Since I was seven years old, I have been fascinated with insects, especially butterflies and moths. Growing up I did have an insect collection. I would collect and mount them on pins in glass cases. As I got older though I began to appreciate the very same insects being alive. It got to a point where collecting insects no longer mattered to me, despite the importance of these collections. These days I would prefer my entomological work to be raising and releasing local butterfly and moth species, and photographing the progress.

I will never fault anyone who has and insect collection. It is in fact a very rewarding hobby. It’s just not for me, even though I do enjoy looking at other peoples’ collections. The collection at the May Natural History Museum is one such collection that I was able to ooooh and ahhhh about in 2016.