Beginner’s Guide to Insect Pinning Resources

by Kaylah Stroup

Hello! Looks like you’re here because you’re interested in learning how to start your own pinned insect collection! I have been collecting bugs for over a decade now and would love to share some resources with you. In this post, I have outlined the supplies you need to get started, as well as shared a bunch of tutorials and threw in some of my own tips.

pinned insects

Tutorials & Reading Material…

I have yet to come upon a site that I’ve found to answer all my questions or guide me completely. Here are a few videos with great instructions –
A video on relaxing and pinning a butterfly. 
Another great video on pinning insects.
How to put together a relaxing chamber or if you prefer something a bit more concise, here’s another video on putting together a relaxing chamber!
Preparing insect specimens for exhibit – an excellent comprehensive source for those who would rather read everything about starting an insect collection instead of watching a video about it!
Very short instructions on bug pinning but with useful information on where to place pins.

I found it beneficial to read and watch a lot of different tutorials before getting started. Everyone has their own methods they like, use and trust and it’s a good idea to read about pinning from lots of sources so you can develop your own methods.

When I was first getting started with my insect collection something I found quite useful was to do a quick Google search of whatever insect I was pinning to see what a natural position to pin it in would be. (Just search pinned plus the kind of insect (for example “pinned grasshopper”.) Of course, you’re free to pin your insect’s legs in any position you’d like but I found it helpful in the beginning to at least have an idea of what to replicate as I was learning.

pinned insect collection
small pinned moths

Supplies needed to get started building a pinned insect collection…

a spreading board. As the name implies, this is the surface you’ll be using to spread your insects on. This one is great if you’re planning on pinning lots of insects at the same time. This one is really all you need to get started though.
insect pins. Pins come in a variety of sizes but the most common sizes you’ll need to use are #2 and #3. These are the pins I use.
wax paper. If you’re working with insects whose wings you’ll be spreading you’ll need something to keep them down since you never stick a pin through a wing.
killing jars. You obviously don’t need a killing jar if you’re only going to be working with already deceased insects you find but if you do plan on capturing your own live insects to pin you’ll need a place to kill them quickly so they don’t get damaged.
insect pinning forceps. When working with butterflies and moths you want to keep the amount of handling wings low to minimize the chance of damage. Having a smaller, more delicate pair of forceps can be nice too!
shadow boxes. You’re going to need some way to display your insects after they’ve dried. I’ve purchased these shadow boxes for my insect collection a few times. (They can be seen featured in a lot of the photos in this post.) If you’re looking for something a bit larger, I also own these shadow boxes as well.
relaxing chamber. In order for your insects to be soft and ready to spread without breaking you’re going to need to re-hydrate them. NMSU has a great video with instructions on setting up a relaxing chamber. Don’t worry, it’s super easy. I’ve found that using a bento box is *the* way to go – keeps my damp sponge and insects separate! See below for my setup.
eyelash glue. Inevitably, one of your specimens will lose a leg. Eyelash glue is a lifesaver! This little tip took me years to figure out but now that I know, I’d recommend picking some up right off the bat. Please don’t use the same one you’re using on your face, buy one specifically for this purpose only.

Relaxing chamber for insects
Pinned insect collection

Where to find insects…

There are insects everywhere, and neat ones too! You just have to keep your eyes peeled. It’s amazing how easy it is to overlook them. Tell your friends and family you’re starting a collection so they can keep an eye out as well. Even in the dead of winter, you may be able to find new specimens to pin – try looking around your windowsills for flies or ladybugs.

All of the insects in my collection have been found by me or my family. I take a lot of pleasure in knowing that but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying specimens as well. There are many places to buy insects ready to rehydrate and pin online. If you’re looking to support a small business, check out Kat’s Bug Boutique! They have tons of butterflies, and beautiful beetles ready to rehydrate and mount.

Even more places to find insects – Clover Butterfly Co, Bizzare Bugs, LittleLaurenArts (really great beetle selection!) & Little Caterpillar Art.

Killing bugs

If you’re going to be using any specimens that haven’t already been found deceased they need to be put to sleep quickly. Insects, especially moths and butterflies, will thrash their wings causing damage that you don’t want. This is where a killing jar comes in handy. These jars have a small vial attached to the lid in which is a cotton ball you soak with ethyl acetate (nail polish remover!) This kills the insects quickly.

Because my collecting is mostly done at home, my method of choice is the freezer. I have lots of small jars which I use to collect insects inside of, those then get placed into the freezer until I’m ready to pin them. It’s quick so they don’t cause any damage to themselves and I don’t have to use any chemicals.

how to build an insect collection

One final tip – something I started doing last year was labeling my shadow boxes. I use my cricut to cut out adhesive black vinyl that I stick on the bottom inside of my frames.

Good luck & have fun! xoxo!

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23 comments

Mindi February 6, 2013 - 1:39 pm

I am so excited that you posted this! I still haven't gotten all of my supplies together, but I'm working on it! This is such a great post and I know I'll be referencing back to it 🙂 Thank you for the tips!

Angie Thompson February 6, 2013 - 1:46 pm

great post! thanks Kaylah!

Anonymous February 6, 2013 - 1:59 pm

For someone that's vegan, killing insects seems pretty hypocrite!

