Specimens can be obtained in a variety of ways, including here on the BicBugs website. Specimens can be shipped flat in a wax-paper protective seal, leaving the styling to the individual (step 2.1). Specimens can also be collected outside in non-protected areas, by hand, with a net, or trap. When collecting specimens outside it is possible to obtain a butterfly dead or alive. When dead or dying, you will typically find the insect laying on the ground. If alive, the insect must be humanely euthanized prior to pinning (step 2.2). The longer the insect has been laying on the ground, the more damage it may have collected.
Step 2.1: Removing the Insect from the Wax paper
Carefully peel the paper from the bug, instead of pulling the bug from the paper. Use scissors instead of pulling when needed. The specimen is delicate and should be handled carefully, with special attention paid to the wings, legs, and antennae.
Step 2.2: Freezing the Insect
If the specimen has been collected alive- there is the issue of humanely freezing or otherwise euthanizing the insect. It is typically recommended as the kinder option to freeze specimens. Frozen insects will be ready to pin within 24 hours. Once confirmed deceased and thawed, you may proceed into the next step.
Step 3: Rehydrating the Insect
In some cases the insect needs to be rehydrated, typically when collected dead and air-dried, or purchased in a wax-papered format. When the insect is too brittle to pin, rehydrating is necessary- otherwise joints and delicate body parts may snap. Rehydration can be performed by placing a dampened paper towel and the insect in an airtight tupperware container to absorb moisture. Allow the insect to sit in the container for a few hours up to a day, elevated so as to not directly come into contact with the moisture (I used torn cardboard rolls to elevate the specimens). Be careful not to leave the container brewing for too long, as the specimens may start to mold and mildew.
Step 4: Pinning the Body
Place an insect pin in the center of the butterfly’s abdomen; if you own a butterfly mounting board, pin the body at a lower elevation than the wings in the long divot (see photo). A structure of this sort can also be constructed from reused Styrofoam for a similar effect. If neither of these options are possible, the insect may be pinned on a flat permeable surface. To speak to the DIY nature of pinning with what one has available, I am simply utilizing insect pins and a bulletin board in absence of Styrofoam and other professional materials. The moth I am pinning is a Virginian Tiger Moth, Spilosoma virginica.
Step 5: Pinning the Wings
Once the body is pinned, the wings are next. The pins never need to be directly poked through the delicate membrane of the wings, as this often leads to tearing. Instead, we can utilize wax paper to plaster the wings down without damaging their scales. The wax paper can be cut into thin strips and pinned vertically above and below the wings, so that the wings are in a position the entomologist is satisfied with. Pinning on the wax paper as near to the wing as possible will hold the specimen down tightly.
Optional: Antennae!
Some lepidopterans, such as large moths, have beautiful and intricate antennae that you may wish to draw attention to. If this is the case, pins can be secured in a “x” formation in order to hold the antennae in place.
Step 6: Dehydrating the Insect
Once the insect is pinned in a manner you are pleased with, allow it to rest in position for at least 24 hours. If the pins are removed too soon, the insect will not stiffen in place correctly. This is a long and tedious process that will result in a pristine subject well worth the wait!
Step 7: Labeling
If you own a pinning block, it will be helpful to standardize the height of the attached labels. When labeling, it is best to use a heavy cardstock and write legibly in black ink. Small rectangular cuts of paper should be used, pierced underneath and parallel to the specimen. On the top label- Include locality information such as City and State or the GPS coordinates from collection. Include the date (month/year), and the name of the collector. On the bottom label include taxonomic identity Family (uppermost), and Genus and species (bottommost). If there is additional information you wish to include, you may add another label bottommost, and scribe any details such as habitat or collection method that may be useful.
Image Credits
Walker, A. K., Fitton, M. G., Vane-Wright, D., & Carter, D. J. (1999). Pinning position for Lepidoptera [Figure]. In Insects and other invertebrates. ResearchGate.
