Entomology Insect Pinning

We aim to provide in this Topic, all the information required to successfully pin/store an assortment of invertebrate specimens. 

Entomological studies include the collection of live insects for this purpose. 

Here at The Ant Lab, we prefer the collection of insects who have died of natural causes and not killing insects where it can be helped(excluding invasive species).

Included within this information are ways of preserving and “deceasing” insects in order for those who have collected live specimens to treat them with the most respect possible. 

Information is arranged in drop-down headings and if you choose so you may skip over the section regarding the collection & killing of live specimens – Please note however that this does not include ensuring parasites are no longer present, on, or within your already deceased specimens. 

The proper way to pin an insect depends on the type of insect that you have collected. Soft-bodied insects such as scales, caterpillars, mayflies, silverfish and others cannot be pinned.

Information regarding soft-bodied insects is also provided.

This is very important and has a dual meaning:

There are certain types of insects that shrivel and/or discolor badly when pinned, and should therefore either be preserved in 80% ethanol indefinitely, properly dehydrated for mounting (either critical point drying or HMDS bath) or placed on microscope slides.

Some insects are too small or too slender to be pinned and should be point-mounted instead.

Becoming acquainted, by experience or research, with how each type of insect preserves, will probably ultimately be necessary for most people, but learning some simple rules will help minimize the number of disastrous pinning jobs.

Improperly prepared specimens can be rendered useless for museum purposes, so you must be certain you're doing it correctly.

In the first case, which insects must go into alcohol breaks down fairly cleanly along certain lines: adults of almost any macroscopic (2+ mm) Odonata, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Mecoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera are perfectly suitable for pinning or pointing, with few exceptions (e.g. scale insects, aphids).

When you get into the microscopic types (under 2 mm), or immature stages, then the odds that alcohol storage will be better increase dramatically. Various members of the Orthopteroid orders (including roaches, mantids, and walking sticks) lie on both sides of the fence, as do Neuroptera; many of them can be pinned, but generally speaking most of them preserve better in alcohol.

Members of any group not listed above (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Isoptera, Psocoptera, Trichoptera, etc.) and any immature stages should generally be preserved in alcohol.

1: Anything whose body is somewhat membranous and soft is better off in alcohol.

2: Aside from butterflies and moths, scaly flies like Bombyliids, and certain types of metallic beetles (e.g., Chrysina), almost nothing can be hurt by storing it in alcohol, if only temporarily. 

In other words, when in doubt, go with alcohol. If it turns out not to be necessary, you can simply remove it and pin it as normal.

See below for instructions regarding alcohol-stored specimens.

In the second case, pointed vs pinned is straightforward.

You should, never need to use any pin below size 1, and anything smaller than a size 0 pin should not be used (they are too fragile). 

Rule of thumb; anything less than 6-7 mm should be point-mounted or anything skinnier than 3 mm regardless of length.

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