We are identifying the parts of a grasshopper and pointing out its features using an actual specimen. I only have one specimen, and I need to observe it from the front, side, and underside. This is my introduction to this kind of work, so I’m still unfamiliar with it. I only know how to preserve specimens in alcohol, but you have to take it out every time for a better view. For pinning, it’s hard to see the bottom without taking it out and flipping it. Are there any other ways to do this?

Hey, I know this is a subreddit for specimens and my question is a out of line but I was wondering if there is a way for me to preserve fruits as ‘specimens’ in jars and if so, what would I preserve them with?

I just recently discovered my fascination with bugs (specifically beetles) and have collected many beetles from my area that are now in my freezer... Any advice on how to get started with pinning and what tools I might need? Any help is great thank you!

I’ve been pinning wasps and I’m wondering how long It takes t For there exoskeleton to harden in place is there any ways to make it faster?

Hello Everyone!

My club found a bug (An Eastern Lubber Grasshopper) and we'd like to pin it. We usually freeze to euthanize, and that works with butterflies and bees, but the last time we froze a larger insect like this, they rotted/ smelled off and we had to throw it away. What's the best way to humanely kill something so big before we pin it (most likely next week)?

Thank you so much in advance! (No image attached as of the rules)

Hi everybody.

I am an amateur collector who has only been collecting bug specimens for a few years. My house in Australia gets very humid at all times and receives little sunlight during the day which causes all kinda of mould issues throughout the house. Today I have discovered that the mould has now breached into my collection! I have not mounted any of these myself, only purchased from market vendors so I am extremely nervous to open up and clean any of the specimens / frames as have been told that they are ‘museum sealed’ and must never be opened. I recognise, however, that my situation is very much in need of action and that opening them up is a better alternative to letting the mould take over. I’m very scared to approach this though for fear of further damaging / ruining the specimens. Is there any help anyone can give me? I’m quite desperate and I love these bugs so much, I am absolutely devastated that they could potentially be ruined.

I work in a lab in the Chicago area and we are researching how the Brood XIII emergence affects ant foraging / diet. I want to pin some cicadas from this summer; I’ve collected a few and let them dry out in an open container but I have not soaked them with alcohol or anything (if they’re already dried is this something I should still do?). When the cicadas are freshly dead their eyes are red, but after a few hours their eyes go black. It seems like the orange wing veins stay orange (at least so far). I’m wondering if anyone has advice for keeping their eyes red? Or should I paint them red after pinning them? Also, if they’re already air-dried for a few days/weeks, should I soak them in alcohol? Sometimes they have a bad smell and I was thinking maybe that would help with the smell (or would baking soda be ok to try and deodorize them?) I’ve just been collecting ones that die naturally btw because I’d rather not kill them just to pin them. And if anyone has a link to a spreading board or entire kit that they like pls let me know! Thank you so much.

I was thinking of using some sort of resin to harden them but I'm unsure. I need a way to preserve their bodies whole and solid. I'm also thinking of making their wings into earrings. Any advice?

Hi all, new to this sub but not new to specimens. I'm moving & all of my stuff has been in storage for 2 years (kept wet specimens with me, but packed dry specimens in storage... didn't know it was going to be for 2 years).

My other specimens have all been perfectly fine but this one that I've had for over 5yrs now unfortunately grew mold all over the abdomen. Of course it had to happen to one of my favorites.

I'm about to try opening the shadow box & cleaning it up the best I can, is this possible? Any saving it? Advice would be great, thanks!

Long story short I had a cicada get into my dorm a while back and it ended up leaving its final molted shell in my dorm. At some point i gotta go back home and i have no clue how to tranport it properly or keep it safe. Is it possible for me to get it a small display box of some kind that will look nice and keep it intact?

Hello! I bought a death heads mouth from an estate sale last week. The back says it was done in 1948 which is really cool. The only problem is whoever pinned it didn't brush the fur down so you could see the skull imagery on it. I was wondering how hard would it be/ is it advisable that I open it up and try and brush it down?

I've never pinned a bug so I'm leaning towards no but I wanted to check with people who actually knew what they were talking about.

I got this 2 years ago for Christmas and I picked it up today to clean the shelf around it and it looks almost molded? Is there anything I can do about this? I'm not sure exactly where it's from other than some shop on etsy.

I got a death head moth as a gift recently and I’ve been collecting bugs for a while, but for some reason this moth absolutely reeks. Stinks like rot, the whole frame does. I’m confused because I didn’t think insects smelled like that, what is likely the issue? Is it just not properly dried? Should I throw it out?

I have 3 moths I need to pin right now, I have everything I need to pin them, but I'm not sure what the best way to display them is. I want to make sure that they don't get damaged.

Hello! I have never preserved a specimen before, but I found a beautiful cecropia moth dead in the parking lot at work this morning. It’s abdomen is very squished at the bottom, but the wings are stunning and the thorax and head area seem to look undamaged. Is there any hope in preserving it?

I cannot find another subreddit for pinning creatures, but I have a spider I’m really proud of and want to share it. I know the description of the subreddit specifies insects but the name of it seems more encompassing. I completely understand if I can’t post that here!

Keep in mind this is my first time pinning/preserving something of this size. I recently found a dead cicada & decided to give pinning a try, 2 days later, it started to smell. is there a way to neutralize the smell?

Does anyone have any tips for preserving the colors of pinned insects? I usually gut and stuff insects like mantises and grasshoppers, but even then there is some discoloration. My grasshopper recently died and I'd like to keep the vibrant yellow he has. I read something about "baking" them in the oven to dry them really quickly, but I can't find that source again. Thanks in advance!