Find the Best Insect Pin for You!

At first glance, insect pins might seem like a simple tool, but the variety in design, size, and finish offers significant benefits depending on the task at hand. When it comes to entomology and insect collection, choosing the right tools can make all the difference in ensuring your specimens remain intact, well-preserved, and accurately displayed. Whether you’re a professional entomologist, a biology student, or a casual collector, understanding the different types of insect pins can help you make an informed decision about which pin best suits your needs.

Sizing: Picking the Right Pin for Your Specimen

Insect pins come in a wide range of sizes, typically ranging from the ultra-fine #000 to the thicker #7. The size of the pin you choose plays a critical role in how well your specimen is preserved, especially when it comes to delicate insects.

• Smaller Pins (e.g., #000, #00, #0):
  These pins are ideal for the tiniest insects such as ants, beetles, or moths with delicate wings. The fine tip minimizes damage to the insect while ensuring secure pinning. Smaller pins are perfect for fine, detailed work, where precision is key to avoid damaging wings or legs.
• Larger Pins (e.g., #2 to #7):
  As the insect size increases, so does the need for a sturdier pin. Larger pins are used for larger insects like dragonflies, butterflies, and other robust specimens. They are designed to support the weight and size of the insect while still maintaining secure placement.

Why Size Selection is Crucial:
Using a pin that’s too thick for a small insect may cause damage, while using a pin that’s too thin for a larger specimen may result in instability. It’s essential to match the size of the pin to the size of the specimen for the best preservation results.

Different Pin Finishes: Aesthetics and Functionality

Insect pins don’t just come in different sizes—they also come in various finishes, such as stainless steel and black enamel, each offering unique benefits depending on your use case.

• Stainless Steel Pins:
  The most commonly used finish, stainless steel insect pins are prized for their corrosion resistance and durability. They’re perfect for long-term specimen preservation and work well in both fieldwork and laboratory settings. Their shiny, silver surface ensures they stand out against lighter backgrounds, making them easy to spot.
• Black Enamel Pins:
  These pins, often preferred for display purposes, offer a sleek, professional look. The black enamel finish is perfect for creating a visually uniform, elegant presentation in museum-quality displays. The black color minimizes the visual distraction of the pin itself, allowing your specimen to be the focus of attention.

When to Choose Which Finish:
If you’re preserving specimens for scientific study, stainless steel is usually the way to go due to its durability. However, for display purposes, black enamel pins offer a cleaner, less intrusive appearance, making them ideal for showcasing your collection.

Understanding the Role of Nylon Heads

The heads of insect pins are made from various materials, but nylon heads are the most popular. These lightweight, durable heads ensure the pins don’t cause any wear or damage to the specimen while securely holding it in place. The size of the nylon head will be a factor in both handling the specimens and digitizing them. While having a larger nylon head is useful to make handling easier, it can take up more space when trying to take photos of the pin insect from above to digitize the collection.

Why Nylon Heads Matter:
Nylon heads offer greater stability and ease of handling, ensuring the pin stays firmly in place while avoiding stress on delicate insect parts like wings or legs. They also prevent rusting, which is essential for the long-term preservation of specimens. The ease of using nylon headed insect pins will be the most useful when pinning a lot of specimens in a short period of time.

Choosing the Right Pin for Your Work

Ultimately, the best insect pin for you depends on the type of specimen you’re working with and your intended use. Whether you’re labeling and organizing specimens, pinning delicate butterflies for a display, or handling larger beetles for research, there’s a specific pin type designed to meet those needs.

In the following sections, we will introduce you to our top insect pin products—each one designed to provide the precision, durability, and aesthetic quality you need for any entomology project. Let’s dive into the details and help you find the perfect pin for your work.

For use on how to use pins please refer to OSU’s pinning and labeling guide

Explore Our Insect Pin Collection

Now that we’ve covered the basics of pin size, finish, and material, let’s take a closer look at some of the top insect pins available in our collection. Each product is designed with specific features to cater to different needs, whether you’re conducting field research, organizing a collection, or creating a stunning insect display.

