Founded in 1912 as part of the Department of Agriculture, the South African National Collection of Insects (SANC) was established in response to a need for reliable insect pest identifications. Since then, the SANC has grown into one of the largest collections of southern African insects, comprising several million dried, slide-mounted and alcohol-preserved specimens, along with a wealth of associated collections-based information. Several specialist collections of economically important groups such as termites, thrips, aphids, scale insects and other plant bugs, fruit flies, bees, parasitic wasps, lacewings, weevils and leaf-eating beetles are housed here. In addition to these specialist collections, the SANC houses extensive general reference collections of the insect fauna of southern Africa, with the emphasis on orders and families of importance to agriculture. Research within the SANC focuses on the classification, biology and distribution of harmful and beneficial insects of economic and environmental importance. In addition, a wide range of biosystematic services is provided, including: taxonomic investigations and consultancy biodiversity surveys
courses in taxonomic techniques, and the identification of economically important species
identification guides and taxonomic and biological catalogues and indices.
In addition, an
Insect Identification Service is rendered to a large variety of clients, including natural resource managers, ecologists, pest control officers and the public, as well as the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development in support of South Africa's national and international phytosanitary obligations. As an invaluable archive of southern Africa's insect diversity, this world-class national asset is a vital research tool for scientists working in the field of natural resource management and systematics. As a result, a steady stream of visitors is hosted annually, including school and university groups, national and international academia, citizen scientists, nature conservation officers and members of the public. - COLEOPTERA COLLECTION (BEETLES)
Almost all the known beetle families from southern Africa, now over 110, are represented in the Coleoptera holdings. The collection houses an estimated number of more than 800 000 specimens and is continually growing and being upgraded taxonomically. The most significant components of the collection are the comprehensive holdings of southern African Curculionoidea (weevils and allies), Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles), Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae (seed beetles) and Scarabaeinae (dung beetles). Other groups that are particularly well represented are, amongst others, the terrestrial fauna of the suborder Adephaga and the following groups of the suborder Polyphaga: other Scarabaeoidea, Buprestidae, Bostrichidae, Melyridae: Malachiinae, Coccinellidae and Cerambycidae. An extremely valuable and unique aspect of the collections of phytophagous beetles is the considerable amount of host-associated material, linking specimens with host plant data, other eco-biological information, and immature stages. Although the focus is on beetles of agricultural significance, the collection strives to be as representative of the entire southern African fauna as possible. The collection is rich in type material. Besides the well-represented southern African fauna, the collection also contains a fair amount of reference material from other biogeographical regions. Various "orphaned" beetle collections have either been donated to or obtained by the SANC, the most important of which is a dung beetle reference collection of over 35 000 specimens, assembled by the now disbanded Australian CSIRO Dung Beetle Unit as part of their research programme in southern Africa during the 1970s. A small, but growing collection of beetle material for molecular research is a more recent development. A small component of beetle larvae, preserved either in glycerine with the adults, or separately in a wet collection but associated with the adults and hosts, is also constantly growing. Progress with the digitisation of the holdings has been limited to the dung beetle and fruit chafer collections.
