Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Interesting. I have been planning on picking up some modeling clay but in the mean time I glued a half peach pit to a stick which I hold in an alligator clip on a bracket (from Radio Shack 20-30 years ago, they had a gadget with magnifying glass and two clips on a set of adjustable rods). Then the fun part, fishing a bug out of the vodka and perching it on the peach pit trying for a natural look. Legs don't want to co-operate, sneezing is not allowed. Fun times. My lab jack (from China) is rather sloppy and I have not been using it since working out the alligator clip plan.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Don, clear fingernail polish is a handy tool to set small specimens in place. It can be brushed on extremely thin and it can be dabbed with a needle for pinpoint size drops. Super Glue tends to set too fast and many times I would not get the pin or whatever in the right position or the subject would move on me and end up in some weird position.

When staging a "setting" like putting an insect on a twig with leaves first pin its body to the twig or other object or a card. Slide the specimen up or down the pin to a height that will look natural for its legs. Then...put a tiny dab of nail polish where you want a leg to go. Use a sewing needle as a prod to move the leg into position. I stick mine into a pencil eraser and I hold the pencil making it much easier to manipulate. Move the foot of the leg into the nail polish and just hold it there for a few moments. It will tack up and hold the leg in place.

If you don't like it, use some nail polish remover to remove the dab of polish and try again where it looks better. One by one and then you will have your staged specimen.

Specimens can be "relaxed" by putting them in a rubber container with paper towels damped with vinegar like used for pickling with a lid and left to sit overnight at room temperature. Larger and specimens that have been dead and dry for quite some time will take longer to relax.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

WOW! Thanks for these tips!