Discover The Joy Of Insect Pinning

When: Tuesday, April 19, 2022 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET / 10:30-11:30 a.m. PT

Where: Science Friday’s YouTube livestream

Tickets: Free with RSVP

Rewatch on YouTube

Looking to add a little Magicicada to your life? Learn the ins and outs of starting an insect collection and watch the experts as they pin beetles, moths, and other insects at this virtual event. Whether you’re a pinning pro or looking for a place to start, this lunchtime livestream is for you.

Our insect pinning guests will tell us all about why we collect insects, how insects make their way into personal, university, and museum collections, where you can pick up supplies, and show off their favorite specimens—all before a pinning demonstration with beetles, moths, and more. You can watch along and ask your questions to our experts, or BYOBugs and pin along with them!

Our guests are Ainsley Seago, curator of invertebrate zoology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and Brittney Hahn, environmental biology student at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

A note about our event: Insect pinning, when practiced responsibly and ethically, can help us better understand and feel a connection to the biodiversity of the environment. As part of this event, we’re hosting a demonstration and conversation lead by experienced entomologists who will highlight ethical and responsible collection practices that pose no threat to insect populations at large.

We’ll explore the role of bug collections in science and conservation, and touch on other approaches to observing insects like catch and release, photography, and windowsill collections. We encourage anyone who wants to learn more to join us.