Specialists: Beth Grobbelaar / Riaan Stals
- DIPTERA COLLECTION (FLIES)
Diptera (flies) are the most morphologically and biologically diverse of the 26 currently recognised insect orders and contains many significant insects from economic, medical, veterinary and environmental perspectives. The Diptera collection housed at the SANC is among the largest collections of flies in Africa and is an internationally strategic biological resource and asset. Its origin dates back to 1925 when its first curator, the renowned Dipterologist H.K. Munro, initiated his studies on African fruit flies (Tephritidae) within the Department of Agriculture. The Diptera collection currently comprises about 48 000 pinned and slide-mounted specimens from 82 families, with the dominant holdings being the world-renowned Munro fruit fly collection. Pinned material is housed in glass-topped drawers in wooden cabinets using a unit tray system. Further important collections, especially of termitophilous Phoridae, are stored in alcohol-filled vials and as slide-mounted specimens. Digitisation of the Diptera collection commenced in 2000 and there are currently 4 100 databased batch records. The collection includes a very significant component of 490 primary types of Diptera that form part of a recently digitised name-bearing type specimen database that is accessible through the website of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). - NEUROPTERA COLLECTION (LACEWINGS AND ALLIED GROUPS)
The Neuroptera, commonly known as "Lacewings", is one of the few insect orders that is entirely comprised of beneficial species. The larvae are all obligate predators, while the adults are either predacious or pollen and nectar feeders. Neuroptera comprise at least 17 families, distributed worldwide, with an especially rich fauna in southern Africa. There are 415 described species from South Africa, and over 150 that await formal description. The SANC Neuroptera collection, which was initiated in 1979, is the largest and most significant assemblage of southern African species and specimens in the world, comprising over 45 000 pinned, and mostly identified specimens, of which 25 200 individuals in 9 974 batches are recorded in an electronic database. The collection also includes 303 primary and secondary types, of which 74 are holotypes. These data are available through the portal of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the LacewingMap programme at the Animal Demography Unit (ADU) at the University of Cape Town. In addition, the Neuroptera database contains a further 6 915 databased specimens from numerous museums and collections throughout the world. The total number of records in the database consequently currently stands at 16 889 batch records comprising 39 420 databased specimens. Over the years, the collection has formed the basis of numerous research programmes, resulting in copious scientific literature and accrued knowledge base. This has been accomplished through local and international scientists, as evidenced by the extensive type-holdings.
Specialists: Beth Grobbelaar
- ISOPTERA COLLECTION (TERMITES)
This collection, which holds approximately 35 000 colony samples, is one of the largest termite collections in the world. Although comprised mainly of southern African material, a wealth of material from other geographic regions is also held here. Most of the material was collected during the National Survey of Isoptera, initiated by the late Dr W.G.H. Coaton. This survey, which lasted more than 20 years endeavoured to sample every quarter degree of southern Africa and is the most extensive survey ever undertaken for any order of insect anywhere in the world. As a result, this world-renowned collection is also one of the most comprehensive of its kind in the world. The collection is superbly curated, with each sample meticulously accessioned and all identified to at least generic level. The entire collection has been databased. A number of catalogues, including individual genus and species catalogues, along with an extensive reprint library, compliment this magnificent collection.
- HEMIPTERA COLLECTION (BUGS)
Suborder Sternorrhyncha (aphids, scale insects, mealybugs and whitefly) Specialisation within the Sternorrhynca at the SANC has involved taxonomic studies of South African aphids, psyllids, scale insects and mealybugs. As a result, the collections of these groups are very representative of the local fauna and contain material of practically all species that occur here. Most samples have been studied and identified to species level. These collections are well organised, fully labelled, and are an outstanding reference source of the South African fauna of these groups. In addition, a database of 8 700 records enables rapid retrieval of all specimen data associated with the Sternorrhyncha collection. The aphid collection comprises 1 050 samples mounted on more than 5 000 microscope slides, as well as a spirit collection of approximately 1 800 aphid colony samples, of which specimens from almost half of these have been slide mounted. The Coccoidea (scale insects) collection has well over 20 000 slide-mounts of specimens from 7 350 samples, and contains many type specimens from taxonomic research that has been conducted on this group at the SANC over the years. The Psylloidea collection holds 630 accessions, comprising about 1 000 pinned specimens and 750 microscope slide-mounts; much of this material was collected and studied by the late A.L. Capener. This collection contains numerous type specimens. The whitefly collection contains approximately 200 samples, from which 250 slide-mounts have been made. The South African Aleyrodidae have received little attention in the past and are poorly known, despite being of considerable economic significance.
Enquiries: Zolile Maseko
Suborder Auchenorryncha (leafhoppers, planthoppers and related families) Presently, taxonomic research on this suborder at SANC is focused on elucidating the Grassland and Savanna faunas of southern African leafhoppers (Cicadellidae), an agriculturally important family of plant feeding insects and virus vectors. With the research emphasis on the Cicadellidae, this family forms the largest component of the Auchenorryncha collection and comprises about 70 000 pinned specimens, with 70% of the holdings databased (more than 20 000 records). In addition to the Cicadellidae, there are also significant reference collections of related hopper families, especially those of economic importance, such as the Delphacidae, Flatidae, Issidae, Membracidae, Fulgoridae, Cercopidae, Cicadidae and Tettigometridae.
