A small piece of kill strip gives good protection for several months. Over the years the standard 4-H box has been 18x24x3 inches, making it somewhat larger than most other entomological boxes. It is also difficult for younger 4-H'ers to handle. The old, larger boxes will also be acceptable for displaying insects at fairs and contests. Almost any box with a secure top can serve as a temporary holding box for insect specimens.
Scavengers can attack pinned specimens and destroy a collection in a matter of weeks.
Cigar boxes that are deeper than 2-inches make ideal holding boxes. In the bottom of the box, place a piece of flexible styrofoam or other soft medium that will support a pin. You can adapt other sturdy boxes in much the same way. For short-term storage, use plastic boxes for this purpose. Specimens tend to collect moisture and mold in these types of boxes, so you probably need to add silica packets to plastic containers when they are used for insect storage.