Home Science Tools. (n.d.). Insect pinning block. Home Science Tools – Insect Pinning Block
Oregon State University Extension. (n.d.). Pinning and labeling insects: How to pin and label insects [Image]. Oregon State University. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pinning-labeling-insects-how-pin-label-insects
If there’s a buggy story in particular that you’d like to see us share, let us know by emailing support@bicbugs.com
Charles Henry Turner, born February 3rd 1876, was an American entomologist that published foundational studies for future research into insect behavior. Contrary to his predecessors, Turner believed that insect behavior was not solely a result of machine-like biological reflexes, but that their behavior was influenced by psychological and environmental factors. He was one of the first entomologists to consider the presence of “animal personality” in bugs and insects, and their ability to learn.
Turner became one of the first Black Americans to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Cincinnati, and the very first Black American to receive a PhD from the University of Chicago. He later also became the first Black American to have their research published in the well known journal, Science. Despite his credentials and groundbreaking research, Turner struggled to find a career in higher academia, finding himself battling against the prejudiced American university institutions of the time. Eventually, he settled into a teaching position at Sumner High School, but continued his research and published 41 scientific studies throughout his time there.
Turner approached studying insect behavior with a psychological perspective, posturing that bugs were not “reflexive machines,” but had the ability to problem solve, maintain memories, learn, and have emotion. Spiders, ants, bees, wasps, and cockroaches were all subjects in his experiments to determine what factors influence bugs’ behaviors, and how they adapt to new environments and stimuli. One of Turner’s most impactful discoveries was the determination that bees can indeed distinguish between colors and recognize patterns, and use them as indicators for navigation and feeding. For these experiments, Turner placed several colored and patterned dishes with jam around a park, and observed the behavior of the bees that visited the dishes. The bees eventually learned (and remembered) which colors and patterns held the food, and even at which time of day the food would be present. These studies implied that insects possess complex brain functions, and did not rely only on biological instinct to live.
Another study conducted by Turner involved the first ever recorded instance of Pavlovian conditioning with insects. In order to prove that moths could hear sound, Turner trained several moths to associate a high pitch frequency with being handled, so anytime they heard the noise, the moths would start to vibrate their wings in anticipation. Similarly, Turner was also able to teach cockroaches to avoid dark areas, and to stay in the light. These studies showed that bugs were capable of learning, and retaining those lessons learned, which was revolutionary in a time when insect behavior was not well understood.
By the time Turner retired from teaching high school in 1922, he had published over 50 articles, most to do with entomological studies, but also several on civil rights. Just like how he believed insects could learn, he believed that the civil rights movement could benefit from the overall education of the American people. Today, his work has been cited by over 70 contemporary publications, and has reshaped how researchers approach the study of insect and bug behavior.
If there’s a buggy story in particular that you’d like to see us share, let us know by emailing support@bicbugs.com
Watch this video for more information on the Entomologist Spotlight!
Question 1: What is it about the wonderful world of entomology that inspires you? Was there a particular experience or encounter with an insect that brought you to where you are today?
We have been collecting insects and exploring the captivating world of entomology ever since we can remember. We have always been intrigued by the diversity and the unique attributes that define each individual species. More recently, we have been inspired by the evolutionary relationships and physical variations within and between species. Entomology is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated fields of study, making us even more dedicated to sharing our knowledge through outreach and furthering entomology as a whole through research. The virtually infinite ways that innovation can be implemented within entomological trap designs further inspires us to think in unconventional ways, combining our entomological knowledge and creative engineering. –Connor Hsu and Cole Cramer
Cole
I would have to say that I have had multiple turning points in my entomological career, with one of the firsts being raising silkworms in kindergarten. I picked up 10-15 at the Bug Fair at the NHMLA, put them into a basic enclosure and reared them up- I actually owe a lot to my neighbor’s mulberry tree for the constant supply of food! The sound of them munching on the mulberry leaves at night in my quiet bedroom is something I will never forget. As they started searching for places to cocoon, I distinctly remember building a “toilet paper roll tower” for them. I had everyone in my family saving their empty toilet paper rolls. The tower worked perfectly and I’ll always remember those perfect white silk moths emerging from their oval cocoons. Another cool experience was with mantids when I was in second grade. I had found an ooth in our backyard in the late fall and put it into a box, placed it under my dad’s work bench and honestly forgot about it. A few months later in December, my Dad started to notice nymphs running around in the garage and called me out. I ran in, found my box, and opened it. To my complete surprise I found about 200 nymphs inside the box- it was then that I learned a warm California garage can override diapause, even in the middle of winter! And now that I think about it, this was likely the start of my interest in raising and breeding mantids- and how I started my business, Mantis Universe.
