FAQ

Is that bug dead?

If its not moving or if I’m pinning it then, yes, it’s dead

Did you kill it?

Nope! I don’t ever kill the insects used in my art. If they’re insects I’ve raised myself then I care for them their whole lives and only preserve them after they’ve died naturally. If I didn’t raise it, then that means I bought it and bought it already dead.

Where did you buy it from?

I buy from conservation farms around the world. The purpose of conservation farms is to raise and breed the insects rather than taking them out of their native environments. These farms serve the purpose of protecting the insects from predation while they’re alive, to educate about their lives and the importance of insects and often engage in many conservation projects that protect forests, species and more. Buying from these farms supports their efforts and a lot of the funds go straight back into conservation work.

Isn’t it cruel to frame dead insects?

This is an opinion answer, if you have a different opinion that’s absolutely okay, but this is how I view it. The alternative to this technique of preservation is to let them decay. To me, this is far more wasteful than preserving them and allowing others to enjoy their beauty forever. “But isnt decay a natural part of life?” Yes you’re right it is, the nitrogen that returns to the earth during decay is vital for new growth, however, since these insects are being bred in captivity, allowing them to decay outside of the captive area would overload the ecosystem and cause too much waste buildup. You also can’t bury or otherwise dispose of them outdoors in the US because they are not native to this area and could potentially carry mites or parasites that would be detrimental to the local ecosystem.

How do you preserve them?

For most bugs, they naturally preserve themselves! All insects are invertebrates, meaning they have exoskeletons instead of uh… interskeletons.. The exoskeletons keep the outside looking perfect. For butterflies, the wings maintain pigment because of thousands of tiny scales. These scales can shed which you’ll see if you rub a butterfly's wings and glittery dust comes off. So long as the scales stay on the wings, the butterflies will keep their color! Some need extra work, like phasmids, mantids etc. things where the pigment comes from blood flow and changes with environmental stress. The preservation of these can be tricky and I don’t have it perfected but if you’re really interested in learning more I can chat with you about it!

How long do they stay preserved?

Hypothetically forever! If they’re kept out of natural light, away from pests and not handled frequently, then they can stay preserved for hundreds of years.