Bee Taxidermy Update (with examples)

These images are the result of a very tiny (and very fun!) photoshoot. All images were taken by Christina Arsenault, check out her amazing work at www.christinaarsenault.ca

To Explain
Each bee is preserved, posed and repaired in the most careful way possible given its size. Using trial and error I have come up with a process which first involves keeping each bee in the freezer for at least twenty-four hours, this prevents any unwanted stowaways from causing damage to the finished product. Then the bee is soaked in alcohol for about a week to take care of any mold or bacteria which could take hold otherwise, bleugh!

Afterwards the bee is ready to be posed. I try to choose the most "naturalistic" pose possible in an attempt to give each bee an animated quality much in the same way you'd see a taxidermy animal posed at your local museum of natural history(try to see them as itty bitty teeny tiny bears or deer). Once these important steps are finished the bee is given a wire frame (to make it strong and semi-poseable) and filled with glue to make it as sturdy as possible.

Now the actual fun part, deciding what repairs and additions to make to the bee. I use discarded jewelry, electronics and anything else I can scavenge. The key is that the materials must be readily available and they must be reused. In the new year I will be creating an instructional video clearly showing each step of the process so that DIYers can try it themselves.