There’s a hidden world teeming with intricate beauty, often buzzing or crawling right past us, largely unnoticed. Insects, in their staggering diversity, showcase nature’s boundless creativity. From the iridescent shimmer of a beetle’s carapace to the delicate, paper-thin wings of a butterfly, these small creatures are marvels of design. Capturing that fleeting beauty, preserving it long after the creature’s life has ended, is the essence of insect pinning and preservation – a practice that bridges the gap between scientific study (entomology) and captivating art.
Transforming a found insect into a piece for display isn’t just about sticking a pin in it; it’s a careful process, a meditation on form and structure. It allows for an appreciation far deeper than a quick glance at a live specimen might offer. Holding a perfectly preserved butterfly, its patterns stark and colours retained, lets you study details you’d otherwise miss – the subtle veins in the wings, the fuzz on its body, the intricate structure of its antennae. It becomes a permanent testament to nature’s artistry.
Why Embark on Insect Preservation?
Beyond the purely scientific drive to catalogue and study species, preserving insects offers unique rewards. For many, it’s about celebrating natural aesthetics. A well-prepared insect in a shadow box becomes a stunning piece of three-dimensional art, a conversation starter, and a unique decorative element. It’s a way to bring a piece of the wild indoors, respectfully and beautifully.
It’s also profoundly educational. The hands-on process teaches patience, dexterity, and attention to detail. It fosters a deeper understanding of insect anatomy and diversity. Preparing and displaying insects can spark curiosity in observers, young and old, encouraging them to learn more about the vital roles these creatures play in our ecosystems. It turns the ephemeral into the enduring, allowing fleeting beauty to be appreciated for years to come.
Finding Your Subjects Ethically
The first step, and a crucial one, involves sourcing your specimens. The most ethical approach for hobbyists is to collect insects that are already deceased. Keep an eye out on windowsills, near outdoor lights, in garden sheds, or along pathways, especially after cooler nights or storms. Nature provides readily, and finding a perfect, naturally expired specimen feels like discovering treasure.
Alternatively, there are reputable suppliers who farm insects like butterflies specifically for preservation purposes, often in environments that support conservation efforts. Purchasing from ethical sources ensures you’re not impacting wild populations. Avoid collecting live insects unless you have a clear scientific or educational purpose and understand the regulations and ethical considerations involved. For art and hobby purposes, naturally deceased finds are often more than sufficient and carry a unique story.
The Delicate Process: Preparation and Pinning
Once you have a specimen, it’s likely dried and brittle. Attempting to position its wings or legs in this state will only lead to breakage. The insect needs to be relaxed first.
Rehydration: The Relaxing Chamber
A relaxing chamber is essentially a humid environment that softens the insect’s joints. You can create a simple one using an airtight container. Place a layer of damp paper towels or cotton balls at the bottom (use distilled water with a drop of disinfectant like Lysol or rubbing alcohol, or even just tea tree oil, to prevent mould). Place the insect on a small platform (like an inverted dish or foil) above the damp layer, ensuring it doesn’t directly touch the water. Seal the container and leave it for 12-72 hours, depending on the insect’s size and dryness. Check periodically; the antennae should be flexible when it’s ready.
Pinning: Precision and Placement
Pinning anchors the insect for spreading and display. Special entomological pins are required – they are longer than regular pins and made of materials that resist rust. Pin size depends on the insect’s size.
The standard procedure:
- For most hard-bodied insects (beetles, true bugs), the pin goes through the thorax, slightly to the right of the midline. This preserves the central structures for identification if needed.
- For butterflies and moths, the pin goes directly through the centre of the thorax, viewed from above.
Push the pin straight down, ensuring the insect is level on the pin (not tilted). Leave enough space on the pin above the insect to handle it without touching the specimen itself.
Verified Practice: Proper pin placement is crucial not just for aesthetics but also for long-term structural integrity. Inserting the pin slightly off-centre to the right in beetles preserves key taxonomic features on the insect’s midline. Always ensure the insect is perpendicular to the pin for a professional-looking mount.
Spreading Wings and Limbs: Achieving Symmetry
Spreading is most commonly associated with butterflies and moths, aiming to display their wings fully. This requires a spreading board – a board with a central groove for the insect’s body and angled side panels for the wings.
Pin the relaxed insect into the groove of the spreading board, ensuring the body is snug. Now, the delicate work begins. Using fine-tipped forceps or extra pins, carefully move the forewing forward until its rear edge is roughly perpendicular to the body. Hold it in place (without piercing the wing membrane itself!) using narrow strips of paper or tracing paper laid across the wing and secured with pins on either side. Repeat for the other forewing, ensuring symmetry. Then, gently draw the hindwings forward so their front edge slightly tucks under the forewings, securing them similarly.
Antennae and legs can also be positioned using pins to hold them in a naturalistic pose while the insect dries. Drying time is crucial and varies significantly based on the insect’s size and ambient humidity – anywhere from a few days for small specimens to several weeks for large ones. Patience here prevents future drooping or damage.
The Final Showcase: Shadow Box Displays
Once completely dry, the insect is ready for its final home: the shadow box. This is where preservation truly meets art.
Choosing and Preparing the Box
Shadow boxes come in various depths, sizes, materials, and background colours. Choose a depth sufficient to accommodate the pinned insect without its wings touching the glass. The background colour can dramatically affect the display – black makes colours pop, while white or neutral tones offer a classic, clean look. Ensure the box seals reasonably well to help keep out dust and pests.
Artistic Arrangement
How you arrange the insects transforms the display. A single, striking specimen can be incredibly powerful, drawing focus to its individual beauty. Multiple insects can create fascinating patterns, showcase variations within a species, or tell a small ecological story. Consider balance, flow, and negative space. Some creators add small labels with the insect’s common or scientific name and origin, adding an educational touch reminiscent of museum displays.
Mounting involves pushing the pin (already holding the insect) securely into the backing material of the shadow box. Foam board or cork lining makes this easy. Ensure the insect is stable and positioned as intended.
Important Information: Preserved insects are fragile and susceptible to pests like dermestid beetles or tiny booklice, which can devour them over time. Ensure your shadow box is tightly sealed. Consider adding a small amount of moth repellent (natural options like cedar or lavender exist, though traditional mothballs are effective if used cautiously) inside the box, hidden from view, to deter pests and protect your artwork for the long term.
Entomology Art: A Growing Appreciation
The practice of displaying insects has evolved beyond purely scientific collections. Today, many artists specifically use preserved insects as their medium. They might create intricate collages, embed insects in resin (though traditional pinning arguably preserves detail better), or arrange them in elaborate, large-scale installations. This highlights a growing appreciation for insects not just as scientific specimens, but as objects of inherent beauty and artistic potential. It challenges perceptions, turning creatures sometimes viewed as pests into celebrated subjects.
Maintaining Your Creations
Preserved insects, while stable, require some care. The biggest threats are pests (as mentioned) and sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause the vibrant colours of butterflies and beetles to fade dramatically over time. Display your shadow boxes away from windows or direct UV exposure. Occasional checks for any signs of pest activity or damage inside the box are also wise.
Creating insect displays is a uniquely rewarding hobby. It combines patience, a gentle touch, an eye for detail, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. It allows you to engage with nature on a micro-level, transforming something often overlooked into a lasting piece of art that captures the incredible intricacy of life. Each finished piece is not just a preserved insect; it’s a moment of natural wonder, frozen in time.
