Current Research

Development of the Collection Database: A database was developed for the NCSU Insect Museum by R. L. Blinn. This application is used for managing loans, donations, and inventory of our holdings. The major goal now is to create an online, searchable database (using software such as Specify 6 or mx) that will ultimately include specimen-level information.

Building the Genome Bank for Molecular Systematics: The purpose of the Genome Bank, established in 1995 by B. M . Wiegmann, is to house research and voucher specimens for the systematics program.

Collecting Trips to Targeted North Carolina Counties: To improve representation of material from poorly collected counties, each year we endeavor to make at least one major collecting trip targeted to counties that are under represented in the Museum. We also cooperate with the N.C. Museum of Natural History, N.C. Nature Conservancy, the Great Smokey Mountains All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI), N.C. Natural Heritage Program, and other agencies to survey our insect fauna.

Improving Access to Collection Resources: Bob Blinn is preparing a catalog of primary and secondary types held by the NCSU Insect Museum, including holotypes on indefinite loan to the U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. (this list will ultimately be available in published form and through our homepage). Museum staff continue to sort, identify, and arrange various insect groups according to recent checklists and catalogs. We also welcome other specialists (Honorary Curators) to assist in the curation of taxa in their area interest. Work-study students assist in preparing our unmounted backlog as needed.

Support for Research, Identification, and Teaching Missions. Support for research includes: (a) lending material to qualified systematists at other institutions; (b) making specimens, literature and equipment accessible to departmental staff and students and visiting specialists; (c) preserving research voucher collections; (d) responding to requests for taxonomic literature and specimen data; and (e) instructing departmental staff and students on appropriate techniques for collecting, preserving, and labelling insects. Assistance to Extension Entomology's identification service (Plant Disease and Insect Clinic) includes: (a) making reference specimens and systematic literature available; (b) providing specimen data labels and supplies; and (c) preserving new reference material. Teaching activities include: (a) training graduate students in systematics; (b) supporting outreach programs through visits to local schools and maintaining educational exhibits, (c) presenting tours of the Museum to interested parties, (d) organizing collecting trips, and (e) providing instruction on curatorial and collection techniques.