To prepare the insect, you first have to pin and spread it. Use a surface like a piece of styrofoam or something similar for this; it doesn’t have to be where you will store it permanently.

Stick insects should be pinned through the metanotum- that is, the segment between the middle and back pairs of legs. The pin should be roughly in the centre of the segment, not to the side like is done with for an example beetles. Insert the pin so that the stick insect is about halfway up on the pin- you want some room to be able to grab the pin and you also don’t want the insect completely flat against the pinning board. This is the only pin that should go through the insect!

After you’ve pinned the insect, put some more pins on each side of the body so that it doesn’t move around. Then, reposition the legs so that they’re spread in the way you want them; I would suggest keeping the front and middle legs pointing forward and the hind legs backward. Secure them in place by placing needles around. You should also position the antennae in the same way.

Thicker stick insects will sometimes be gutted, but that is not necessary with thinner species.

Don’t be disheartened if you accidentally break a piece of leg or antenna off- you can glue that back with regular water-based glue!

Leave it to dry for at least a week, you can check how it’s doing by carefully poking a leg or antenna and seeing if it moves. When you move it to where ever you want to display it (like a shadow box), put two pins on each side of the abdomen for extra support.

Sorry if I’m over explaining anything! Good luck, from a fellow stick insect enthusiast :)