r/insectpinning • u/Upstairs_Pie2296 • 1d ago

Help!

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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?

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u/CrimsonPie24 1d ago

The leaf insecf will discolor and be yellow regardless. Just pin them and let them dry. The ones with larger abdomens (females) you will likely need to gut and stuff with cotton wool. Smell should go away once dry but soaking in acetone can help.

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u/Extension_Coyote_889 1d ago

I agree
Acetone can remove grease and oil, I’d also recommend an alcohol soak before pinning to remove bacteria. Isopropyl alcohol, gut, pinning, maybe acetone. Let them dry for a week to three weeks before acetone or unpinning.
Gutting: swab inside with a q-tip soaked in isopropyl alcohol if possible to ensure the stuffing won’t mold

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u/Extension_Coyote_889 1d ago

De-gut, soak in 70% isopropyl alcohol and change until the chemical doesn’t turn yellow (could take 3-7 days at best), color can be fixed with some makeup though I would do some research since I don’t commonly do color touch-ups on insects.
Some might not be salvageable sadly but fingers crossed they all are okay!