Learning to Pin Moths and Butterflies

Cataloguing diversity is an important part of the work field biologists do.  We learn about life in the cloud forest because scientists capture and count and analyze butterflies and moths in the field.  In order to study them, lepidopterists (people who study moths and caterpillars) pin the specimens they're studying.  

Here are the steps:

At night at the field station, a mercury light gets left on beside a white sheet to attract butterflies and moths.
In the morning, birds go crazy feasting on the insects. 

We capture and freeze some of the butterflies and moths.  This kills them, but painlessly.
Here is the moth I chose to pin: a species of arctiidae.   Its antennae are so fuzzy.

Using forceps we try to place a small pin straight into the moth's thorax.

Next we spread the top wings.  I was surprised by how beautiful the moth was once its wings were spread.
All butterflies and moths have two sets of wings.

Next we carefully slide waxed paper across the wings and place pins around the specimen to set its wings.

Now that I've set the moth, it needs to be left undisturbed for 48 hours to dry out.
I can't wait to see how it turns out.