How Do You Open Insect Wings For Collection?
An important step in preserving an insect for display in a collection is the spreading of its wings. Whether the insect is recently dead and still fresh and pliable, or is discovered after drying, careful technique can allow you to spread the wings out wide to properly display the insect. Grab the insect by its thorax with the tweezers and gently squeeze. There should be some give if the insect is ready for spreading. Skip to Step 4 if so. Create a moisture chamber for the insect by laying the wire mesh atop some wet paper towels in the plastic container, along with a cap of disinfectant, and lay the insect atop the mesh. Close the container and leave the bug for one to two days, then return to Step 1. Stick a pin through the top side of the thorax of the insect. Place the top of the pin into the polystyrene, so that the insect is pinned underside up. Create an X across the thorax of the insect with two pins. The pins should not go through the thorax, rather they should be in the polys