On top of this, a few years ago back in 2019, I was given the amazing opportunity by Alex and Victoria Bic to come out to Arizona and go on a collecting trip with them. I distinctly remember arriving at White Rock Campground, and being able to experience a white sheet turn brown for the first time -covered with countless species of moths and beetles. We set up multiple mercury vapor and black lights out in the middle of the Arizona desert. Once we set up the white bedsheets, it was just a waiting game for the insects to arrive, and we didn’t have to wait long. Dichotomius colonicus, Brasiella wickhami, Automeris cecrops, Eacles imperialis showed up to our light. For the first time, I felt like I was in heaven. I had never felt so alive and in that moment, I knew that this is what I was born to do.Collecting and recording specimens and their data had always been a dream of mine, and thanks to Alex and Victoria, that dream became a reality. It was truly an eye-opening experience and something I will never forget- and one that I am forever grateful to them for.
More recently a major pivotal point for me was last year when Dr. Paul Marek, an entomologist at Virginia Tech, invited me to participate in a subterranean pipe trap research project he was working on in SoCal. After spending a few days in the field with him and his team – and digging A LOT of holes! – I knew that I wanted to pursue entomology for life. This experience was really impactful to me- to be a part of a team, being in the field, doing what I love more than anything. A few months later, I was invited back to the lab at Virginia Tech, where I pinned specimens for the Entomology Collection, collected in the field, photographed specimens, and even worked with a PhD student on how to extract DNA from a new species of insect that I had collected in a subterranean pipe trap that I had implemented in San Diego. Which is likely a new species! Finding this endogean, a subterranean insect, truly made me realize the amount of entomological work that still needs to be completed, further inspiring me to continue on my path towards becoming a research entomologist. During my trip to Virginia, I was also fortunate enough to be able to explore Tawney’s cave with a Field Cave and Karst Scientist from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Natural Heritage. This really confirmed my passion for subterranean biology.
Connor
One of my most memorable experiences that shaped my entomological journey and life overall was making a lego figurine out of cheese cruds produced from milk and vinegar. Everyone in my second grade art class smashed these curds into molds and let them dry. After taking them out of the molds, we painted them to resemble our chosen dream job. My chosen job was an entomologist because I was so obsessed with finding bugs in my backyard and reading about them at the library. We made an acrostic poem using all of the letters of the career we selected, and I was so proud to have spelled entomologist correctly and thought of amazing words for my poem. I wrote: Excellent at studying bugs, Never any other animal, Terrific scientists, Oh I want to be an entomologist, My mother does not like bugs, Only I like bugs in my family, Loving every bug in history, Observing bugs is cool, Good at identifying bugs, It is hard work, Soon I will study bugs, Tries to figure out.
I was the only kid in my grade invited to present my project at the school board meeting and a local bookstore event the following month, and I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. That recognition made my interest feel significant rather than unusual, and it gave me the confidence to continue pursuing something so specific. From that moment on, I felt comfortable sharing my fascination with others about insects instead of seeing it as a weird interest. It encouraged me to keep learning, observing, and wondering curiously about everything related to insects. That early recognition helped shape my identity as someone who values the complexity of insects and the importance of studying them, and it remains one of the most influential experiences that set me on the path I continue to follow today.
As I grew older, that early confidence continued to shape the way I approached entomology. What began as a childhood fascination gradually developed into a more serious commitment to learning proper techniques, improving my skills, and seeking opportunities to deepen my understanding of the field. I began looking for experiences that would challenge me academically allowing my interest to grow even more.
