Entomology
The collection consists of about 700,000 specimens. The historic F Chevrier
(1801 - 1885) collection of European beetles is of international importance and
other notable non-British material includes the Liverpool School of Tropical
Medicine collection of medically important arthropods and C A Collingwood's
collection of palaearctic ants. In addition, there are biological records,
archives and an extensive, fully catalogued library with excellent coverage of
the British and Palaearctic taxonomic works.
A proactive acquisition policy has been adopted since 1988 and this has
transformed the quality and size of the entomology collection, in creating a
nationally significant resource. On average c30,000 specimens have been added
annually since National Museums Liverpool's formation in 1986.
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
The 50,000 British micro-lepidoptera is scientifically the most important part
of National Museums Liverpool's Lepidoptera holdings. The British
macro-Lepidopteran collection contains 120,000 specimens. The museum also
houses and curates the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society
collection. The 23,000 foreign specimens provide good generic cover for
butterflies and include 3,000 South African lycaenidae. A palaearctic
collection of lepidoptera, currently numbering c 40,000 specimens, is being
assembled. This includes type material.
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Jewel Beetle
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Coleoptera (beetles)
There is 87% species coverage of the British fauna with a total holding of
c103,000 specimens. The historic F Chevrier (1801 - 1885) collection of
European beetles is of international importance and is a source of lectotypes.
Hymenoptera (bees and wasps)
Recent acquisitions from M Edwards, G H L Dicker and extensive regional
fieldwork by C. Clee have transformed the British aculeate collection, which
provides 83% species coverage. Palaearctic representation has also dramatically
increased. A major recent acquisition was the C A Collingwood ant collection of
61,000 specimens, comprising 1,610 species (c. 70 - 80% of the palaearctic
fauna) with type material of some 60 species. This compliments extensive C Clee
aculeate material. The British sawfly collection, which includes T Green modern
regional material, requires further development at 46% species coverage. The
representation of parasitic wasps at 6% is poor.
Diptera (two-winged flies)
The collection comprises of around 50,000 British specimens with 2,454 species
present. Representation is particularly high for tipulidae (craneflies),
mycetophilidae (fungus gnats) syrphidae (hoverflies), tabanidae (horseflies)
and larger brachycera (short-horned fly families). Foreign diptera is dominated
by the 35,000 specimens of medically important flies in the Liverpool School of
Tropical Medicine collection. An increasingly extensive collection of asilidae
(robberflies) and bombyliidae (beeflies) is being assembled from the Greek
island of Chios.
Hemiptera (true bugs and hoppers)
There is excellent coverage of British true bugs (93%) and hoppers (96%), which
contrasts with a virtual absence of other groups such as aphids. The extensive
W J Le Quesne collection is complemented by S Judd's adult and extensive
immature material, particularly palaearctic lygaeidae (seed bugs).
Remaining insect orders
There is excellent coverage for British aquatic groups, especially adult and
larval British trichoptera (caddis flies). Developing collections include
palaearctic neuroptera (lacewings and allied groups) and S G Butler's world
odonata(dragonfly) larvae. There is also a collection of exotic world
orthoptera.
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