Orders ship Monday through Thursday, the day following order placement.
This USA specimen kit includes everything that is in the 40 specimen collection, plus ten more specimens. To summarize, this kit includes 14 different insect Orders containing 50 different insect Families. So, you get 50 different specimens of dead insects (that's 50 different species)and 50 pins. The table below lists this information in an easier to understand format. Please note that some specimens are small or soft-bodied and ship in alcohol (70% alcohol in 1.5 milliliter microcentrifuge vials) as denoted by asterisks (*) in the table below. These and all the other species are usually collected within the last calendar year and have been stored in the freezer to maintain both their appearance and, when thawed, their flexibility. That means no chemicals (relaxing fluid) are typically required. If you do let them dry out, you can put them in water that has been boiled and set to the side for a few moments. If you don't plan to use the thawed specimens on arrival, simply place them back in the freezer until you're ready. Also, note that termites are now considered to be in the Order Blattodea, although much literature still refers to them as being placed within the Order Isoptera. All specimens (including ones in vials) are packed between layers of soft tissue paper within portion cups (small condiment cups with lids). These are wrapped in cushioning newspaper and overboxed with a cardboard box for shipping. Please see Terms and Conditions page for more information about our policies and shipping services.
Most specimens are large enough to accommodate a pin stuck through them, but you may find that small and/or fragile specimens are more easily glued to paper tabs with pins (first) stuck through the paper tabs. We include a few duplicated specimens for you to practice pinning (Sorry, no special requests as to which ones you get as freebies).
Last Revised on 11/28/18
Order |
Family |
Common Name |
Hemiptera |
Coreidae |
Leaf-footed Bug |
Hemiptera |
Lygaeidae |
Large Milkweed Bug |
Hemiptera |
Cicadellidae |
Leafhopper |
Hemiptera |
Pentatomidae |
Stink Bug |
Hemiptera |
Corixidae |
Water boatman |
Hemiptera |
Cicidadae |
Cicada |
Hemiptera |
Largidae |
Bordered Plant Bug |
Hemiptera |
Cydnidae |
Burrowing Bug |
Hemiptera |
Reduviidae |
Assassin Bug |
Hemiptera |
Rhopalidae |
Boxelder Bug |
Diptera |
Calliphoridae |
Bluebottle Fly |
Diptera |
Empididae |
Dance Fly |
Diptera |
Muscidae |
House Fly |
Diptera |
Drosophilidae |
Fruit Fly |
Diptera |
Mycetophilidae |
Giant Fungus Gnat* |
Diptera |
Bibionidae |
March Fly |
Diptera |
Stratiomyidae |
Soldier Fly |
Hymenoptera |
Apidae |
Honeybee |
Hymenoptera |
Formicidae |
Ant |
Hymenoptera |
Vespidae |
Yellowjacket |
Hymenoptera |
Ichneumonidae |
Ichneumon wasp |
Coleoptera |
Tenebrionidae |
Darkling beetle |
Coleoptera |
Coccinellidae |
Ladybug |
Coleoptera |
Chrysomelidae |
Leaf beetle |
Coleoptera |
Carabidae |
Ground beetle |
Coleoptera |
Curculionidae |
Weevil |
Coleoptera |
Scarabaeidae |
Scarab Beetle |
Coleoptera |
Cantharidae |
Soldier Beetle |
Coleoptera |
Cerambycidae |
Longhorn Beetle |
Coleoptera |
Elateridae |
Click Beetle |
Coleoptera |
Erotylidae |
Pleasing Fungus Beetle |
Lepidoptera |
Tortricidae |
Leafroller Moth |
Lepidoptera |
Noctuidae |
Owlet Moth |
Lepidoptera |
Nymphalidae |
Buckeye Butterfly |
Lepidoptera |
Pieridae |
Pierid Butterfly |
Lepidoptera |
Geometridae |
Geometer Moth |
Lepidoptera |
Crambidae |
Crambid Moth |
Blattodea |
Blattidae |
Blattid Cockroach |
Blattodea |
Ectobiidae |
Field Cockroach |
Blattodea/Isoptera |
Archotermopsidae |
Dampwood Termite |
Blattodea/Isoptera |
Rhinotermitidae |
Subterranean Termite |
Orthoptera |
Gryllidae |
Cricket |
Orthoptera |
Acrididae |
Grasshopper |
Siphonaptera |
(varies) |
Flea |
Plecoptera |
(varies) |
Stonefly* |
Neuroptera |
Chrysopidae |
Green Lacewing |
Neuroptera |
Myrmeleontidae |
Antlion |
Microcoryphia |
Machilidae |
Jumping Bristletail* |
Trichoptera |
(varies) |
Caddisfly* |
Odonata |
(varies) |
Dragonfly |
+ 50 Pins
Duplicates of a few specimens are included for you to practice with. (Sorry, no requests allowed for which ones are duplicated.)