Pins and Needles 15 - When a Titan Expires.

Hey ya'll

so, what happens when you're an amateur lepidopterist, in possession of one of the largest moths in the world, and your prized specimen expires? Why, you stick it in the freezer, and then mount it for display of course!!! Which is quite precisely what I did when said Atlas Moth I found yesterday finally expired earlier this evening.

The titan falls

but his form shall be preserved, forever.

One thing I notice, is that unlike my smaller butterflies, large specimens are incredibly difficult to spread to dry! I think it must have something to do with their larger wings and their stronger wing veins and flight muscles that - once locked in position from rigor mortis - become increasingly difficult to move into a desired position. Either way, I daresay spreading would become THAT much easier if I had a proper entomological spreading board to work with. Note, things to add to Christmas wishlist (I hope you're reading this Ray :P)

1. Entomological spreading board
2. Giant shadow box to house all my specimens for display.

Speaking of which, I may or may not catalogue all of my specimens sometime this weekend. Stay tuned for that.