Support of ANSP Entomological Collections: 1988-1993

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The entomological collections at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) contain over three million insect specimens from around the world. It is a world center for systematic research on orthopterans (grasshoppers, crickets and their relatives). The collection contains over 10,000 type specimens, including some of the earliest-described and commonest species of insects. At the current rate of growth, all storage space will soon be filled. Presently, compactors occupy about 2/3 of the existing floor space, and this project will allow compactorization of the remaining collection, thus allowing a 25% increase in storage capacity. The ANSP houses one of the larger collections of insects preserved in alcohol and on slides. The greater part of this collection consists of aquatic insects, especially members of the family Chironomidae (midges). These flies, as well as the other aquatic groups, constitute an important element of the freshwater fauna and have been used as reliable indicators of water quality. Curation of this collection has lagged relative to to other portions of the collection and a large part of it must be rehoused and properly curated. This project will provide a curatorial assistant to accomplish this task under the guidance of Dr. Selwyn Roback, who assembled most of the collection and will be retiring soon. In addition, a half-time curatorial assistant will be provided to work on the large alcoholic collection of spiders, mites and centipedes and on the Peale Collection, a separately maintained collection of butterflies and moths that has scientific, artistic and historical value.