Put several coats of newspaper on, and then allow to dry. Once the body is fully formed and totally dry, Apply at least one coat of paint, and preferably more, to protect the insect from moisture. This can also be the first step of decoration. Painting is the main way to decorate the insect's body, and can be as simple or detailed as the artist wants. The final touch is the wings.
Overhead projectors allow easy enlargments of illustrations to the size needed.
Have students use ratios to determine what size enlargement of illustrations or specimens is needed by measuring the length of the body in the picture compared with the paper mache body, and calculate the length of wings that will give the correct ratio for the size of wings in the picture or specimen. Use crepe paper or thin fabric for butterfly, moth or grasshopper wings. Finally, hot glue the inner wire portion of wings to the body. Regular glue will not hold them. With very heavy wings, you may have to cut a notch in the body wall for extra glueing surface area.