National Collection of Insects

 

Established some 90 years ago, the South African National Collection of Insects is one of the most comprehensive collections of southern African terrestrial insects, comprising several million curated and documented specimens, which include several thousand primary specimens.

Supplementing the specimen collection are extensive taxonomic, biological and biogeographic reference sources the insect fauna of the Afrotropical Region. An electronic database project is underway to facilitate access to the vast amount of specimen label data and associated collection-based information of the SANC.

Apart from extensive general reference collections of the insect fauna of southern Africa, the SANC houses several important specialist collections that have been subjects to in-depth taxonomic research and development over many years. The most important of these include:

• ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA COLLECTION - bees and aculeate wasps
• PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA COLLECTION - parasitic wasps (Chalcidoidea)
• HEMIPTERA, AUCHENORRYNCHA COLLECTION - leafhoppers
• HEMIPTERA: STERNORRHYNCHA COLLECTION - aphids, scale insects, mealybugs and whitefly
• COLEOPTERA COLLECTION - various beetle families
• ISOPTERA COLLECTION - termites

 

Other major collections:

• THYSANOPTERA COLLECTION - thrips
• DIPTERA COLLECTION - fruit flies
• NEUROPTERA COLLECTION - lace wings and related groups
• BIOCONTROL REFERENCE COLLECTION
• ORTHOPTERA COLLECTION
• OTHER COLLECTIONS – termitophiles; dragonflies and damselflies; phasmids, mantids
  

For more information on COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT