Obtaining adequate specimen storage is expensive for any avocational entomologist, but especially for the lepidopterist do to the relatively large size of our quarry compared to say the coleopterist.   I have been researching the least expensive way to obtain some drawers to start my collection.

Pre-built drawers run from twenty nine to about sixty five dollars per depending on the options selected, but shipping is the killer.  Bio-Quip has drawer kits that ship broken down and can save substantially in that regard.  I also found an article in the Southern Lepidopterists’ News Volume 14 Number 4 by Vernon Brou describing how to build your own Cornell style drawers.  I intend to use California Academy sized drawers, so I would need to redimension his plans.

Whichever drawers I choose, I will be using unit pinning trays rather than plastic foam in the bottoms of the drawers.

At this time, I’m leaning toward the Bio-Quip drawer kits, but I’d like to know your thoughts and experiences in selecting storage for your collection.  If you have a minute, please leave a comment.

GW