How to Care for Insect Frames

If you've recently began collecting insect frames or you would love to have a few frames as part of your home decor, then you're probably wondering, "How do I keep my insect frames in good condition?" It's not only a great question, but important to have an understanding on how to ensure your insect frames last for years to come.

In this guide, we will share with you easy, actionable tips on how to care for your insect display frames.

Insect Display Frame Care 101

Your delicate butterflies, moths, beetles, bugs and insects deserve a long life out in the big wide world! 

• Avoid direct sunlight: UV light is the enemy. It fades colours and dries out specimens. Keep frames displayed away from windows and direct sunlight. 
• Climate control is key: Humidity can warp paper or cardboard in your frames and encourage mold growth on your specimens. It can also cause butterfly and moth wings to close up. Store your display frames in a cool and dry environment. If you live in a humid place, setting up a dehumidifier can help. Do not display them in your bathroom, wardrobe, basements, attics or above any plants where there is moisture. Avoid areas where there is excessive heat such as a fireplace. This can cause the glue your pieces are mounted on to melt and cause overall damage. 
• Avoid bugs eating bugs: Ironically, beetles and other pests can destroy your collection. If you keep your frames in the right environment, this is unlikely to happen. However, as an extra precaution you could lightly spray insecticide on the surface you will be placing the piece on and wait for it to dry before you set it up for display. 
• Dust gently & vacuum the area: Use a soft brush, feather duster or microfiber cloth to remove dust. Never spray cleaning solution directly onto the frame. If the glass requires a deeper clean, spray a diluted cleaning solution onto a cloth and gently wipe. Stay on top of vacuuming the area your display frame is setup, this will eliminate any food sources such as lint and hair pests seek out. 
• Ensure your hooks are strong: If displaying your frame on a wall, make sure the hooks are strong enough to support its weight. Dropping the frame can cause not only the frame to be damaged but the specimens inside as well. 

💡 Pro Tip: If your specimens are inside a sealed frame, that's already a huge plus for longevity.

General Preservation Tips for Insect Frames

• Rotate your insect frames: Rotating your insect frames occasionally will help minimise exposure to light and environmental changes. 
  
• Keep away from pets and small children: They might mistakenly think you've brought home a new toy for them! Due to the nature of the preservation process, various chemicals are used to stop decomposition. If your pets or children potentially open up any of the frames, break the glass and swallow the preserved insects, this can cause them to become very sick and require urgent care. 
• Unpack ASAP when moving home: Please take care with unpacking your insect frames as soon as possible and avoid storing them in wardrobes, attics, anywhere moisture can build up. This will help avoid insects infesting your pieces. 

What to do if There are Signs of Infestation

If you follow our above advice and ensure your insect frames are kept in a clean environment, it is unlikely you will have issues with infestations. However, it is still a good idea to check in on your frames every now and then just in case - better to catch any issues early on!

• Specs of dust, small black insect shells and shed fur are signs of infestation. Immediately bag or double bag your insect frame (to prevent freezer burn) and put inside your freezer for 2 weeks to kill off anything alive inside and unhatched eggs. Once removed, allow your frame to come back to room temperature naturally. Continue to monitor your insect frames to ensure everything has been killed off. If there are signs not everything has been killed off, you can follow this process again. 
• For larger infestations, it may be necessary to fog the entire room. Use insecticidal products like bug bombs. Seal off the room where the item is located, set off the bug bomb and leave it undisturbed for 2 days at minimum. 
• Ensure you monitor the rest of your collection, as these pests may have gotten into other insect frames. If so, follow the steps mentioned above.

Looking to collect more insect frames? Corvus Oddities has a wide range of insect frames available to help you build your collection. Check out our range here! 

If you have any questions or need advice, please feel free to contact us at hello@corvusoddities.com 🖤