Card points are small triangles of cardboard or plastic pinned through one of the sides and crimped over at the opposite apex; a spot of strong glue is put on the angled tip, and the right side of the insect is pressed against the glued surface, [fig. 14]. The slant of the crimp depends on the angle of the insect’s side; the desired product is the insect mounted with its top surface horizontal and its head forward; legs, wings, and antennae should be in view and as little of the body as possible hidden by the glue or card point. Very little glue should be used; a small amount holds well and gives a better specimen for study than a large amount. The points may be cut uniformly with a hand punch, and they should be about three-eighths inch long. Good material for making these points is 2-ply Bristol board.
Fig. 15.—Pinning crane flies. Because of their unwieldy legs, these insects should have a double card point mount, and the legs should be kept away from the pin so that they will not be broken in handling.
Minuten pins are short, extremely delicate steel pins, [fig. 14]d. One of these is thrust through the body of the insect and into a small piece of cork, pith, or similar substance, which is in turn pinned in the regular way a card point is. This method is especially desirable for tiny moths.
Insects Hard to Pin.—Wasps, lacewings, damselflies, and similar insects have an abdomen that sags readily when the specimen is killed and pinned. This unwanted drooping can be prevented in three simple ways. (1) Stick the pinned insect on a vertical surface of a block so that the body by its own weight dries in normal position. (2) Pin the insect on a horizontal surface and run a stiff paper on the pin beneath the body in such a way as to support it in a natural position until the insect dries. (3) Brace the abdomen by crossing two pins beneath it and thrusting them into the block, allowing the specimen to dry in the angle of the cross.
Crane flies are unwieldy and so are best pinned on a double card point mount, [fig. 15]. The legs should be directed away from the pin to avoid breakage in handling.
Spreading Board for Moths and Butterflies
Moths and butterflies should have their wings spread before being put into the collection. To do this well, it is necessary to have spreading boards that are accurately made but that are not necessarily complicated or expensive.
Construction.—A convenient board for medium-sized insects can be made at home of the following materials:
1.—A hardwood base, 4 × 12 × ¼ inch. 2.—Two hardwood end pieces, 4 × ¾ × ½ inch. 3.—Two softwood top pieces, 1⅞ × 12 × ½ inch, with the top surface planed at an angle, so that the thickness at one edge is ½ inch and at the other ⅜ inch. 4.—Two flat cork pieces 1 × 11 × ³/₁₆ inch.