Hobbies And Interests
New Specimen
Grasshoppers are originally caught in their natural surroundings. Once captive, the grasshopper must be humanely killed. Twenty minutes in a killing jar or several days in a freezer are both effective. If you take a grasshopper from the killing jar too soon, it may revive. If you leave it in the jar too long, it may become dry and brittle. This makes the handling and pinning process more difficult because grasshoppers break apart easily.
Materials
Most people arrange grasshoppers in a display box. You may wish to build your own display box to meet your needs. Number 2 and 3 pins are the preferred size for pinning grasshoppers. You'll also need labels to identify each grasshopper. To capture and store grasshoppers, use nets and jars with lids. You'll need a large workspace, such as a workbench or dining room table, when organizing new grasshoppers.
Proper Pinning
Grasshoppers are medium-sized insects that are pinned through the pronotum. The pronotum is located behind the head and between the front and middle sets of legs. If possible, pin the rear portion of the pronotum at the right side. Insert the pin through the grasshopper at a perfect right angle. Slide the grasshopper up the pushpin so it rests approximately one-third from the top of the pin. This prevents unnecessary contact with the fingers when handling the grasshopper.
Organization
To properly present a grasshopper collection, first arrange the grasshoppers by order. Then, within each order, display the grasshoppers from largest to smallest. Displays in competitions typically have a minimum of eight different orders and no fewer than 50 different grasshoppers. Every grasshopper is different and clearly labeled according to competition rules. Often, you'll need additional display boxes to accommodate large collections.