With over 35 million specimens housed
in more than 132,354 drawers,
33,000 jars or vials,
and 23,000 slides in
more than 5,200 cabinets,
the National Insect Collection
is one of the largest entomological
collections in the world.

Specimens and their associated
data are used as the basis for
original scientific research on the
nature, inter-relationships, origin,
and evolution of insects and their
allies.  The large holdings of medically
and agriculturally important species
make parts of the collection
especially significant as sources
of systematic research and
identification of insect pests. 

The Department of
Entomology at the
National Museum
includes research
scientists and museum
specialists from the
Smithsonian Institution
as well as the U. S. Department
of Agriculture's Systematic
Entomology Lab and the Walter
Reed Biosystematics Unit of the
Department of Defense (links
at left).

Assignments of areas of research
and of responsibility for the care
and development of the collections
are coordinated so that no duplication occurs between the various entities.

In general, the Museum staff tends to direct its attention to groups of general evolutionary or ecological interest whereas USDA personnel direct their attention to groups of economic importance to American agriculture and WRBU personnel conduct systematics research on medically important arthropods - namely mosquitoes.

A detailed account of the long and complex history of the United States National Entomological Collections was prepared for the 15th International Congress of Entomology held here in 1976. It includes information on the collections as well as the many individuals involved with their acquisition and the creation of the department as we now know it. [Click here to link]