Care Guide

With the right care entomological frames can look beautiful & last for hundreds of years. In fact, the oldest specimen is still on display at the Oxford Museum after being pinned over 300 years ago!

Caring for your new insect art is easy, and requires very little effort. There are a few key aspects to ensure no problems arise:

Cleaning

If your piece has collected some dust a microfibre cloth can be used to clean the outside. Some window cleaner can be used sparingly if needed. Generally, your specimen will stay clean as long as your frame or dome remains closed. If some dust has collected on the insect itself it can be cleaned using a very soft bristled paintbrush. Gently brush away the dust from the insect, using very little pressure. A gentle blow can also help clear away any debris from the specimen. 

Keep Moisture Out

Moisture and high humidity are probably the biggest threats to your frames. At best your specimens could lose their shape and become disfigured, at worst you could get mould growth! To avoid such problems keep your frame in a dry area with adequate ventilation. Be thoughtful about where you choose to display your frames, that means no steamy bathrooms! To be super specific, a humidity level under 50% is ideal, but don't stress if you can't maintain that figure just for your butterflies, so long as they're dry and in a bright location they will be just fine. 

Sun Protection

Just like us, insect specimens need protecting from the suns harsh rays. With too much exposure to the sun, insects, particularly butterfly and moth wings, can become sun bleached. After prolonged period of sun exposure insects lose their colour & become frail. Some species actually look quite pretty when sun bleached, however if you want to keep your specimen as colourful & as natural as possible, avoiding lots of sunlight is best. It is hard to resist a glistening butterfly in the light, after all, this is when their shimmery wings are best appreciated! Displaying your insects in a well lit area of a bright room allows you enjoy all their beauty, so long as they're out of direct sunlight. 

Storing your Specimens

If you need to store your specimens for an extended period of time it's wise to take some measures to ensure your specimens will stay safe and dry. When stored away in the dark framed insects can develop mould and attract pests. There's nothing worse than pulling out a beloved frame only to find it has been eaten away at! Make sure where you store your insects is dry and generally maintains a low humidity. Desiccant packets come in handy and can be put inside frames and domes to absorb moisture and deter Book Lice. You could also store them with an insecticide, such as moth balls. It's a good idea to do a quick health check your collection every couple of months while in storage to make sure nothing is going awry. 

Protect your Insects from Insects!

Unfortunately, your bugs can get infested with other, less desirable bugs. The two pests that are most commonly encountered in insect displays are Book Lice (Liposcelis bostrychophilus) and Dermestid Beetles (Dermestes maculatus). Avoiding infestation from these insects is much easier than eradicating them once they're established. The best way to deter them is to keep your frames dry and in a bright location. Pests love dark, damp areas where mould can grow. A great preventative measure when getting a new specimen is to 'quarantine' them on arrival by freezing the whole piece, which will kill any pests and their eggs, while keeping your preserved insects safe. It's recommended to do this if you have a lots of insect or taxidermy specimens, as pests can quickly decimate entire collections. 

If you're concerned about pests in your specimens, simply wrap the item up in a plastic bag & place in the freezer for 24-72 hours. When taking the frame out ensure you place it in a bright, well ventilated area to thaw so that any condensation dries out quickly. Freezing will not damage your insect or frame. 

Overall, maintaining your insect collection is pretty easy! There's not much you need to do to keep your specimens in tip top shape so that you can enjoy them for many years, even decades. Now all you have to do is sit back and admire them!