Insect Pinning Class: Tonkin's Long-Horn Beetle

Name: Insect Pinning Class: Tonkin's Long-Horn Beetle
Brand: Paxton Gate
Price: 98.00 USD

Date

Feb 1st (12pm-2pm)

Quantity

Price

Ethically Sourced

Secure payments

Small Business/Artisan Made

Packed With Recycled Materials

Low stock - 2 items left
Inventory on the way

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Species: Diastocera wallichi toninensis
Location: San Francisco, 766 Valencia St.

Classes can be given as gifts. See the “How to Give as a Gift” section below for instructions.

Can you imagine having appendages sticking out of your head that are as long or longer than your whole body? For us, it would seem like a huge inconvenience, but to the Tonkin Long-Horn Beetle, they are absolutely essential. Quite literally. These big, impressive, wood-boring, metallic-sheen beetles not only look cool, they are genuinely fascinating creatures.

Let’s get back to those giant antennae sticking out of their heads. They are not just for decoration or some new fashion trend in the beetle world. They are how the Tonkin Long-Horn Beetle navigates its surroundings. With these impressive feelers, they can smell all sorts of things. Pheromones for finding a date and plant scents for locating food sources to take the date to. It’s like Grubhub and Tinder rolled into one app, mounted on their forehead.

The antennae can also sense vibrations and air currents, alerting the beetle to movement and potential predators that might ruin date night. On top of that, they can detect chemical cues to find dead or dying trees, which serve as the perfect five-star restaurant for their larvae. So yes, while these antennae would be annoying for us, say on a commercial flight, they are absolutely necessary for the Tonkin Long-Horn Beetle to find love and a decent meal.

You may have noticed the deep green metallic sheen of its exoskeleton. To us, it looks like magical fantasy armor straight out of a D&D game, and truth be told, that is not far off. The exoskeleton is not green in the conventional pigment sense. Its color comes from microscopic structures that reflect and refract light, a phenomenon called structural coloration. This makes the beetle appear shiny, iridescent, or even like it is changing color depending on the angle. Scientists believe this helps them blend into trees and foliage and can also startle predators. It is like looting a breastplate with “Stalk” and “Intimidate” enchantments. See? Not far off from magical armor.

We could go on and on about this beetle, because there is so much more to it. But that is why we have this class. Trust us when we say you do not want to miss it.

About the class: In this hands-on, two-hour class, you’ll learn the full process of beetle spreading, from hydration to pinning and preservation. Our expert instructors will guide you step by step, and you’ll use a Paxton Gate spreading kit to transform your butterfly into a preserved specimen to take home. Inside each kit, you will receive:

1 Box of entomology pins
1 Anchor pin
4 Strips vellum paper
Forceps
Pinning board
Instruction pamphlet

Important Details:

Classes will be held at 766 Valencia St., San Francisco
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cancellations must be made at least 72 hours before the class to receive store credit, redeemable for merchandise or future classes.

Pre-registration required as materials must be prepared for each student and space is VERY limited. Please arrive promptly at the start time. Students are encouraged to bring lunch/snacks. Classes will be held at 766 Valencia St.

Once you reserve your seat, you'll receive an email detailing your order. On the day of the class, have that email on hand (either on your phone or printed out) and your ID. This will help us confirm your registration and ensure a smooth check-in process.

For more information surrounding tickets or the class itself, please email us at Info@PaxtonGate.com

These can be gifted using the steps below:

Add the class to your cart.
Click the cart icon in the top right corner.
On the right side, next to the class you selected, there is an “Add Order Note” section.
Click that and add the recipient’s name, email, and, if you’d like, we can forward the confirmation to them.
When they arrive at the class, make sure they have the confirmation email with them, either saved on their phone or printed out, and that they bring a valid form of ID for verification purposes.
Attendees will also be emailed a few days before the class as a reminder of the upcoming date.

Please note: If the recipient is under the age of 18, they must be accompanied by an adult.

These make great gifts, and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.