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Pinning very small insects requires specialized techniques that differ from standard pinning methods. Insects smaller than 10mm are too delicate for direct pinning with standard insect pins—attempting to do so will damage or destroy the specimen. Instead, entomologists use point mounting, minuten pins, or slide mounting to preserve and display these tiny specimens.
Size guidelines: 10mm and larger use standard direct pinning, 5-10mm need point mounting, 2-5mm require minuten pins or point mounting, and under 2mm need slide mounting. Common insects requiring special techniques include small beetles, tiny flies, small bees and wasps, ants, parasitic wasps, micro-moths, aphids, thrips, and springtails.
Point mounting is the standard technique for insects 5-10mm in size. The insect is glued to a small triangular card point, which is then pinned.
Stiff white card stock, point punch or scissors, standard insect pins (size 2-3), water-soluble archival glue, fine forceps, pinning block, magnifying glass, and fine brush for applying glue.
1. Create triangular point 8-10mm long, 3-4mm wide at base. 2. Insert standard pin through wide end of triangle. 3. Apply tiny drop of glue on point tip. 4. Using forceps, press insect's right side onto glue drop. 5. Position horizontally facing forward, glue touching thorax not abdomen. 6. Adjust while wet, allow to dry 1-24 hours.
Insect glued on right side (standard convention), allows examination of underside and legs, use minimal glue, ensure consistency in point size, labels go on pin below point.
Minuten pins are ultra-fine pins (0.1-0.2mm diameter) used for insects 2-5mm in size. Process: Insert minuten pin through insect at standard location, mount minuten pin in small cork block, insert standard pin through cork block for handling. Requires microscope and excellent manual dexterity.
For insects under 2mm (aphids, scale insects, thrips, fleas, lice). Specimen preserved in alcohol, cleared in potassium hydroxide, mounted in Canada balsam on glass slide, covered with coverslip, examined under compound microscope.
By size: 10mm+ standard pinning, 7-10mm direct or point mounting, 5-7mm point mounting, 3-5mm point or minuten pins, 2-3mm minuten or slide, under 2mm slide mounting required. By purpose: display collections use point mounting, scientific study uses minuten pins or slides.
Magnifying glass (5-10x), dissecting microscope (10-40x), LED ring light, fine forceps, micro-forceps, point punch, pinning block, fine brushes, card stock, archival glue, minuten pins, cork or pith blocks.
Too much glue obscures features—use minimal amount. Specimen crooked—adjust while wet. Bent minuten pins—work slowly with support. Damaged specimens—use finer forceps and magnification. Inconsistent points—invest in point punch.
Practice with common species first, ensure good lighting and stable work surface, always use forceps never fingers, work slowly and deliberately, take breaks to avoid eye strain, keep specimens moist during preparation.
Preparing very small insects requires specialized equipment, considerable skill, and significant time investment. Many collectors prefer professionally prepared specimens that offer expert technique, proper mounting methods, consistent appearance, and immediate usability.
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