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How to Make Insect Display Boxes

Display boxes protect insects while allowing ready observation of a collection. Suitable components to construct display boxes can be bought in craft and hobby shops. Display boxes that will fit in standardized insect storage cabinets will have outside dimensions of 19 inches by 16 inches by 3 inches. Boxes with smaller dimensions can be used to display individual or smaller numbers of insects. Commercially available shadow boxes are easily adapted to the display of insects.

Things You'll Need

Boxes with glass or plastic lids
Foam or cork sheeting
Decorative cloth or paper lining
Ruler
Scissors
Craft knife
Cutting board
Glue
Small matchbox
Moth flakes or mothballs
Insect pins
Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain glass- or plastic-covered boxes deep enough to fit your specimens.
- 2
  Measure, cut and fit foam or cork sheeting to the inside dimensions of the box bottom.
- 3
  Glue the sheeting inside the bottom of the box, allowing enough room for securely pinning insects while clearing the lid.
- 4
  Cover the inside of the box with felt, cloth or decorative paper for the best display of your specimens. Use a material that will contrast with the specimens being displayed.
- 5
  Pin mothballs into each corner of your display box or pin a matchbox filled with moth flakes in the corner of the box. Heated pins can be inserted into mothballs using needle-nosed pliers to make pinning easier and neater.
- 6
  Pin specimens inside the box. Arrange insects for according to classification, for scientific identification, or for aesthetic display.

Insects & Science