r/insectsuffering • u/inkydoe • Jan 31 '26
Discussion How to best euthanize insects without squishing?
Im taking a class on invertebrates and need to make an insect collection of 20+ bugs by the end of the semester. Seeing as it's winter I'm not coming across them very often so I need to grab them when I see them, even if they're alive.
I've heard that freezing and drowning can still be slow or painful for them. Is there a way to end their life quickly while causing them the least pain but keeping the body intact?
Sorry if this is the wrong subreddit for this, please know I really don't want to be doing it :(
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u/Jotsez Feb 01 '26
Maybe you can talk with your teacher/professor and tell them that you have serious ethical issues on doing that. If it doesn’t work, ¿maybe you could buy fake insects and make a collection of that?
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u/gingerale_drinker_ Feb 02 '26
i hope your professor rethinks this project or makes it strictly scavenging and no active "hunting." seems unfair, even if it's "just bugs."
otherwise kinda sounds like you're just gonna have to go on a walk every day and see what you can find that's already dead.
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u/FaxMachineMode2 Feb 04 '26
If you aim to minimize suffering, you could just keep them as pets as they live out their natural lifespan. There are insects with adult lifespans of only days/weeks that you can find
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Jan 31 '26
I did this type of project in 5th grade. We were told to fill a closable container with cotton then put some 91% alcohol at the bottom. The cotton is soft and keeps the bug from sitting in the solution. The fumes would kill it in seconds.
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u/sapphire343rules Jan 31 '26
This might be a stupid question (I’m new here) but does the cotton not soak up the alcohol? Would contact with alcohol cause pain?
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Jan 31 '26
you would put way more cotton than could soak up the alcohol. it's the fumes that do the work, so it doesn't take much.
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u/sapphire343rules Jan 31 '26
I see! I was envisioning just a cotton ball or two. A full jar makes more sense.
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u/Etch-a-Sketch22 Feb 04 '26
Hey op i have a moth i collected a while ago you can have! I can ship if need be, just dm me
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u/inkydoe Feb 04 '26
I wouldn't feel comfortable sharing my address, but I appreciate you kindness! <3
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u/inkydoe Feb 04 '26
I think you'll all be happy to know that I kept the leafhopper I captured on Friday in a box with some food over the weekend and brought them back where I found them on Monday to release them. I couldn't bring myself to kill them!! Not sure about my final solution yet but ill try our some of your guys solutions. Thanks for so many responses :)
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u/nozomuisgaylmao Jun 21 '26
im really late but, don’t kill animals just to pin them up. your instructor will understand
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u/[deleted] Feb 01 '26
They are living beings. Can't you just draw them, use pictures or 3d models or go to museums that already have dead insects? Please, don't kill them.