Drying:

Place your styrofoam board with your pinned insect in a closet or cabinet away from small children and pets in a temperature and humidity stable room.  It will take anywhere from a 5-10 days for the exoskeleton to harden and be ready for display.  Do not leave your specimen on the board for longer than needed as you risk exposing it to pests.  Check your insect every few days.  You will know it’s ready when you can remove pins and the appendages/wings stay in place.

Display:

Once your specimen is fully dried, carefully remove the pins and lift your specimen from the board.  You are now ready to choose a display for your insect!  Make sure you measure the depth of your specimen as many frames are not deep enough to accommodate your insect.  If you are not ready to display your dried insect, store it in an airtight container.

I recommend using hot glue for a more temporary bond or an epoxy glue (e.g. E6000) for a permanent bond.  The glue can be directly applied to the insect and then adhered to the frame backing.  Wait for the glue to fully dry before hanging.  Hang your frame out of direct sunlight to avoid fading over time and always keep your insect in a temperature and humidity stable room. 

Maintenance:

Check your specimen a few times a year for signs of insect damage or mold.  You may notice holes in the exoskeleton or small piles of “saw dust” in the bottom of the frame.  Both are signs of pest damage.  Freeze the entire frame immediately for 48 hours to kill any pests.  Open the frame and brush away any debris with a small brush.  The sooner you notice pests, the better.  They can completely destroy your specimen if not caught in time.

If your specimen has been exposed to fluctuating humidity, there is a chance it may begin to grow mold.  If you notice mold growing, freeze the entire frame for 48hrs.  Open the frame and remove any mold from the specimen with forceps and an acetone soaked Qtip or paintbrush.  Clean the rest of the frame with Clorox and glass cleaner. Dry your insect and frame with a small fan before closing.  You may wish to switch out the frames if you suspect the mold has spread into the wood.

Repair:

Accidents happen!  If you drop your insect or break off a leg when removing it from the pinning board, it is usually repairable with some patience.  Elmer’s glue works great to reattach any lost appendages.  Apply a small amount to the appendage. Allow the glue to dry partially before adhering it to the insect body. You can use pins to support the appendage while the glue fully dries.  Elmer’s is water soluble, which makes it incredibly forgiving.  If you are unhappy with your repair, you can apply a small amount of water to dissolve the glue and start over.

Please note that if your specimen has sustained large amounts of pest damage, the specimen may be too brittle to repair.  

You can always contact me through the website if you have any questions about maintaining and repairing your specimen and I will be happy to help.  With proper care, your display can last hundreds of years!