How can you preserve bugs for a bug collection?

Question

I have to do a bug collection. How can I preserve them besides putting them in the freezer? Like, when I get ready to display them, they will get gross and rot? Any suggestions? Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Bug collectors use a cedar box, sometimes with a glass cover to keep their insects.  There are insects that eat dead insects, so for pinned insects use moth balls in the container with the insects to keep other critters out.  They will dry in their shell but this will not hurt the exoskeleton varieties. For the soft insects like caterpillars and spiders(some people think of them as "bugs") they are kept in alchol.  You can use the isopropyl found in drug stores.  Keep them in glass jars for display.

Answer 2

Freezing them is the best way. no they will not rot because the exoskeleton  will stay in tact.