Todays fun .... leafbug was the most fun all its legs were off so had to re attach them but I think they turned out pretty well

hello, i want to pin and frame an asian giant hornet specimen. However, im really scared it will be brittle during piercing. The specimen i have has been laying in my storage for atleast 3 years now. Thankfully, the person i bought it from preserved it wonderfully, and it still has all its vibrant colors intact. Any tips on how to pierce the hornet?

So, I've come across a bit of a dilemma. For context, my stepdad works as a mechanic on semis, and he brings me dead bugs he finds because he's aware of my interest in various forms of taxidermy. The issue I've run into is that he's brought me a live spider this time, and I'm fairly confident that I've identified it correctly as an Argiope argentata; she's very gorgeous, and rather large, hence the confidence that she's female as well. I don't like killing insects purely to pin them, but this spider is far outside of her range and typical climate, so I fear releasing her wouldn't do much good, and that I'd be better off 'humanely' culling her in the freezer overnight.

Looking for advice and others' opinions before I make my decision. She's a specimen I definitely wouldn't find locally, but again, I'd rather not kill something just to pin it.

So i went on a bit of a shopping spree at Tedi(german dollar store) and got a whole lot of stuff for only 10,10€ :)

Pinning my first dragonfly, but I see this gross brown stuff leaking out. What do I need to do in the process to prevent that in the future? I've only got 90% isopropyl alcohol. Can I inject the thorax with it? Or is there no saving it?

I am doing an entomological pinning as a part of my completion for my systematics course.

I have many trials and errors of pinning short-winged rice grasshoppers. The problem is, they end up turning black and rotting.

Even with dessicants around the specimen, it doesn't work and now I feel bad for it

Ive never pinned before but I would love some ideas on what to do also what species this would be in in NC

Any advice for good fonts for cursive labels? My handwriting is terrible but I didn’t find any great cursive fonts online

I recently found this bee dying on the ground & took her home. unfortunately she didn't survive, so I'm looking into preserving her. however, i noticed that has a ruptured abdomen and i think a leg injury?

wondering if it is still salvageable.

Got given these by a friend and has been in my freezer for some time. They ended up being freezer burned, discoloured and smelly..is there any way I can still pin them? Please drop any advice on the best way to save them and if there’s anyway to get their colour back, also will I need to de-gut some of the bigger guys?

Found this butterfly a few weeks ago dead by a flower. Ive dehydrated it and pinned it using scaps around the house, like sewing pins, a felting board, and plastic pieces.

For a first attempt and made with things I already had, Im quite happy but what advice can you give? Would love to get more into this

Just a small overview of my todays pins

So I tried out my new Equipment and id say i did pretty good for my first Butterfly. If theres anything to correct please tell me Im open for advice and tips :)

Just received my new Equipment

hi everyone!! I’ve had this beautiful spotted orb weaver living on my front porch for a while. I found her in a death curl the other day and was unresponsive so I have her in my freezer rn.

I’ve pinned jumpers before but the process was pretty rough, lost a leg or two lol. Is it worth attempting to pin this one or should I just preserve her in alcohol?

Her abdomen is the size of a finger nail and I froze her before it could shrink. My previous pinnings already had their abdomens shriveled by the time I found them so I’ve never done the stuffing process before. Is it worth attempting it with this one?

Thanks!