Insects and snakes encased in plastic?

[vole-woman]

I've just come across an ebay seller selling insects and snakes encased in plastic bangles, key fobs etc - can this be right?

eBay.co.uk Shop - Gao Fu Collectibles: Insect Animal: Golden Chafer Beetle Specimen Sphere -- 2 cm

I've reported it because to me it looks disgusting and like behaviour that encourages others to disrespect wildlife, but am I being naive or over-sensitive?

[NickCantle]

Hiya Kate,

I've seen things like this before, and as disrespectful and nasty as it seems, there's nothing that will ever be done about it sadly. It's also a very touristy thing- If you go to Egypt, you'll see Scorpions in resin and the like. As for the origin of the animals, I have no clue. They might only do it with perished specimens, which I know doesn't make it any better, but it's better than killing the living animals specifically for these fads

Nick

EDIT: I'd have probably reported it too

[vole-woman]

Cheers, Nick. I noticed one of the butterfiles was a Brimstone - that made me so mad because here in the UK we're really struggling to help our butterfly populations.

[Crested Newt]

They use dead specimens.

[Susie]

These were being sold at the AES Exhibition last year too.

[vole-woman]

What's AES, Susie?

I appreciate students etc need specimins to work with. My worry is there'll be a fad for the frivolous stuff, eg bangles made of real insects, and that'll lead to unsrupulous people catching live ones and maybe endangered/rare species.

[Susie]

The Amatuer Entomologists' Society. Here's a link: AES Annual Exhibitions - Amateur Entomologists' Society (AES)

They also used to sell them at the butterfly house at Syon.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

What's AES, Susie?

I appreciate students etc need specimins to work with. My worry is there'll be a fad for the frivolous stuff, eg bangles made of real insects, and that'll lead to unsrupulous people catching live ones and maybe endangered/rare species.

Speaking, as I always do, from a position of partial ignorance, I wonder if much of this stuff is the residue and refuse of a breeding industry, many Inverts seem to be bred for sale, paperweights and keyfobs. Bit scummy, but, hey, we are only human.

Must go and wash my hands... and again.

[mrs fish]

This was debated last year. I have a necklace with a long horn beetle in resin , when I bought it I really didn't think it was a real insect

[vole-woman]

You've gone a long way to setting my mind at rest. On my kitchen window I keep a Water Vole skull - there's no difference, really. It was just that image of a bangle made from ladybirds that made me wince initially.