EntomologyThe Insect Collection houses 135,000 specimens, approximately 40% of which are preserved in fluid. Specimens date back over 100 years with most specimens from the 1930s and 60s. We have a high identification rate and greatest diversity in the families Culicidae (mosquitos), Cicindelidae (tiger beetles), and Cicadidae (cicadas). Approximately 60% of our holdings are from the Intermountain West, 25% from other parts of the USA and 15% from other countries. The Collection was an important invertebrate research focus in the Zoology Department of the University of Utah for many decades in the early 20th century. With later changes in the academic focus of the University of Utah, the Collection began to be underutilized and under-curated. The Collection was transferred to the UMNH in the late 1970s. Since 1998, there has been a great deal of curatorial and storage improvement and increased usage of the Collection. The Insect Collection was recently the lucky recipient of a generous donation of over 9000 butterfly and moth specimens. Jacque Wolfe, a local collector, donated his collection to insure its safety and
accessibility to other workers. Many of these specimens were reared by Wolfe, whose detailed field and rearing notebooks were also donated. With his help, work is being done to assimilate this donation. Future plans include preparing for the move to the new museum, increasing our holdings by local collecting, improving existing displays, updating storage conditions, reviewing and updating the taxonomy of the collection and increasing our accessibility to University of Utah students and other workers. Questions or comments should be directed to the Collection Manager, Christy Bills. We welcome requests for information and are happy to make loans to other institutions. Christy Bills, Collections Manager
cbills@umnh.utah.edu
801-581-3876
Links to Other Sites of Interest
Entomological Society of America
Iowa State Entomology Index of Internet Resources
University of Florida Book of Insect Records
Insect and Spider Collections of the World
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