168 



SCHOOL ENTOMOLOGY 



107. Method of Pinning Insects. 



The preparation of the specimens 

 for the cabinet or exhibition case 

 requires some care, lots of patience, 

 and as much practice as one can 

 get. Beetles should be pinned 

 through the right wing cover, 

 near the base. So should grass- 

 hoppers and their relatives. All 

 other insects should be pinned 

 through the middle of the thorax 

 between the bases of the front 

 wings. The pin should be so placed 

 as to have the head of the insect 

 slightly higher than the opposite 

 end, and about one-fourth or one- 

 fifth of the length of the pin 

 should be allowed to project above 

 the body of the insect. 



Different sizes of pins are made 

 so that the different insects may 

 be accommodated. Nevertheless, 

 there are many kinds that are 

 too small to be pinned without 

 serious damage. These may be 

 mounted on points. Points are 

 made usually of stiff paper or light 

 cardboard cut into " points" one- 

 fourth inch long and about one- 



FIG. 120. Methods of Pinning Insects. 



1, Beetle, showing ajant of body on pin; 2, 

 beetle showing where pin is inserted ; 3, grass- 

 hopper, showing where pin is inserted ; 4, true 

 bug, showing where pin is inserted ; 5, pointed 

 insect, showing method of pointing. 



