The best method for preserving insects, as in mounting them in display boxes?

Question

what is the best way for me to preserve insects in that sort of general way?

Answer 1

It depends on your purpose. Collections for scientific purposes are usually mounted on pins, with a paper label in black India ink that lists the county and date where the insect was found. Insects that are too small for a pin are glued to small pieces of paper that are attached to pins.

If you want to display the insects for aesthetic purposes, or without pins, a case called a Riker mount is used. It is basically a clear plastic case filled with a very fine cotton/paper filler (like a cotton ball). When using Riker mounts with butterflies, you have to make sure the insects dry with the wings open, or the insect will fall apart when you try to mount it.

Answer 2

I collect a lot of bugs, and animals. I have to keep the animals with endoskeletons in liquid, like fermaldhyde and alchohol. With insects your really dont have to do much prep to display them. They have exoskeletons, so it isnt like there is any tissue you have to try to preserve.

You can go to a medical supply store, and get little vials, and put the bugs in them, or get foam board and pins.

There is a local store, near my home in la that sells a ton of this stuff, you can look at thier website for ideas.

www.necormance.com