UMaine Entomology Club Hosts Hands-on Insect Pinning Workshop

On February 11th, 2026, students gathered in Deering Hall at the University of Maine (UMaine) for a hands-on insect pinning workshop hosted by the Patch Entomology Club. In collaboration with Undergraduate Women in STEMM, this event drew UMaine students with varying levels of experience with entomology. For some, it was their first time seeing insect specimens up close, let alone pinning one themselves.

The workshop began with a brief presentation by the Entomology Club President Richard Viveiros, discussing the history, ethics, and use of insect collections. (Photo by Camryn Sudimick)

Each lab table had bins of various pinning tools, including pins, pinning block, soft forceps, styrofoam boards, plates and bowls, paper towels, and glue. (Photo by Camryn Sudimick)

This meeting was held in the same lab used for entomology courses, equipped with spreading boards, identification guides, and bins of pinning tools.

The officers began the meeting by giving a brief presentation where students learned about the history of insect collecting and pinning, the ethics behind it, and the role that insect collections play in science and conservation. Properly preserved specimens are used in museum collections, research, and education, allowing scientists to study morphology, genetics, and gain insight into species diversity and change over long periods of time. One of the insects in the University of Maine teaching collection was pinned over a century ago, in 1884.

A pelecenid wasp specimen from the UMaine teaching collection that was pinned in September, 1884. (Photo by Camryn Sudimick)

A perfect insect specimen is much more scientifically valuable than a picture.

-Richard Viveiros, Entomology Club President

Insect pinning is a skill that requires precision and attention to detail, but this workshop focused less on perfection and more on hands-on learning and exploration. While the officers provided guidance, they avoided a strict step-by-step tutorial. This beginner-friendly approach encouraged students to jump in and try it for themselves without fear of doing it “wrong.”

Once students had the context and were familiar with the pinning tools, the officers began to distribute the insects. Students were offered various species of preserved insects, including honeybees, spotted lanternflies, katydids, and Japanese beetles.

L: Entomology Club Officer Alyssa Kuskowski hands a honeybee to a club member to pin. R: A Women in STEMM member pulls out her phone to take a video of the preserved honeybees. (Photos by Camryn Sudimick)

Reactions to the insects varied. Some students smiled, others laughed nervously, and one Women in STEMM member pulled out her phone to capture the moment, laughing, "I can't believe I'm doing this right now."

While some students were eager to begin pinning their specimens, others were stepping well outside their comfort zones.

For some, the distinction between preserved and live insects made all the difference. “I mean, if they’re dead, it’s fine,” said Women in STEMM member Grace Copeland. “I don’t need them crawling on me though.”

At one lab table, during a conversation an Entomology Club member excitedly described tarantulas as “fuzzy”–“like a cat with eight legs,” while at another, students hesitated to start pinning their specimens.

Aliyah Leary pinning and spreading a butterfly specimen for the first time alongside Entomology Club Secretary, Thomas Wilson. (Photo by Camryn Sudimick)

"This is like me facing my fear," said attendee Aliyah Leary, who was pinning and spreading a butterfly specimen for the first time.

While she described herself as "scared of live insects," even working with insects that were already preserved still led to some discomfort.

"When they fidget, I still get a little scared," she said, laughing. "But I mean, it's exposure therapy–it'll help, I'm sure."

Despite this, Leary described the experience as "baby steps," toward becoming more comfortable with insects. This highlights how hands-on experiences like this pinning workshop can help people challenge their fears and gradually shift their perceptions over time.

I'm lowkey scared of live insects ... This is like me facing my fear.

- Aliyah Leary, Entomology Club member

This shift in perception was one of the primary goals of the collaboration between the Patch Entomology Club and Women in STEMM. Women in STEMM Treasurer Caoilainn Voelbl noted that many of their members are not in ecology or environmental-related majors, making events like this an opportunity for many students to explore a side of science they may not otherwise encounter.

“It’s a unique experience,” she said. “It’s good for STEMM students in our club to see this side of STEMM, and not just the more familiar mammals, biology, and stuff like that.”

For many students, that experience began with hesitation, but ultimately ended with a shift in perspective. Within just a single evening, insects became something not just to avoid, but to observe and maybe even appreciate.

A Women in STEMM member uses soft forceps to carefully adjust her honeybee specimen. (Photo by Camryn Sudimick)