Insect Pinning Disaster - Fixing a Dragonfly Tail and Leg

At the beginning of the summer I knew this years goal was to:

1. teach the kids hands on pinning and

2. catch a dragonfly.

Insects have their seasonal cycles, so dragonfly's wouldn't be found until August through September.

Insect Pinning Disaster - Fixing a Dragonfly Tail and Leg

Our first goal was achieved and fast. Baby girl started pinning quickly. We organized and outing with our cousins to go bug collecting and pin some specimens (that I gathered previously) to pin when we get back home. That was a fun day helping get others addicted to our hobby.

Back to dragonflies. We had a wonderful friend send us a "Lion Ant" dragonfly she found near her home in McHenry County. We talked about packaging him securely in a plastic bag, adding him to a box a firm envelope so he doesn't break further. Yes we get everyone involved in our collecting! ! ! And all are welcome!

You can see that the specimen had its limb and tail broken off. However, no worries, we can easily fix these kind of problems.


First pin the dragonfly. Luckily I didn't have to rehydrate (soften) the specimen.

Then using as little clear nail polish as possible, I attached the limb. I tend to blow on the glue spot (where the Nail polish is added) to quicken the drying process.

An Impromptu Bug Collection during Autumn Break - Our Family Hobby Insect Collecting

During our annual trip to Wisconsin Dells, we stay at my dads home there. And it's always fun "opening" the cabin. We have to turn on the water, heat, and usually in the Autumn and Early Winter, Sweeps up the Guests who are coming in to hibernate and excape from the cold. In 2011 we had just begun bug collecting, as you can read about here.

An Impromptu Bug Collection during Autumn Break - Our Family Hobby Insect Collecting

During this trip on October 23, 2012 we found a significant amount of lady bugs, western conifers, and a few flies and an ear wig. I am assuming all were headed indoors for hibernation, however the lack of food killed them. The reason this box is impromptu is because I had NO bug collecting supplies with me. Nothing for pinning either. So what does a mom do when her kids suggest what we just swept up be collected? We went to walgreens in downtown Wisconsin Dells.

At walgreens I found a Ferraro Roche Chocolates clear box, $11 for the benefit of having to eat the chocolates too. Straight Pins set $3. And El Cheapo Clear Nail Polish for $0.99. (Nowadays I always have my "good clear polish" with me that I could've become a donation to the collection. I would reuse polish after it's been bug touching. Paper and styrofoam were readily available at the cabin because my dad keeps stuff - not alot - but just enough "just incase" it's needed. So the garage had some styrofoam left over from a delivery he had. Yaay.

Tips for Pinning Bugs Beyond the Basics and Helpful Tips even vacation

As you know our Family Hobby is Bug Collecting. This year the kids are each getting there own box to fill, with pinned bugs that they will pin and stage completely on their own. I Can. Not. Wait!  I recently blogged about pinning a House Centipede through a series of photos, see it here. 

Tips for Pinning Bugs Beyond the Basics and Helpful Tips even vacation

AS I wrote my draft I realized there's a series of tips to consider when pinning. I hope this is helpful to anyone who has been pinning for years, and for beginners.

Here are a few tips I have collected on pinning bugs. Happy Pinning!


These bugs were collected at Loyola Beach in Chicago. I picked up what I thought were 7 bugs, they turned out to be 28 of them! Attached together in sandy bits.