Specialist: Michael Stiller
Suborder Heteroptera (true bugs) In addition to the two specialist Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha collections, which underpin the taxonomic research that is being conducted on these groups at the SANC, there are also major reference holdings of the suborder Heteroptera, the so-called true bugs, which include a large number of common and important pests of cultivated plants. Among the many well-curated collections are important reference specimens with associated host plant data of all the economically important families found in southern Africa. Groups that are particularly well represented include the stink bugs (Pentatomidae), shield-backed bugs (Scutelleridae), twig wilters or leaf-footed bugs (Coreidae), seed and chinch bugs
(Lygaeoidea), plant bugs (Miridae), lace bugs (Tingidae) and cotton stainers (Pyrrhocoroidea).
Enquiries: Michael Stiller
- HYMENOPTERA COLLECTION (SAWFLIES, BEES, WASPS AND ANTS)
Historically, the Hymenoptera collection has been divided into two components along research lines, with the emphasis on parasitic wasps and certain groups of bees and aculeate wasps.
Parasitic Hymenoptera (Parasitic wasps) Although the parasitic Hymenoptera holdings of the SANC include all higher taxa, many groups such as the Ichneumonoidea, Platygastroidea, Proctotrupoidea and Cynipoidea are under-represented in terms of identified material and type specimens of South African species. These collections are, however, extremely valuable in that they contain extensive host data and important voucher material pertaining to more than a century of applied entomological research in South Africa. The most valuable component of the collection comprises the superfamily Chalcidoidea, of which the Encyrtidae and Aphelinidae are particularly well represented through extensive research that has been done on the Afrotropical fauna of these two families at the SANC over many years. This collection is renowned for its host-reared material and extensive slide collection, containing several thousand slide-mounted specimens. It is particularly rich in species of importance to the biological control of homopterous pests. The holdings of many of the other major chalcidoid families, such as the Eulophidae, Pteromalidae, Eurytomidae and Eupelmidae, are less well represented in terms of identified specimens, but contain large amounts of invaluable unidentified material and material identified to genus level. Much of the chalcidoid material has been host reared and has been databased to make the information more readily accessible.
Aculeate Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants) The most important part of the aculeate Hymenoptera holdings includes the bee collection, which comprises more than 50 000 pinned specimens that form a comprehensive representation of the southern African fauna of this important group of pollinators. Resulting from more than four decades of taxonomic research and extensive surveying across southern Africa, the bee collection is particularly rich in identified specimens and type material. Included are species of leaf cutter bees (Megachilidae), Apidae genera such as
Xylocopa,
Allodape and
Ceratina (Xylocopinae), and
Anthophora and
Amegilla (Apinae), in addition to various taxa of the families Halictidae, Colettidae, Andrenidae, and Melittidae. Based on these holdings, numerous taxonomic revisions of the bee fauna of South Africa, and further afield, have been published over the years. The remainder of the aculeate Hymenoptera collection, which comprises about 40 000 pinned specimens, includes a small ant (Formicidae) reference collection in addition to representatives of almost all the wasp families found in southern Africa. The families Pompilidae, Sphecidae, Scoliidae, Tiphiidae and Vespidae are particularly well represented. Less well-represented families include, amongst others the Chrysididae, Bethylidae, Mutillidae, and Dryinidae.
- THYSANOPTERA COLLECTION (thrips)
The thrips collection was established in the late 1920s by J.C. Faure within the Department of Agriculture, in response to much needed taxonomic and associated biological information on the African fauna of this economically important group of plant pests and virus vectors. Following the pioneering work of Faure, substantial contributions to the expansion of the collection and taxonomic knowledge of the group were made by E.K. Hartwig, and R. Zur Strassen in later years. The collection remains an invaluable identification tool and reference source in support of applied thrips research today. The main component of this extensive collection, regarded as one of the most important holdings of African thrips taxa, comprises about 80 000 slide-mounted specimens representing 5 000 meticulously accessioned samples, all of which have been digitised. In addition, there is a small wet collection of approximately 400 jars containing numerous tubes with accessioned specimens. Also included are 130 slide-mounted primary type specimens of species of Thripidae, Aeolothripidae, Phlaeothripidae and Merothripidae, described by the three above-mentioned taxonomists.
