Starting a collection
How to - Preparing your insect specimens
 

Welcome to our "How To" section. We get asked so often about how to prepare specimens that we have provided these easy to use instructions. Of course there are many, many ways, some easy and some hard. There is definitely no one correct way to "set or spread" insects, but you have to start somewhere. We have set out below some methods which will get you started easily, and quickly. They may, or may not be the best, and we are sure that as you go along you will all discover and develop your very own "style".

Well here goes, click the section you would like to view.

LEPIDOPTERA - BUTTERFLIES

What you will need

Pinning

Relaxing

Manipulating

Setting or Spreading

COLEOPTERA - BEETLES

What you will need Manipulating Legs
Relaxing Setting your specimen legs only
Setting your specimen wings open Some examples of Finished specimens

ODONATA - DRAGONFLIES

How to prepare your Dragonfly specimens