Beetle Collection

[myko61]

I just acquired some beetles for my collection. I am new to beetles. My main collection contains Birdwings, Morphos and some giant silk-moths. I would like other members opinions on mounting the beetles for display. Should I mount them with wings opened or closed. I am more partial to wings closed. But both styles look good to me.
Here are the beetles I have;
Lucanus cervus cervus 81cm
Odontolabis dalmanni intermedia 96cm
Odontolabis spectabilis 74cm
Goliathus cacicus 85cm
Goliathus goliathus apicalis 84cm (red form)
Goliathus orientalis preissi 86cm
Chalcosoma caucasus 119cm
Megassoma elephas 116cm
Dynastes hercules lichyi 141cm
These beetles are going to be displayed together in one case.

Thanks to all,
Norm

[nosorog]

Wow, you 've never mounted beetles and you are starting with some expensive specimens?! It's not that difficult to mount beetles as compared to butterflies, but some experience would be useful. Esthetically I prefer mounted beetles with wings closed. This way they look like little tanks – strong and well protected. This way there’s also less chance to mount them incorrectly or damage the specimens.

[lamprima2]

Hi Norm,
Are you sure your Dynastes hercules lichyi is 141cm long?
1 cm = 10 mm
Best,
Sergey

[bichos]

yes I think you mean mm not cm
regardless of that they are big specimens all the same.

I like patterns and symmetry, so I would suggest you set them all first and then arrange them in such a way that they complement each other. Play around with different arrangements, you could have a camera handy and photograph different ways to display them.
SO you have 3 lucanids. 3 goliathus and 3 dynastids perfect.
And yes I would also suggest you keep the wings enclosed as they are and tuck the legs in.
good luck.

[Deleted]

Nice bunch of beetles for a coleo-newbie. I really like mine.

I agree with bichos about mounting them with the wings closed. I do, however, respectfully differ with bichos regarding tucking in the legs---mounting them with legs out (as though crawling) would look really neater. I usually think of only doing the tucked legs when space is an isssue which I feel it is not in your case. I so like the legs out, I've learned to 'shingle' them so many can be stored together, yet have their legs out. Just my thoughts.

I am assuming they would be in a secure/safe set-up shadow box or the like.

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[Deleted]

This pic should show some degree of 'many together- yet with legs out'.

Do know that this is a pic from 2006 or so and arrangements have changed due to more eudicellas being added causing me to move out the top Megalorrhinas.

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[myko61]

First, I would like to thank you all for your replies.
Second, I did mean millimeters not centimeters, my bad. (141cm hercules beetle, that would equal 4'7.5" equals Jurassic Park Hercules Beetle).
I will mount them wings enclosed with legs in a natural stance as room is not an issue. The shadow box display I have for them is 16"x 20"x 4". I will post photos when finished.

Thanks again to all,
Norm

[bichos]

Yes it is very much about personal preference, set them stand back and decide what you like best. I prefer to tuck the legs in as I feel it places more emphasis on the specimens' body shape. But that's just me.

Look forward to seeing the pictures...

[runear]

Dynastes hercules with body length of 140cm?
Here's where you can get one: www.ecofauna.com/
- plus many other super sized insectmodels - with super sized prices of course... ( all those details must take many hours to get right )

A nice list of specimens you got there Norm. Looking forward to see pictures of the finished case!

Rune

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[w1]

I prefer to tuck the legs and antennae in on smaller specimens ie Cicindela. Just better to be careful. Nice pic!!

[corneel]

Hi,

how do you mount a beetle with their wings open without damaging the wings?

Thanks,

Corneel

[goliathomega]

Best of luck with mounting...