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A specimen is correctly pinned by an entomologist
© Molly Wilders
A specimen is correctly pinned by an entomologist
© Molly Wilders
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Which preparation method is most suitable for your specimens?
Preparing specimens for dry-preservation is appropriate for the majority of insects, and is therefore the method we focus on in this training. Read the guidance and watch the videos in this section to learn how to prepare specimens for dry-preservation.
Other preparation methods are:
Read more about papering, microscope slides and wet-preservation in Preservation and storage methods and the additional resources.
A preparation kit should contain the following items:
If your specimen is suitable for dry preservation, there are several different methods, depending on the size and type of insect. To pin or not to pin, that is the question! In general, if your specimen is smaller than 5mm it may be best to card point, rather than pin.
Direct pinning involves inserting an insect pin directly through the body of the insect. The specimen labels are placed on the same pin, underneath the insect.
Pin placement is very important in direct pinning:
TIP: Use a plastazote setting block that is thicker than the length of your pins. Also, try covering the setting block in paper to provide a smoother surface and make positioning the legs much easier.
Watch this video on how to pin an insect from Purdue University to understand the key steps.
This method is commonly used for small Diptera (flies) and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).
Card mounting is favoured particularly for Coleoptera (beetles) because it protects all the appendages, as well as being pleasing to the eye. However, it obscures the characters on the underside. Therefore, you should identify the insect prior to mounting.
Use card pointing for specimens with a body length smaller than 5mm.
When preparing Lepidoptera, position the pin directly through the midline and then set the wings.
Provide the following information on the locality label:
Provide the following information on the identification label:
TIP: Format your date with the month in roman numerals (e.g. 12.vii.2023). This will help avoid confusion later down the line, if incorporated with international material. Always put the year in full.
Remember to:
Entomology collections are fragile and therefore very vulnerable to damage. Breakages can occur from vibrations, pest attacks or during specimen handling
Watch this video to learn more about the various options for specimen repairs.
If a specimen is damaged during handling, such as a leg or wing breaking off, then it is crucial to keep this part associated with the original specimen. However, if loose specimens or appendages are found in the bottom of the drawer or store box, only repair them if you are certain that they can be correctly re-associated. You don’t want to glue the wrong head onto a specimen!
There are two options for dealing with broken specimens.
If a broken fragment is large enough, it may be possible to carefully glue it back on the specimen. The preferred adhesive to use is Evacon R, a conservation grade glue that is water soluble.
However, it is often a safer option to place the broken piece into a capsule and attach this to the pin, below the specimen. Gelatin capsules are easy to pin through, hold the fragment safely, permit retrieval at any time and are available in a range of sizes. Be careful not to get these damp as they are water soluble.
TIP: Use a fine paint brush to pick up broken insect fragments. Dampen the brush slightly with distilled water if it does not work with a dry brush.
Many old specimens are preserved on poor quality pins. Sometimes the pins bend or break, or there may no longer be a point at the end of the pin, so it does not stick into the plastazote.
This problem can be dealt with by re-staging the specimen. When doing this, always ensure that the labels remain in the same order as they were on the original pin.
Verdigris is a waxy green substance that can form on specimens pinned with brass pins (or other alloys containing copper). It can be extremely destructive, growing through the body of the insect and sometimes breaking the specimens apart.
Deal with extreme cases promptly so the specimens may be salvaged.
If you can only see a small amount of verdigris, carefully brush it off with a fine paintbrush and monitor the condition of the specimens. Ensure the temperature and humidity of the store is stable, as this will arrest the development of verdigris.
If replacing the pin is necessary, then follow these steps:
TIP: If a label is loose on the pin, then remove it, flip it over and rub the area around the hole with the smooth part of your forceps – this reduces the size of the hole and prevents it rotating on the pin.
Read Conservation of Insect Specimens Affected by Verdigris by Garner et al, 2011 (p. 50) for more detailed guidance on pin removal methods.
Transparent hexagonal crystals on specimens can be caused by the former presence of naphthalene. To deal with this problem, ventilate the drawer to encourage the naphthalene residue to evaporate off. Ideally do this in a fume cupboard. Use caution while the lid is removed to avoid physical damage and ensure quarantine procedures are followed to minimise the risk of pest attack.