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How are insect specimens made?

2024-02-05 01:54:35 33

Insect specimens are prepared into dry, well-preserved specimens for easy study, research and display. The following is a detailed introduction to insect specimen preparation:

1. Material preparation

  • Insects: Select intact and undamaged insects for taxidermy.

  • Tools: including insect pliers, insect scissors, insect needles, insect collection bottles, desiccant, specimen boxes, etc.

2. Preparation

  • Remove and kill the insects. Commonly used methods include alcohol, anesthetic gas, freezing, etc.

  • For insects preserved in liquid form, store them in an alcohol bottle.

  • For dry-preserved insects, proceed to the next step of the production process.

3. Cleaning and Preparation

  • Place the insect on a damp cloth or paper towel and gently clean away dirt and debris.

  • Flatten the insect and trim irregular parts such as wings and legs to ensure the specimen is tidy.

4. Drying treatment

  • Place the insect in a desiccant, such as silica gel or drying alcohol, to remove moisture from the insect's body and avoid decay.

  • Drying time depends on insect size and humidity and generally ranges from days to weeks.

5. Fixation and protection

  • Use insect pins or tiny clips to spread and secure the insects to the display board.

  • Place a specimen label to indicate the name of the insect, collection location, collection time and other information.

  • Place the specimen in a desiccator to ensure it is completely dry and preserved.

6. Storage and display

  • Store the prepared insect specimens in a dry, cool and well-ventilated place.

  • Use special insect specimen boxes or display boxes for storage to avoid dust and moisture.

  • Insect specimens may be used for teaching, academic research, or exhibition as desired.

Insect specimen preparation requires time, patience and a certain amount of expertise to ensure that the insect specimens are well preserved and display their characteristics. Correct preparation methods can ensure that specimens are preserved for a long time and can be used for study and research. If you are interested in making insect specimens, it is recommended that you learn step by step in practice and maintain meticulous operations.


animal tags: insect specimen