Etsy
Little Caterpillar Art (Located in Estes Park!)
Specimens
An important thing to me is that specimens are ethically sourced! This means that all of the specimens I purchase and encourage others to purchase come from reputable suppliers who use captive-bred or naturally deceased insects, comply with international wildlife trade regulations, and never source from threatened or protected species. The hobby should celebrate nature without harming it!
Ethical Sourcing Looks Like:
Farmed or captive-bred — the insect was raised in captivity specifically for the hobby/trade, so no wild populations are affected
Naturally deceased — collected after dying naturally (e.g., from beetle farms where the insect lived a full life)
Legal collection — wild-caught specimens obtained with proper permits and in compliance with local wildlife laws, CITES regulations, and export/import rules
Not endangered — the species isn't threatened, so collection doesn't contribute to population decline
Humane handling — specimens were killed quickly and humanely if not already deceased (freezing is the standard method)
Many of the sellers that I purchase insects from also support sustainable practices that value and protect vulnerable wildlife populations and that aid in preserving natural habitats from deforestation through ethical butterfly and insect farming. This means that purchasing insects literally saves the planet!
Where to Purcahse Ethically Sourced Specimens
I purchase most of my specimens from reputable shops on Etsy, occasionally on eBay (if I’m looking for something specific), and a few suppliers. Here are sellers who ethically source their specimens and from whom I frequently purchase specimens:
When looking to purchase specimens from other sellers (than those lsited to the right), I look to see if they have a statement about how they procure the specimens they sell, usually in the About section or FAQ. I also ask sellers directly before purchasing from them.
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Denver Locals
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✳︎ Denver Locals ✳︎
The Terrorium Shop - Downtown Denver
The Terrorium is a cool oddities, plant, taxidermy, specimen, etc. shop just outside of Downtown Denver. I’ve taken several classes here, and they are cool people! Looking for a more formal class to learn how to pin specimens? Cool things I’ve made through classes at the Terrorium!