Attending UC Davis’s Bio Boot camp was the most pivotal event of my entomological career, influencing and inspiring me to become more professional in my pinning practices, labeling practices, collecting, and so much more. After meeting Cole for the first time at Bio Boot camp, I immediately knew we would become best friends and continue our entomological journey together, learning together about anything from scientific names of insects to collecting strategies. Having a best friend who shared the same passion and who was just as motivated allowed us to inspire each other to progress and eventually start Lorquin Society Scholars. I can’t imagine that I would be where I am if it wasn’t for the experience I gained from Bio Boot Camp. After the first camp, I attended twice more and gained more insight on how to become a more professional entomologist. Since then, I have been lucky enough to have assisted in the research of Antarctic microbes at the National University of Taiwan with Dr. Matan Shelomi. Currently, I am collecting data for Dr. Shelomi for a research project that he is working on, which I wouldn’t have been able to do if it weren’t for the knowledge that I gained from all three Bio Boot Camp experiences.
Question 2: There are many ways to appreciate insects; they are adored by many for their appearance and cultural significance, but often people may not have a deeper understanding and appreciation for what they do for ecosystems and life on a greater scale. Why do you think this might be?
From what we have observed, it has been apparent that our society has adored insects primarily for their radiant and breathtaking patterns and colors. However, insects are often overlooked for their bigger purpose. Small organisms are assumed to have small impact. The public often only appreciates the beautiful qualities, but lacks the further curiosity and education to explore and understand the sheer complexity of insects: how they play a crucial role in our ecosystem, how they are a key group that keep everything in balance, and why we need to spend more time understanding them. Recognizing the importance of educating youth and our community about entomology led to the creation of Lorquin Society Scholars, a youth entomology group we founded to connect and educate like-minded students who share a passion for the field.
Question 3: The creation of the Lorquin Society Scholars established a space for you to connect and explore with other likeminded young scientists and has allowed you to become a steward for your club members and their curiosity. Does this responsibility inspire you to keep working towards larger goals? Are there any big upcoming projects you are excited about?
The Lorquin Society Scholars was founded in 2023 and we have since reached thousands of families and kids, inspiring them to explore the natural world, pay attention to even the smallest of insects and get curious about what roles insects play in our ecosystem.
We’ve hosted nature hikes in our local parks/trails, blacklighting nights at our local nature centers, and entomological educational booths at local community outreach events. We talk about our events on our Lorquin Society Scholars Instagram page.
Our favorite so far has been the blacklighting night. This was an event where over 60 families + kids attended on a warm late summer evening and it was a blast. All the kids that came were crazy for insects and we loved showing them what came into the light. Most had never seen a MV/blacklight set up so it really opened up their eyes to see that they too could actually catch their own insects – even in their own backyards. The energy of the event was amazing – an entire group of kids just going nuts for insects. We set up a 400 watt MV bulb on a tripod, a huge white sheet, a few blacklights and let the bugs come in. Not long into the event, we had all kinds of species flying around us and the kids were loving it. We provided colorful mini-nets and UV eye protection – many of the kids brought their own containers and went home with some new friends. The event was from 6:30-9:30pm, but we think everyone could have stayed even longer. The nature center director later told us this blacklighting night was their most popular first time event they’ve ever had, and they had to actually extend the maximum attendance cap twice due to overwhelming response and sign ups!
We even recently started offering Girl Scout Badge events! The last one we did was for a local Brownie troop of 9 girls. We organized a presentation and an insect themed craft for them too. We were really impressed by how enthusiastic the girls were about entomology and also what great questions they had for us. The event was such a success that we have had multiple inquiries now from other troops!
Yes, all of our events inspire us to take things further and in bigger ways. After every event, we reflect on how we could have improved – what worked and what didn’t. We are always exploring new ways to engage youth by asking questions during our events, developing new educational specimen displays, and refining our approach to outreach as a whole. We always strive to have a bigger impact than the last event, as we hope to convey to the public that entomology is much more than “pincher bugs and rolly-pollys”. Our hope is to continue attending more community outreach events in 2026, making more families aware of our events, and even expanding outside of Los Angeles. In fact, we have a current member that will likely be opening up an Orange County chapter! We would love to see Lorquin Society Scholars in multiple chapters across the West Coast!
We are also always looking for support within the entomological community.
