The Insect Asylum

Taxidermist in Chicago, Illinois

4.9(15 reviews)
(312) 961-72192870 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618View on Yelp
The Insect Asylum - taxidermy in Chicago, IL

Customer Reviews

4.9
out of 5
15 reviews

Based on Yelp ratings

Read reviews on Yelp

About The Insect Asylum

The Insect Asylum in Chicago, Illinois carries a 4.9-star rating across 15 reviews, making it one of the more highly regarded specialty providers in its category in the city. Combining museum services, taxidermy, and educational programming, this is not a typical hunting trophy studio. It serves collectors, educators, schools, and anyone with a genuine fascination with entomology and natural history. Chicago's density of universities, natural history institutions, and science-focused schools creates a real market for this kind of specialized work, and The Insect Asylum fills a niche that very few providers in the region occupy.

Services

Museums
Taxidermy
Educational Services

Services & Process

The Insect Asylum specializes in insect and invertebrate preservation, which includes pinning, spreading, and display mounting for individual specimens or curated collections. Educational services likely include classroom presentations, workshop programming, and collection curation support for schools and institutions. Museum-quality display work involves archival framing, shadow boxes, and labeled specimen arrangements suitable for public or private exhibition. For collectors, the studio can source, authenticate, and preserve exotic specimens, building displays that are both scientifically accurate and visually compelling.

Service Area

The Insect Asylum is located in Chicago, Illinois and serves clients across the city and throughout the greater Chicagoland area. Schools, collectors, and institutions from the North Shore suburbs to the south side of the city have access to the studio's services. The shop's urban location and educational focus make it particularly relevant for Chicago Public Schools, private academies, and science-focused institutions in the metro area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of insects and specimens does The Insect Asylum work with?
The studio handles a broad range of entomological specimens including beetles, butterflies, moths, spiders, and exotic invertebrates sourced both domestically and internationally. Preservation methods vary by species and intended display format. Customers with unusual or rare specimens are encouraged to contact the studio directly to discuss the best approach.
Can The Insect Asylum create custom displays for classroom or museum use?
Yes, custom educational and museum displays are a core part of what makes this studio unique in Chicago. Displays can be tailored to specific themes, grade levels, or exhibition contexts with accurate scientific labeling and archival-quality framing. This is especially useful for schools developing science curriculum materials or natural history collections.
Is insect taxidermy different from mammal or bird taxidermy?
Significantly different. Insect preservation involves pinning, relaxing, spreading, and mounting techniques designed to maintain the specimen's natural posture without the use of forms or hide preservation. The tools, chemicals, and display methods are specialized to entomology and require a very different skill set than vertebrate taxidermy. The Insect Asylum's focus on this category means customers get genuine expertise rather than a generalist approach.
What makes a 4.9-star rating meaningful for a studio like this?
With 15 reviews averaging 4.9 stars, the pattern suggests consistently exceptional work across a variety of client types. High ratings at specialized studios like this typically reflect both technical quality and strong communication throughout the project. It's a useful signal that customers with very different needs, from individual collectors to educational institutions, leave satisfied.
Does The Insect Asylum offer workshops or public education events?
Given its educational services category, the studio likely offers hands-on workshops covering insect collection, identification, and preservation techniques. These programs are popular with schools, scout groups, and adult enthusiasts looking to build their own collections. Contact the studio directly to ask about current workshop schedules and group pricing.
Can I bring in my own found specimens for preservation?
Many clients bring in specimens they've collected themselves, whether found insects, preserved butterflies, or specimens inherited from older collections. The studio can assess condition and recommend the best preservation or remounting approach. Keep found specimens in a sealed container and avoid handling them more than necessary before bringing them in.

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