The Dainty Squid February 6, 2013 - 2:04 pm

Can we just get this out of the way right now? I am NOT vegan. I have never claimed to be vegan and I will never be vegan.

Erin Gerofsky February 6, 2013 - 2:02 pm

This was such an interesting read! I've always loved insect (I attribute this to getting to play with a stick bug as a kid. So cool!), and while I don't see myself pinning insects any time soon, I can appreciate the time and effort that goes into it. I like your idea of just pinning what you can find in your area. Quite a neat look at things!
–Erin

Cassie February 6, 2013 - 2:23 pm

Very cool. This is the dorky scientist in me, but do you label them at all?

Michelle February 6, 2013 - 3:11 pm

Neat post! You have so many interesting hobbies and collections, I do enjoy reading about them <3

char February 6, 2013 - 3:36 pm

Wow, this is something which I had never given much thought to in the past, but I am intrigued by so will definitely be keeping an eye on.

Little Red Emo Hood February 6, 2013 - 3:40 pm

This is so cool. The bug section of the museum is always one of my favourites, I love looking at them all spread all. I think I might be too squeamish to do it myself, but it would be amazing to have a collection like this! 🙂

HaleyPants February 6, 2013 - 5:05 pm

This is so great! My boyfriend is studying to be an entomologist, so he catches and pins lots of insects. I love the way they look on display and have always wanted to do some of my own pinnings! Thanks for the tips. 🙂

Sarah Sea February 6, 2013 - 5:12 pm

I've been thinking of doing this for so long and have just not made time to do it! The tutorials make it seem easy enough, though.

Thank you for sharing!

diana February 6, 2013 - 7:09 pm

this is so cool. i wanted to be an entemologist before i became a librarian. i would love this as a hobby!

adrienne February 6, 2013 - 7:52 pm

I've been in the pinning hobby for several months now and I was wondering if you ever have insects that lose color after you pin them? For some reason my grasshoppers turn brown after awhile and I'm not sure if that's normal or if there are sources to prevent such a thing.

Meredith February 6, 2013 - 9:06 pm

I took a few entomology classes in college and have a pretty hefty collection, but lately have been feeling the bug (pun intended) to start collecting again. I'm pretty experienced in collecting/pinning, but had no idea where to purchase the supplies, since everything I used for classes was school issued. Thanks so much for sharing!

ps- Your bug collection may or may not be the reason I started following your blog haha.

Laura Go February 6, 2013 - 10:47 pm

thanks for doing this post! I used to collect insects when I was a kid, but I stored all my stuff in matchboxes. I guess i thought they were their little, individual homes. 🙂
♥ laura
the blog of worldly delights
the shop of worldly delights

Alisa Kim February 7, 2013 - 1:06 am

Woah, I like this way more than I thought I would. I'm not gonna lie, at first I was eh about the whole thing, but after laying down the whole process, it seems really cool. So since you aren't supposed to pin the wings, does just the pin going through the thorax hold the butterflies on the board? That's so delicate! I just applied for a job which involves pinning native bees and other insects, so maybe I'll join you in pinning! I also like the idea of keeping your collection native 🙂

Adrienne February 7, 2013 - 1:10 am

Thanks so much for this! I really want to learn how to do this, not only because of my love of insects but also because I have an old dragonfly that I found when I was four years old tucked away in a box, and I'd love to be able to pin and frame it!

Dawna Denman February 7, 2013 - 5:44 am

I think I have a death's head moth. I found it outside school one day and thought it was one of the coolest things so I took it home and put it in a box to keep it safe. I'll have too look for it when I go back to visit my folks in a month.

FauxSuede February 7, 2013 - 8:26 am

Wow I had no idea pinning insects was so involved! This was really interesting to read. Maybe I'll try this once the insects start to crawl back out in the spring 🙂

Sofia Miacis February 7, 2013 - 2:02 pm

Congrats! 😀

You really pin them well. And it's not easy! I had to make an insect collection for a work in the university, and it was not easy to pin some insects. As it was winter the insects were few, and little must of them ( and I hate centipedes.. wich I could not pin them!), so some of them fall down because they were not pin correctly. I want to make a pin collection, but with themed boards. Like one board from dragonflies and damselfies, one board for beetles. I won't do a board for butterflies because I love them too much, and I could not kill them. I like more to see them fly freely 🙂 Only if I saw dead ones. And bees, one because just the noise makes me chills ( been sting 4 times) and they are dying so they protection.

Great collection and tutorial!

Kisses

Liz February 7, 2013 - 5:56 pm

Kaylah – Saw these mushroom lamps and thought of you. Sorry, I don't know where you can actually get one: http://www.geocities.jp/youkeepon/works-parts/k-lamp/k-lamp-main.html

Kaili Williams February 8, 2013 - 2:47 pm

Thank you so much for this! I have quite a few insects in jars that I would love to frame up. So glad to find another blogger on here with some of my weird interests & tastes. 🙂

luamour February 8, 2013 - 11:18 pm

This is really neat. It is something I would love to do except I would need to get over the extreme heebeejeebees I get when handling insects. Ugh. They're so cool to look at in a display case but they freak me out if I have to touch them. :p I'll stick to pressing flowers for now I suppose!

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