A major milestone for our organization in 2025 was presenting at the Entomological Collections Network (ECN) meeting in Portland. We shared a 15 minute presentation on the Lorquin Society Scholars outreach work with an audience of professors, museum curators, and researchers. We had slides on all the different types of community outreach events we’ve done and received an overwhelming response and support from the audience. It was our first time presenting at an entomological conference and was a really big moment for us. We learned a great deal about effective public engagement and entomological education through the many talks, as well as through the opportunity to network with other ECN members at the mixer event that evening.
Big, upcoming projects for 2026 are more blacklighting nights this summer, developing a Brownie/Girl Scouts Entomology Badge curriculum and pathway, and speaking at ECN 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. We are also hoping to speak about Lorquin Society Scholars at ESA in 2026.
Question 4: As you grow older, graduate and move on to higher education, will the Lorquin Society Scholars continue at its current level with new leadership, or do you see the club graduating and moving with you?
Through our outreach events, we have met and become acquainted with many other middle and high schoolers who share our same passion for entomology. Our goal is to educate the younger generation of the importance of entomology and through feedback we have received, we think it is best to continue the practice of “kids teaching kids”. That is one of the biggest pieces of feedback we’ve received.
Through Lorquin, entomology has become more accessible and approachable to kids because they are learning from people closer to their age. As we move on to higher education, we believe it is appropriate to recruit and train budding young entomologists as new leaders to continue the Lorquin Scholars mission at the middle and high school level. This allows us to leave a lasting legacy while continuing to engage and inspire future generations of young entomologists and build a strong, connected community.
If there’s a buggy story in particular that you’d like to see us share, let us know by emailing support@bicbugs.com
April Fools’ Day is thought to have started during the 16th century in France, when they made the switch from using the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Those who still celebrated the New Year in March, after the switch, were called the “April Fools.” While this factoid is debated among historians, April Fools’ Day is still celebrated worldwide with pranks and hoaxes. So it seems almost perfect that this Entomology Spotlight explores several bug-centric hoaxes and myths!
The Venezuelan Poodle Moth
Photo taken by Dr. Anker
This moth “species” went viral in 2012, and then resurfaced again in 2024 as “the internet’s favorite moth.” While the original image is indeed a real moth photographed by Zoologist Dr. Arthur Anker, the exact species of the pictured individual remains unknown. As of today, there is no official moth species described or named “Venezuelan Poodle Moth,” but some have speculated that it may be a moth in the genus Artace. Due to the virality of this photograph, news articles and social media posts claimed that a “new species had been discovered,” despite the lack of scientific findings for such a claim. Many of these articles, posts, and videos looking to jump onto this trend also included images and photos not related at all to the original moth. These included pictures of other Artace species, domestic silk moths, and artistic renditions, all claiming to be the real Venezuelan Poodle Moth. Frustratingly enough, upon searching for “Venezuelan Poodle Moth,” Google’s first image result is of a needle felted moth sculpture, not even a real moth at all. Despite all this debunking since 2012, the Venezuelan Poodle Moth myth still persists throughout the internet today.
Google Search
Lotus Mantids
Recently, you may have seen videos on TikTok or Instagram depicting what looks to be an insect adorned by blossoming flowers. Some appear to be mantids, while others look like perhaps some type of leafhopper. While these look to be spectacular bugs you could find in exotic locations, don’t be so quick to go hunting for these floral insects! All of these videos have been created using AI technology. Some AI videos will clearly state in the description that it’s not real, adding #ai or #aiart, but others will try their best to convince you it’s real. Some video descriptions will even go as far as to give the fake species a name, like “Lotus Mantis,” and claim they saw the insect for themselves. A good way to determine if one of these videos is AI or real is to pay close attention to the legs of the bug, as AI does not have a very good understanding of insect anatomy and will often have extra or missing legs. If you’re looking for a real “Lotus Mantis,” then consider Hymenopus coronatus, the orchid mantis! Orchid mantids are known for their pink and white coloring, and their mimicry of orchid flowers as a camouflage tactic. This real bug species can be found in Southeast Asia, but is quite rare.
