How to Display an Insect Collection

Gather insects for your collection. Avoid damaging the wings and bodies of your insects by capturing them with an insect net. Sweep the net across tall grasses to capture random insects or capture a specific insect by sweeping the net under the insect and lifting the net swiftly to entrap the insect.

Pour rubbing alcohol into the Mason jar, filling approximately one quarter of the jar. Place cotton balls into the jar, allowing the alcohol to soak into the cotton and fill the jar half full of cotton balls.

Hold the open end of the insect net over the open Mason jar. Allow the insect to fall into the Mason jar and screw the lid on quickly before the insect escapes. Leave the insect in the killing jar you created from the Mason jar for an hour as the insect suffocates.

Take the insect out of the jar with a pair of tweezers to prevent damage to the insect's body and wings. Carefully stick an entomological pin through the insect's throat, or another soft part of the insect's body. Be sure you stick the pin straight through and not at an angle. Leave the pin sticking out above the insect by approximately 1/2 inch.

Place the pinned insects into your display case. Pin the sharp end of the entomological pin into the foam or quilt batting material inside your insect display case. Leave the insects' bodies floating above the material, as the room in your display case allows.

Use a computer and printer to type out identification labels for each insect in your collection. Type both the common and scientific names of the insect, print the words onto paper and cut the words out in tiny strips using scissors.

Place the labels into place above or below each insect in your display collection. To hold the label into place, apply a small amount of school glue or super glue.