Introduction to Specimen Preservation with Mickey Alice Kwapis: Morpho Butterflies

About this event

Learn how to spread and dry your own blue morpho butterfly specimen! Using a rehydrated specimen ready to spread, each student will be guided through the process of flexing, posing, pinning, and drying their own butterfly specimen. In this workshop, you’ll learn how this incredible butterfly, native to Panama, has structural colors rather than pigments. You will leave with your finished pinned specimen ready to dry at home as well as a spreading board and tool set to keep for use with future projects. The week following the workshop, students will receive an email containing a digital guide to the entire spreading process, going from a dried or freshly deceased specimen to completion No experience necessary. Ages 12 and younger must be accompanied by a calm adult who can assist where needed. One specimen and tool set are provided per ticket purchased, so if the adult wishes to participate with their own specimen set, an additional ticket should be purchased. Class registration fees include admission to the Whatcom Museum, one specimen and tool kit, and supplementary reading materials to learn how to repeat the process with more specimens at home. Mickey will also be teaching Sunset Moth and Five-Horned Rhinoceros Beetle preservation workshops on October 10. Workshop registrations are final and non-refundable. If you’re unable to attend, you’re welcome to transfer your spot to someone else as long as you notify us 24 hours in advance. Please plan to arrive within 15 minutes of the start time. Late arrivals will not be admitted or refunded.

Description from whatcommuseum.org