Pinning Eupholus magnificus

[betta132]

I cannot for the life of me get a pin through this beetle. I bent two pins trying. In the past, I've switched to a shorter, stronger stainless steel pin to puncture through the wing cover and then put a regular pin through, but even that didn't work. I have it on my spreading board so its legs will set nicely, and at this point, I'm about ready to just hold it in place with a couple of cross pins when I put it in the case. 
What do I do now? This guy's gorgeous, I don't want to damage him trying to pin him, but he has some really impressive armor. I have Hercules beetles with thinner armor.

[trehopr1]

My suggestion is to first brace pin the body of your weevil so it does not move. Then nicely spread out the legs as you wish and let dry for a week or two. Then get yourself a piece of file folder stock or otherwise thin but, stiff cardboard stock you can cut with scissors. Cut a rectangular piece just slightly longer and slightly wider than your specimens body. Put a droplet of elders glue in the center, let it get tacky, and then place your dried specimen on it (centering it).
This is how most European collectors present their Coleoptera collections. Don't forget the data underneath on a label. To see how this looks just look to this forum on any threads featuring photos of Juvisy Paris. There you will see images of how Coleoptera look on card stock and that they are sold that way to collectors all over Europe. They really look great as all the legs, antennae, and mouthparts (palps) are easily viewable.
So much better than just pushing a pin through the specimen and allowing the legs to just dangle underneath. A method used often by lazy collectors and researchers who don't want the bother of teasing out their material. They are of the type unconcerned with aesthetics.
You will find that some of the Curculionidae and Tenebrionidae possess just about the toughest cuticle in the insect world. Sometimes, trying to push a pin through them actually damages them as the pin sometimes pushes through (or out) of the coxa (the 1st segment of an insect's leg). Thereby causing the leg to fall off and need repair. So un-necessary. Also, a pin can sometimes cause the elytra to buckle slightly so as to leave an unsightly gap (between the wings). Best regards

[Paul K]

Visit nearby hobby shop for airplane, train models and stuff like that. Buy set of very fine drill bits and small handle for those ( they are very thin as same as insect pins, you can not use with regular electric drill). Drill the whole in the beetle and insert pin , if a bit lose use drop of glue underside to secure but try to use one size larger pin than drill or do the way mention by Trehopr1 which looks very nice but is more difficult to view and examinate underside .

Paul

[betta132]

Have decided to stick with cross-pins for now, as I would prefer to leave the underside open to examine if needed. Will invest in drill set if I continue to encounter particularly stubborn beetles.
Fairly sure the drill method is how my Brachyceros ornatus (obtained already pinned from a very nice taxidermy/insect shop in Paris) was mounted, as the elytra around the pin looks just slightly raised upon very close inspection. Which is unsurprising, I'm fairly sure these beetles are nigh-on bulletproof. If only someone could raise mega versions, people could wear bug plate armor.