Organizing!

Today I took on the project of organizing my "bug room".  I found myself quite amused by the number of beetles I have in my possession.  Perhaps you too will be amused?  The sad thing is, I'm getting ready to make another order!  (Yes, there are things I'm out of!)  Addicted?  No way!!

Is this too many?

Of course, all of these pictures don't include my butterflies.  Those are in another drawer!

Flower Beetles; by far my biggest category

Weevils!  Some of my favorite insects!

Check out these GIANTS!  Those cicadas won't even fit into any of my frames!

One-of-a-Kind Expensive Beetles! (My splurges)

The End!  All organized!

New Beetle and Leaf Necklaces

These real metal-dipped leaves are my favorite new jewelry part!  I made several one-of-a-kind necklaces with them recently, and I think the photos turned out great (thanks husband, for my new camera!).  Check out these beauties, available very soon in my online store!

Bug Soup!

Waiter!  There's a bug in my soup!  ....er....there's 13 bugs in my soup!!!

Just thought I'd share this "unique" image with my followers since I find it so amusing.  :)
This is the way I rehydrate, or "soften", some of my beetles.  The dried beetles go into boiling water for 5-10 minutes and that softens them up enough that I can begin moving the wings and legs again.  It's a lot faster than putting them in my rehydration chamber for a 24-48 hour hydrating process.  Beetles' shells are made from chitin, which is an extremely tough substance, so this quick soak in water doesn't affect the color of most species.

Some butterflies can be done this way, but it's a risky process which I only do in emergencies.  You can't let their wings touch the water at all, so you have to sit there holding them with a tweezers, just dunking the body parts.

Enjoy!