Digital Photography is the preferred method of recording butterfly and moth lifecycles

1. easy to carry compact equipment on hikes
2. ability to preview and delete shots
3. ability to build animations from time lapse shots or take videos
4. ability to enhance photos with Adobe Photoshop or PSP

Equipment

1. USE a Nikon 990 Coolpix series or similar camera ($500.00 used)
2. Use a sturdy tripod for laboratory work with eggs and larvae
3. Use a dark green background (matting from a photo shop works well)

Techniques

1. Photograph on the fine (large) JPEG setting
2. Use fill in flash techniques to obtain clearer images (especially in the field)
3. Remove feeding larvae (foodplant and all) from their containers and photograph them against the green background
4. Photograph butterflies on their foodplants in the laboratory setting
5. Do not chill butterflies except as a last resort, as often they will flop about on the ground as they warm-up damaging their wings and ruining the photo

Note: Release all butterflies in a suitable habitat after rearing and photographing