Making an insect collection of your own can be a very rewarding experience. Before you begin, you will need to familiarize yourself with the basics: where to find insects, how to capture them, and how to properly kill, mount, label, and display them.

The following links will help you get started (under construction):

• Collecting Insects

• Relaxing an Insect for Pinning

• Setting Up a Relaxing Chamber

• Mounting and Preserving Insects

• Spreading a Butterfly

• Labeling

• Storing and Displaying Your Collection

Virtual Insect Collection Lab

Check out our Virtual Insect Collection Lab! This interactive game will demonstrate all the essential methods for proper insect curation.