Image from AI generated videos
Hymenopus coronatus
You Eat 8 Spiders a Year
Although no one can be quite sure how it began, the myth that an average person eats 8 spiders a year in their sleep may be one of the internet’s oldest hoaxes. This statistic is completely fabricated and not based in science at all. In fact, biologists have stated that a sleeping person would actually scare off a spider, rather than attract one. If you really wanted to though, there are edible spiders for sale as novelty treats, and are regular delicacies in other countries.
Elusive Blue Monarch
Photoshopped image of Danaus plexippus
The existence of blue Monarch Butterflies is more of a misconception than a hoax, but we get enough questions about it that I felt the need to include it! While there is a butterfly species commonly known as the “blue monarch,” it’s actually not related to the classic orange and black Monarchs you know. Tirumala petiverana, the “blue monarch,” is a blue and black brush-footed butterfly that can only be found in parts of Africa. Those who claim to have seen a blue Monarch in the US most likely misidentified a different species. Because butterflies tend to flit past fairly quickly, and many tailed butterflies lose their tails during adulthood, it’s easy to see how a blueish butterfly can be mistaken for a blue Monarch. Species commonly misidentified are Limenitis arizonensis (Arizona Red-spotted Purple), Battus philenor (Pipevine swallowtail), and Papilio troilus (Spicebush swallowtail).
Tirumala petiverana
Limenitis arizonensis
Battus philenor
Papilio troilus
Mothman
With sightings beginning in 1966, Mothman has become a cult classic of American cryptids, having grown even more popular than Bigfoot. In Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where this folktale originates from, a museum and statue have been erected in his honor, which draws in tourists year-round hoping to get a glimpse of the legendary cryptid. He is often described as being humanoid in shape, abnormally tall, with moth-like or bat-like wings, and almost always with glowing red eyes. To many, he is known as just an adored mythical legend, but I’ve seen him myself, flying overhead as I drove from my grandparents’ home in Appalachia at night. So to me (and many others) Mothman is real.
Alleged sighting of Mothman
Mothman statue in Point Pleasant
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Anna Maria Sibylla Merian was a female entomologist and artist born in 1642 in Germany. She was an early pioneer in documenting the metamorphosis of butterflies and moths, especially in the New World. Unlike preceding scientific illustrators, she studied and referenced live insects in their natural environments, which made for more detailed, more life-like, and more accurate depictions.
Beginning her interest in insects as a young girl in Germany, Maria reared and studied caterpillars, tracking their lifecycle, metamorphism, and diet, which later influenced the development of the field of entomology. Another early influence in her life was her mother’s second husband, Johann Graff, a painter who helped her learn how to paint botanical subjects, which can be seen in many of her artworks.
Maria’s very early works focused mainly on flora, but her first piece about insects, published in 1679 and 1683, was Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung und sonderbare Blumennahrung, which translates to “The wondrous transformation of caterpillars and their remarkable diet of flowers.” This was scientifically revolutionary because, at the time, it was widely believed that butterflies and moths were created through something called “spontaneous generation.” This outdated belief meant that many people assumed that insects materialized out of non-living material, like mud or sand.
Her passion for painting bugs led her to Suriname, a small country on the northern coast of South America, to study the metamorphosis of tropical butterflies like Morphos and Heliconius. During her trip, she created many metamorphic illustrations of the local bugs and insects which culminated in the publication of Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensis in 1705. Maria’s book gave entomologists in Europe a peek into the biodiversity the New World had to offer, as well as a new perspective on insects’ lives.
Even after her death in 1717, Maria’s daughters continued her work and posthumously published a 3rd book about caterpillars, complete with scientific illustrations. Even several species of butterflies were named after Maria, centuries after her death, including Heliconius melpomene meriana.
My personal favorite piece by Maria is the one shown below, simply called “Plate 49.” It’s my favorite because it shows a Fulgora laternaria, a cicada, and strangely, a laternaria’s head on a cicada’s body. She most likely assumed that each of these 2 insects were sexually dimorphic members of the same species, meaning males and females look different from each other. In her defense, little to nothing was known about these insects in the 1600’s, and their bodies can look somewhat similar.
Read more below: Wiki| The British Museum If there’s a buggy story in particular that you’d like to see us share, let us know by emailing support@bicbugs.com
Watch these videos for more information on the Entomologist Spotlight!
