insect pinning question

[mantisdragon]

I have no idea where to put this post so I put it here. anyway I was wondering what is the proper way to dry and preserve insects? Do I have to remove the gut? and if I don't is it ok?
how are specimens usually prepared? I know people use formaldehyde but I do not want to use it. What I have been doing is just positioning the insect with pins right after it has died and then I let it sit in its pinned position for 2 weeks then put it into my pinning box. Is there something else I need to do to prepare my specimens?
Inside my collection box it smells bad so I am guessing there is rotting action going on in there.
I have looked online and in books but nothing seems to explain the process understandably.

any help would be appreciated.

[johnnyboy]

Preserving insect specimens effectively depends upon what type of insect you are dealing with.

Beetles, butterflies/moths and hymenoptera generally do not require anything other than keeping in a dry environment and preventing insect pests from attacking the dry specimens. Sometimes grease from the insect body will stain the wings, this can be treated using solvent.

Soft-bodied orthoptera, particularly larger specimens do need to be treated either by drying rapidly using acetone or degutting.

Caterpillars can be degutted and filled or freeze-dried. Dragonflies need to be treated with solvents in order to retain colours.

There is plenty of more detailed advice available on the net. If you want to know about specific insect types advice will also be available here.

Johnny

[nosorog]

Lots of info on the web. Like these:
cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1511/eb1511.pdf
www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/dept/images/oldunit2.pdf