9 Pointing

Pointing

What if your insect is too small to pin using a size 0 pin? There are smaller gauge pins that you can get, but I have not included them in your kit as they can be difficult to use. Instead, you should “point” very small specimens.

Points are small triangles of heavy paper, made with a special point punch. I have included a small number of points with your kit. To mount an insect on a point, you first mount the point itself on a pin: I like a size 2 pin, but other sizes are acceptable. The pin is pushed through the base of the point (the opposite end to the narrowest angle). The height of the point can then be set on the pin using the top level of the pinning block. Bend the very tip of the point down at a right angle, and apply a small amount of white glue to the bent down tip. Then, touch the glue droplet to the right side (keeping the left side visible) of the thorax of the small insect. Again, you want the insect to be straight in all directions, and stuck on to the point. You may need to support it with other pins, pieces of paper on pins, etc. until it dries.