r/insectpinning

I've had this bumblebee for a while and it grew like dusty mold so y cleaned him and put him on silica for two or three weeks (bc I forgot). Is there a way to make sure there isn't any humidity inside of the bottle?

as an autistic guy with an insect obsession i feel like i just found my niche, it’s genuinely SO fun to do for some reason??
also, any tips for a starter like me?

The last 2 days I have been spending extra time with him as I knew he wasn't going to live much longer. I didn't sleep in two night as I was constantly checking up on him. I took him outside twice and he absolutely loved it. Yesterday I took some special photos of us together.

He was my emotional support pet this entire year. I wouldn't have made it till this point without him. I've been crying A LOT as he was very special to me.

I just put him in the freezer in an airtight container. I'm planning to learn pinning so I can preserve him. Any tips appreciated.

Leaf, you were so unique. You had your own little sassy personality, and always managed to make me smile with your cute behaviour. Thank you for being my study buddy who sat on my blinds staring at me. Thank you for climbing over my PC and engineering drawings that you found so interesting. Thank you for trusting me to handle you despite refusing to let anyone else get near you without a judgmental glare. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you most, for sitting on me when I cried, just being a gentle presence I desperately needed. Thank you for everything. I hope you enjoyed your time with me as much as I did with you. I will always love and miss you so much, my sweetest baby. I promise I will take good care of your favourite plant while you are resting. Be happy and free until we meet again. 💚🌿🙏

I'm trying to get an estimate for how much this pin box would be worth. I've never sold any of my stuff before but I'd like to start, I'm just not sure what a good price would be for something like this.

My first pinned beetle, a female Grant’s Rhino Beetle that I found on a sidewalk.
I made this little display for my tattoo artist because she absolutely loves bugs and taxidermy and has several pieces already. I hope she likes it. 🩷

Hi guys, I don't know where else I can talk about this. Also english is not my first language.

I had 2 beautiful white tiger moths (big and small) and 2 black moths (big and small, I could find their names). All of them absolutely gorgeous

I pinned them 2 weeks ago, and I wasn't able to frame them because I had to travel and also I have to make my own shadow box so it takes time. So I kept them under my table because my cabinets are already full thats the only shadowed place I had left

I had this beautiful idea of making the frame half black and half white, and put the black moths on the white side and the white mithes on the black sides, potraying them as "two sides of moon".

Today, finally I was done with my shadow box and ither stuff, but when I lifted the cover off the styrofoam, this is what I saw.

I don't want to sound dramatic, but I was devastated. Not because I lost my next pieces to frame, but because they were once alive. And when I caught them I promised to myself I'll make the most beautiful frame for them to honor their beauty. And now they're like this. I didn't let them live their life and I couldn't even take care of them after. And I feel the worst person rn and I regret my decision.

I am pretty sure someone in my family did this, but confronting them is useless because they don't understand. Insects disgust them and they will just say "just catch another one".

Please tell me if I can do anything else with what little I have, because I just can't let these beautiful little beings go.

I didn't know what to expect or what was needed but I grabbed Styrofoam, sewing pins and parchment paper from in the house and went for it. I have to start somewhere and I enjoyed it enough I believe I'll invest in some proper tools. After he dries he will absolutely be on display in a frame. What a lovely hobby and I'm stoked to learn more.

My friend found this dead cecropia moth in her garden and it was just too cool not to keep. I've never pinned anything before, but found a lot of helpful advice here. It's definitely not a perfect specimen as the wings have a few rips and the antennae are missing, but I love it and I'm super happy I was able to get the wings spread more. I can't wait for it to finish drying back out and get it into a shadowbox.

I started pinning bugs this year so am still very new to everything, I pinned my first May bug right at the beginning of May (pictured) but at the time wasn't aware that larger bodied insects get super oily and absolutely reek during the drying process. It is what it is with the specimen I've already done as there is no way in hell I'm attempting the wings again, but I have found 2 more may bugs in the meantime which I would like to pin.

I've done some research on here and found a lot of recommendations for an acetone bath in 100% pure acetone, which I have just purchased, but just wanted to seek some advice so I don't miss anything else glaringly obvious this time round.

Firstly, is it better to put the insect in the acetone dry or already rehydrated? And if I do put it in dry will the acetone rehydrate the specimen for me?

Secondly, how long should I leave a large beetle like a may bug in there?

Also, I've been reassured that it will not but would rather double check than risk it, will this damage the insect in any way such as changing colouration or causing shrivelling? If so is there a better way to do this other than cut the beetle open (I'm clumsy and have poor eyesight and do not trust myself to not destroy it).

Finally, is there anything I can do for the existing beetle (he is no longer on the polystyrene) to make him a bit less greasy without ruining the effort I went to to pin him? I've already accepted its just gonna be a bit of an oily early attempt so I wont be heartbroken if the answer is no lmao.

I have stainless steel pins and a glass jar to use and the insects I'm looking to soak are unpinned and not on polystyrene (not trying to accidentally create napalm).

Appreciate any advice or pointers anyone may have.

I have a pet jumper who recently passed and Im searching for someone who is willing to make or someone who knOws someone willing to make art with him so I can have him preserved

edit: I live in nebraska but im willing to find someone online and pay for shipping along with obviously paying for it to be done and shipped back

my brother in law has raised stick insects and this one has just sadly died. he is giving it to me to pin but i was just wondering if i will have to gut this one or will it just be ok for me to rehydrate and pin then just let it dry normally? he looks quite chunky so im not too sure. hes only just passed and is currently in the freezer!

I've been pinning bugs for years, but just pinned this one. Absolutely stunning with the extra clear parts in the wings. 😍

Has anyone seen an atlas moth like this before?

I think I added too much water to rehydrate and got some white mold. Any advice on what to do? I'm pinning it for a friend

I have no clue how to pin it he’s fragile

Don’t accidentally pin too close to your wings! I did on this trying a new technique. Glued a wingtip back on, too.

Finally finished this dome yesterday evening! One of my biggest challenges yet with posing. There’s nothing assisting the lanternfly to hold its position currently. Pinning this was a three hour balancing act with pins and foam, then I glued the three feet down and let evening dry for over a week. Believe it or not I actually pinned this insect MONTHS before I began working on the base. So I think it’s safe to assume it will hold position nicely as long as it’s well taken care of by whoever owns it!