How to Pin Insects

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How to Pin Insects

• A Guide to Pin Placement for Different Specimens

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Pin Height

• Mount the insect about 1 inch up on the pin (1/4
  of pin left at the top)
• For large insects, there should be enough above
  the specimen to allow easy handling.

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Mounting on Points

• Insects that are too small to pin must be mounted
  on points. A point is a small triangular piece
  of card stock.
• The pin goes through the thick part of the point.
  The insect is glued to the point of the triangle.

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Mounting on Points

• Look on page 13 of your Peterson Field Guide for
  more information or for reference.

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Pinning Specimens

• When pinning your insects, be sure that the pin
  goes vertically through the insect. The pin
  should not be angled at all. If it is angled,
  the insect will look off center when place on the
  styrofoam.

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Pinning Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies

• You will need to pinch a few pieces out of your
  styrofoam to allow the body to sit in. This
  allows the wings to dry perfectly flat instead of
  angled above the body.

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Mounting Butterflies

• The pin should enter the top of the thorax (just
  behind the head).
• The butterfly should be mounted 1 inch up the pin.

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Mounting Butterflies

• Place the butterfly on your styrofoam and place 2
  pins on each side of the body.
• Then, use a pin to move the forewing to
  perpendicular (90 degree angle) to the body-Do on
  both sides

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Mounting Butterflies

• Place pins into the hindwing on an angle. This
  helps keep the wings flat.
• Then, place 2 pins on both sides of the abdomen
  to help support it. They will cross underneath
  the abdomen.

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Mounting Moths

• The pin should enter the top of the thorax (just
  behind the head).
• The moth should be mounted 1 inch up the pin.

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Mounting Moths

• When the first pin is in place, you will want to
  move the wings into the same position as you
  would with a butterfly (see Mounting Butterflies)
• Also, support the abdomen in the same way.

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Mounting Dragonflies

• Place pin through the thorax (in between the
  wings).
• Mount the dragonfly 1 inch up on the pin.

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Mounting Dragonflies

• You will need to spread the wings and support the
  abdomen just as you did with butterflies (see
  Mounting Butterflies).

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Mounting Beetles

• Pin placement should be through the right elytra

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Mounting Bees, Wasps or Flies

• Pin through the thorax, a little behind the
  forewings

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Mounting Stink Bugs

• Pin through the V-shaped shield (scuttelum), to
  the right of middle line

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Mounting Grasshoppers

• Pin through the thorax to the right of the
  middle line

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Mounting Labels

• Mount the location/date label 5/8 up on the pin.
• Mount the collectors name about 3/8 up on the
  pin.

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