arrange them inside a cork-topped or bell jar. Attach the butterfly to an upright twig by either hot gluing it to the branch or pinning it to a hidden cork base.
- Make sure the jar can be sealed to avoid dust accumulation and keep your specimen in the best condition possible.
Sunlight may cause the color of the wings to fade, while extreme heat can cause them to warp, curl, or crack. For the best results, display your butterfly in a well-lit area out of direct sunlight. Keep it in a stable, room-temperature environment.^{[11]
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Make sure the display is sealed tightly. “There are a lot of creatures that want to eat preserved specimens of insects,” explains Dr. Ramsey. “Specifically, dermestid beetles will easily get into a box because they are so small, and they will eat an entire collection.”^{[12]
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Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist

Expert Interview} To protect against these pests, make sure your container has an airtight seal.
- If you aren’t actively displaying your specimen, Dr. Ramsey recommends storing the display inside of another well-sealed box. “Inside of that box, you also want to add something like mothballs or moth crystals because they are a repellent to insects like dermestids,” he says.^{[13]
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Preserve a Butterfly in Resin

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Pour a thin base layer of clear resin into a mold. Mix a clear epoxy resin in a plastic container, following the directions on the back of the package. Use a rubber mold that’s 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) wider than your butterfly’s wingspan in any shape, such as a flat disc, a rectangular prism, or a round sphere. Fill the bottom of the mold with about ¹⁄₄–¹⁄₂ in (0.64–1.27 cm) of the resin. Pour the resin slowly to prevent any air bubbles from forming.^{[14]
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- Note: Preserving a butterfly in resin may damage the specimen. The wings may darken or fade over time. Additionally, if the butterfly isn’t properly dried, it may rot inside the resin. Understand these risks before taking on this project.
  - Allow your butterfly to dry for several days after relaxing it to make sure it’s completely dry.
- Warning: Resin gives off toxic fumes, so work in a well-ventilated area and wear a respiratory mask, gloves, and any other safety equipment recommended by the label on your resin product.
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Set the butterfly in the center of the resin. Pinch the body of your butterfly between your fingers or with a pair of spade-tip forceps. Carefully set the butterfly in the middle of your mold so it’s partially submerged by the resin.^{[15]
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- Be careful while handling your butterfly since it will be fragile and could break apart.
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Let the resin set for 15-20 minutes until it gels. As your resin dries, it will first form into a gel before it completely hardens. Cover your mold with a container so the resin dries faster. Leave the resin alone for 15-20 minutes so it can start to solidify.^{[16]
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- Don’t let your resin set completely or the other layers of resin will not adhere to it.
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Cover the rest of the butterfly with more resin. Slowly pour the remainder of your resin around the butterfly so you don’t damage the wings. Completely cover the butterfly so it’s encased in the resin and filled to the top of the mold.^{[17]
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- Maintain a slow and constant pour so air bubbles don’t form inside your resin.
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Let the resin cure for 3 days before popping it out of the mold. Leave the mold in a cool, dry place so your mold can cure properly. Give your resin at least 3 days to cure so it can completely harden. Once the resin is finished drying, peel back the rubber mold to remove the resin.^{[18]
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- Use your resin butterfly as a table decoration or as a paperweight.

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Question

How do you mount a butterfly?

Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist
Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”

Samuel Ramsey, PhD

Entomologist

Expert Answer

Take some foam and put it inside of a box, then stick a pin through the insect and into the foam. Just make sure you arrange the butterfly exactly how you want to display it before it dries. If you try to move the wings after they're dried, they'll just break off.

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Question

How should you store a preserved butterfly?

Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist
Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”

Samuel Ramsey, PhD

Entomologist

Expert Answer

Keep them in a box that's very well-sealed to keep out smaller insects that might want to eat the preserved butterfly. Place that box inside of another box, and put mothballs or moth crystals inside the second box. Also, keep your specimen in a cool place.

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