Minuten Pins: Precision and Durability Combined

Overview:
Minuten Pins are designed for those who require precision and strength. Manufactured in the Czech Republic, these stainless steel pins offer a smooth, durable surface that prevents damage to delicate specimens.

Features & Benefits:

• Stainless Steel Construction: Rust-resistant and durable for long-lasting performance.
• Smooth Lengths: Easy handling, preventing damage during pinning.
• Sharp Points: Ensure minimal damage to specimens and a clean insertion process.
• Nylon Heads: Lightweight and durable, providing a secure hold.

Perfect For:
Pinning delicate insects, ideal for professional entomologists and researchers.

Ento Sphinx Insect Pins: A Versatile Tool for Every Specimen

Features & Benefits:

Overview:
Our Ento Sphinx Insect Pins are crafted from high-quality stainless steel or black enamel, designed to hold specimens securely without damaging them. With sizes ranging from #000 to #7, these pins cater to a wide variety of insect sizes.

• Versatile Size Range: Perfect for even the smallest specimens.
• High-Quality Stainless Steel/Black Enamel: Durable and rust-resistant.
• Sharp Points & Smooth Lengths: Ensures easy and precise insertion into specimens.
• Nylon Heads: Provide a secure and gentle hold on specimens. Their heads are smaller than Entochrysis.
• Higher Price Point – Due to the slim nylon head, the cost of the pin is higher as it is harder to produce.

Perfect For:
Insect collectors, researchers, and entomologists needing varied size options for different specimen types.

Ecology Supplies Branded Insect Pins: Premium Quality at Your Fingertips

Overview:
Our very own Ecology Supplies Insect Pins offer the best of both worlds—affordable quality and long-lasting durability. Made from rust-resistant 304 stainless steel, these pins are perfect for professionals and hobbyists alike.

Features & Benefits:

• 304 Stainless Steel: Excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance.
• Sharp Tips & Sturdy Shafts: Ensure smooth and secure pinning.
• Long-Lasting Performance: Built to withstand years of use in both field and laboratory settings.

Perfect For:
Collectors, researchers, and anyone who requires reliable, durable pins for all their insect specimens.

Entochrysis Black Enamel Insect Pins: Elegance Meets Functionality

Overview:
The Entochrysis Black Enamel Insect Pins combine aesthetic appeal with functionality. These pins hold specimens securely while preserving their delicate features, making them perfect for collectors and researchers alike.

Features & Benefits:

• Black Enamel Finish: Offers a sleek, professional look.
• Durable Stainless Steel: Provides stability and rust resistance.
• Sharp Points & Smooth Lengths: Ensures clean insertion into specimens.
• Nylon Heads: Securely hold specimens without causing damage.

Perfect For:
Entomologists looking for an elegant, high-performance pin for their collections.

Entochrysis Stainless Steel Insect Pins: Unmatched Durability

Overview:
Crafted from high-quality stainless steel, the Entochrysis Stainless Steel Insect Pins are designed for both durability and precision. These pins are suitable for even the most delicate specimens and come in sizes ranging from #000 to #7.

Features & Benefits:

• Stainless Steel Construction: Strong and rust-resistant, perfect for long-term preservation.
• Sharp, Smooth Lengths: Clean insertion with minimal specimen damage.
• Nylon Heads: Ensure that specimens are securely held without wear and tear.

Perfect For:
Serious collectors, entomologists, and researchers who demand quality and durability in every pin.

Label Pins: A Simple, Efficient Solution for Labeling

Overview:
Label Pins are a must-have for any entomology project, whether you’re conducting research or creating a display. Made from durable stainless steel, these pins are crafted in the Czech Republic for long-lasting use. The finely tapered points ensure easy insertion into unit trays without causing damage to specimens.

Features & Benefits:

• Durable Stainless Steel: Ensures resilience in fieldwork and specimen preparation.
• Nylon Heads: Offer excellent grip for easy handling.
• Precision: Smooth, uniform lengths with sharp, finely tapered points.
• Ideal for labeling: Securely attaches labels without damaging delicate specimens.

Perfect For:
Pinning and labeling in educational settings, collections, and scientific research.