Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Order or purchase some Styrofoam sheets. Find them at hobby supply and craft stores. Pick up some acid-free paper, as well, for your insect labels. You can find these in the scrapbooking section of stores.
Order entomology pins for your insects. Although it is tempting to buy inexpensive corsage pins, remember that entomology pins are made to endure moisture and will not rust or corrode. Look for them on online auction sites or through biological supply stores. They usually run less than $6 per 100 pins.
Place paper towels in the bottom of a jar and add a little rubbing alcohol. Add your live specimen to the jar and close the lid. The bug should die within a few minutes. Immediately remove the insect and prepare to pin it to the Styrofoam. With most insects, no extra steps are necessary to dry or preserve them.
Pin your insect as follows: For beetles, run the pin through the upper half of the right wing. For wasps, bees, grasshoppers and flies, pin just to the right of the thorax near the base of the wings. Pin dragonflies and damselflies in the same manner. Make sure the pin is perpendicular with the line of the insect's body.
Write your label by leaving an empty white space to the left. Pin the label beneath the insect. The insect should cover the white space, and the labeling should be easily seen.