How To Preserve Dead Bugs Pin Store And Protect?

Pinning dead bugs is a way to keep them for study or display. The process involves softening the specimen, inserting a pin through its body, and letting it dry in a specific position. To protect your collection long-term, you must keep it in a sealed container away from light, moisture, and pests like dermestid beetles.

What Supplies Do You Need To Start Pinning Insects?

You need a few specific tools. The most important is an insect pin. These are longer and thinner than standard sewing pins. They come in sizes, with size 2 or 3 being good for most beetles and bees. Size 1 works for smaller flies and wasps.

You also need a pinning block. This is a block of wood with holes drilled to different depths. It helps you push the pin to a consistent height so all your insects look uniform in the display case. A spreading board is needed for butterflies and moths, which have wings that must be flattened. Finally, you need a storage box with a tight lid and a soft foam bottom.

Forceps are critical. Never grip a dry specimen with your fingers. Legs and antennae break off easily. Fine-tipped forceps let you move parts without crushing the exoskeleton.

How Do You Soften A Dried Bug Before Pinning?

Freshly caught insects are soft enough to pin immediately. But if a bug has been dead for a day or more, it becomes brittle. Pinning a brittle insect causes legs and antennae to snap off. You must rehydrate it first.

Place the dry specimen in a sealed plastic container with a layer of damp sand or paper towel at the bottom. Do not let the bug touch the water directly. Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol or a mothball to prevent mold and mites from growing while the specimen softens. Leave it for 12 to 48 hours depending on the insect’s size. A large beetle may take two days. A small fly may be ready in a few hours.

Test the specimen gently with forceps. If a leg bends without snapping, it is ready. Once soft, remove it and pin it immediately, because it will dry out again quickly.

How To Preserve Dead Bugs Pin Store And Protect: Step-By-Step

Start with a plan for the insect’s position. For most beetles, bugs, and bees, the pin goes vertically through the right wing cover or the center of the thorax. For true bugs like stink bugs, pin through the triangular area between the wing bases. For butterflies and moths, the pin goes straight down through the center of the thorax.

Push the pin through the insect until it is about one-third of the way down the pin. Use the pinning block to set the height. The insect should sit near the top of the pin, leaving enough space below for your fingers to hold it safely.

Once pinned, arrange the legs. Use forceps to spread legs and antennae into natural positions. Stick extra pins around the insect to hold limbs in place while they dry. For butterflies, you must insert the pin into the center groove of a spreading board. Carefully pull the wings forward until the rear edges of the front wings form a straight line. Hold them flat with strips of wax paper or tracing paper pinned down over the wings.

Leave the insect to dry for one to two weeks. Drying time depends on size and humidity. Large beetles and thick-bodied moths need longer. Do not move the specimen while it dries. If you adjust a leg after it has dried, it will snap off.

How Do You Label A Pinned Insect?

Every specimen needs a label. This is not optional. A pinned insect without collection data has little scientific value. At minimum, write the date and location where you found it. Include the collector’s name. If you know the species, add that too.

Use stiff, acid-free paper. Cut small rectangles about 1 inch by 0.5 inches. Write with a fine-tipped pen using permanent ink. Pencil also works well and never fades. Push the label onto the pin below the insect. If you have more than one label, space them evenly so each one is readable.

Labels must stay permanently attached. Never glue labels to the bottom of a box. If the specimen is moved or traded, the label goes with it. A pin without a label is just a dead bug on a stick.

What Is The Best Way To Store A Pinned Insect Collection?

Storage is about protection. The three main threats are pests, moisture, and light.

Pests are the biggest danger. Dermestid beetles and carpet beetles will eat dried insects. They can reduce a prized specimen to dust in weeks. The best defense is a sealed storage box. A wooden or plastic display case with a snug-fitting lid works well. Add a tight seal of foam or rubber around the lid edge if possible.

Place a pest strip or a few mothballs inside the box. Naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene crystals are traditional choices. They evaporate slowly and create a gas that kills pests. Check the box every few months and replace the crystals as needed. Keep the box away from children and pets, as these chemicals are toxic if ingested.

Moisture causes mold. Mold destroys specimens and ruins their color. Keep the collection in a dry room. Some collectors add a small packet of silica gel to absorb humidity. If you live in a humid climate, this is important. Mold can also attack specimens that were not fully dried before storage.

Light fades colors. Butterfly wings and beetle shells lose their brilliance after months of bright light. Store the box in a dark closet or cabinet. If you display specimens, keep them out of direct sunlight.

How Do You Protect A Collection From Damage Over Time?

Handle pinned insects as little as possible. Every time you move a specimen, you risk breaking a leg or antenna. When you must move a pin, grasp it near the top and pull straight up. Never lift a specimen by its body.

Keep your collection box level. If you carry it by the sides, specimens can swing and hit each other. Transport boxes upright and slowly.

Check the collection regularly for pests. Look for fine dust at the bottom of the box. This dust is often the first sign of dermestid activity. If you find an infestation, remove the affected specimen immediately. Freeze it for a week to kill eggs and larvae, then return it to a cleaned box.

Freezing new specimens before pinning is a good habit. It kills any hidden mites or larvae. Wrap the specimen in a tissue and seal it in a plastic bag. Freeze for three to seven days, then thaw and pin as usual.

Why Do Some Bugs Need Special Treatment?

Butterflies and moths have scales on their wings that rub off easily. Handle them by the thorax only, never the wings. They require a spreading board and patience.

Very small insects like gnats and tiny wasps are hard to pin. A standard insect pin will destroy them. Instead, use a size 0 or 00 pin, or mount them on a tiny paper point. Cut a small triangle of stiff paper, glue the bug to the tip, and pin the paper instead.

Soft-bodied insects like caterpillars and mayflies do not pin well. They shrivel and darken as they dry. These are better preserved in vials of 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. This is standard practice for many insect groups.

Large beetles with thick bodies may take longer to dry. If the inside stays moist, it can rot and turn the specimen black. Some collectors remove the internal organs of very large beetles before pinning. This is advanced work and not necessary for most hobbyists.