Entomology is a branch of Zoology that deals with insects. In
other words, insects are animals. They differ from other animals
in that they have three body parts, a head, thorax, and abdomen,
on which are found three pairs of jointed legs. The insects
have external mouth parts and are covered by a tough, waterproof
exoskeleton. Most have wings.
In the entire world, there are about one and a half million
animal species described. Of this number, about one million
are insects.
Insects are bees, beetles, and butterflies. They are froghoppers,
firebrats, and flies. They are also midges, moths, and mayflies.
And there are more, so many more. Insects can be found in every
type of habitat. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, treehole
to tree canopy they occupy every land niche.
They are essential to our well-being. Insects are plant pollinators,
scavengers eating decaying debris, a source of medicine, recyclers
of nutrients, a source of food for other animals and even some
plants. Many are aesthetically pleasing and all are a source
of wonder in their architecture and engineering feats.
The insect collection at the Survey now houses over 6,000,000
curated specimens. The growth and wide-ranging scope of this
collection can be credited to the diverse interests of the systematists
who have spent all or part of their career at the Survey. Scientists
such as Stephen A. Forbes, the first Director of the State Laboratory
and Chief of the Natural History Survey; Theodore Frison, who
succeeded Forbes; and H. H. Ross, who directed the intense systematics
studies of the faunistic section for 40 years, placed considerable
emphasis on enlarging the insect collection. These insects document
the changing landscape and environmental conditions of the world.
The INHS insect collection is one of the largest in North
America. The most recent size estimate was done in 1992. The
heavy concentration of specimens from the last third of the
1800s also makes this one of North America's oldest insect
and related arthropod collections.
The INHS Insect Collection includes more than 13,000 primary
types (syntypes inclusive). Because of size, historical holdings,
and wide breadth of coverage in certain groups, the collection
is an important national and worldwide resource.
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