Enquiries: Michael Stiller
- ORTHOPTERA COLLECTION (grasshoppers, locusts and crickets)
Housed in 25 cabinets, this extensive collection of pinned specimens has expanded through both taxonomic and applied research conducted within the Department of Agriculture and the ARC over many years, and through the addition of recently donated material. In essence, it is an accumulation of five separate holdings in various stages of curation and classification and in need of being consolidated into a single unit to enhance its value as a reference source. The most comprehensive component of the collection comprises taxa of the suborder Caelifera (locusts and short-horned grasshoppers), which are represented by specimens of all but one of the 12 families that occur in southern Africa. Particularly well represented are taxa of the Acrididae, mainly acquired through extensive surveys carried out by H.D. Brown in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and other southern African countries as part of his taxonomic studies on acridids and applied work on locust pests. In addition, there are large numbers of voucher specimens from locust control surveys dating back as far as the early 1930s. The acridid collection includes most of the 14 southern African subfamilies and is especially rich in taxa belonging to the Acridinae, Cyrtacanthacrinae, Euryphaeminae and Comphocerinae. Other well-represented Caelifera families include the Pyrgomorphidae (foam grashoppers), Lentulidae, Pamphagidae (toad grashoppers), Thericleidae and Lithidiidae. This component of the collection is also rich in type material, of which 98 primary types of species in the families Acrididae, Lentulidae, Thericleidae, Lithidiidae and Euschmidtiidae have been digitised. The second part of the collection includes taxa of the suborder Ensifera (katydids and crickets) and is far less comprehensive, well studied and curated than the Caelifera component. Seven of the 12 Ensifera families found in southern Africa are included, most of which are represented by a limited number of identified taxa, but are richly represented by unidentified and unsorted material from a wide range of localities in the subregion. Groups that are best represented, in terms of number of specimens, include families that are commonly found in southern Africa such as the Tettigoniidae (kaytidids), Gryllidae (crickets), Gryllotalpidae (mole crickets) and Bradyporidae (armoured ground crickets).
Enquiries: Riaan Stals
In addition to the specialist collections dealt with above, the SANC houses many other specimen holdings, representing most of the 26 insect orders found in southern Africa. Most of these collections are not actively worked on, except where study material is made available on request to taxonomists from other institutions. Nevertheless, these holdings form an indispensable reference tool in the rendering of an efficient identification service, while also being used for training and educational purposes. Insect orders that are particularly well represented are the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), with the emphasis on species of agricultural and horticultural importance, Dermaptera (earwigs), Blattodea (cockroaches, excluding termites), Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), Phasmatodea (stick insects) and Psocoptera (booklice and barklice).
Enquiries: Riaan Stals -
NAME-BEARING TYPE SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Over 3 000 insect name-bearing type specimens are housed in the SANC. These mainly include Coleoptera (beetles), Hemiptera (bugs), Diptera (flies), Hymenoptera (bees, wasps) and Thysanoptera (thrips). The name-bearing types comprise over 2 400 holotypes and syntypes of more than 700 species. In addition to the name-bearing type specimens, there are large numbers of secondary types, e.g. paratypes, of a wide variety of insect species housed among the specimens in the general collections. The name-bearing specimens are housed securely in cabinets in a strong room at the SANC, to afford protection of these valuable heritage assets. The remaining name-bearing types in the collections are gradually being consolidated into the strong room. Digitisation of the name-bearing type collection is an ongoing project. Over the years, an inventory of the type specimens and their associated label data has been compiled in the form of an electronic database. Recent upgrading of this database saw the addition of name-bearing type specimen records for 125 Blattodea (termites) species, and 240 Coccoidea (scale insects, mealybugs) species. In addition, 5 500 digital images were captured for the name-bearing type specimens of the scale insects and mealybugs. These images will eventually be made available on the internet through the Encyclopaedia of Life. A current version of the upgraded database of type specimens in the SANC is available in the form of a basic catalogue/inventory, which can be accessed through the internet at
http://fbip.co.za/data-sets-2/ and
https://www.gbif.org/dataset/e0bde7d0-36fb-4036-81fe-4c3429dfa67f .
Curator: Beth Grobbelaar
INSECT BOOKS AND GUIDES
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