Advancing technology has also enhanced the way butterflies are preserved and displayed. Older kinds of butterfly frames have become obsolete and are replaced by new ones that not only display the butterfly better, but also use better preservation techniques. The three most commonly used types of butterfly frames include the Riker Mount, the Wooden shadow box and the Clear Acrylic Case.

The Riker Mount is the cheapest and most basic kind of butterfly frame, in which a preserved butterfly is placed in a box, pressed between the glass top and the cotton batting that is stuffed inside. There is no protection against humidity and fungus, leading to deterioration of the specimen in due time.

The Wooden shadow box comprises of a simple box with two wooden sides and glass panels on the front and rear. The wood is used primarily to enhance the appearance of the butterfly frame. However, being dissimilar materials and having different expansion rates, glass and wood cannot be joined to form a sealed environment and the preserved butterflies are still exposed to the ravages of the atmosphere.