Lepidoptera and Trichoptera
With around four and a half million butterflies and extensive collections of caddisflies, this sub-collection is one of the most important resources of its kind for biodiversity research and taxonomy.
Overview
The Lepidoptera and Trichoptera sub-collection (butterflies and caddisflies) brings together several individual collections with different areas of focus. These include regionally focused collections as well as specialised taxonomic and ecological collections. These are supplemented by a systematically organised and continuously expanding main collection.
The Lepidoptera collection comprises around four and a half million specimens in approximately 17,500 boxes and 450 historic wooden cabinets. It contains some 75,000 species as well as around 10,000 type specimens. This makes it the collection with the greatest number of type specimens in this group in Germany. The specimens originate predominantly from the Palearctic region as well as from countries in Africa and South-East Asia. A particular focus is on Microlepidoptera (small butterflies).
The Trichoptera collection comprises around 10,000 pinned specimens and some 40,000 individuals preserved in alcohol. It holds the type specimens of around 1000 species. Here too, the geographical focus is on the Palearctic region, Africa and South-East Asia.
Access
The sub-collection is available for physical consultation by researchers and other users upon prior request. The contact person is the collection manager.
Research can be carried out directly on the objects and using the relevant specialist literature. The sub-collection is supplemented by a specialist library, which forms part of the museum’s library and is continuously being expanded.
We work on a digital infrastructure.
History
The oldest items date back to the late 18th century and were collected by, amongst others, Johann Centurius von Hoffmannsegg (1766–1849) and Heinrich Julius Laspeyres (1769–1800). Hoffmannsegg was involved in the founding of the Zoological Museum in 1809, which later became part of the Museum of Natural History.
The sub-collection grew through numerous scientifically significant individual collections, including those of Otto Staudinger (1830–1900), Carl Hinneberg (1849-1902), Rudolf Püngeler (1857–1927), Arnold Schultze (1875–1954), Hans Stichel (1862–1936), Alfred Mell (1870–1948), Otto Bang-Haas (1882-1948) and Erich Martin Hering (1893-1967). In addition, there are further collections as well as complete expedition finds, such as those from the Sepik Expedition (1911–1913) or the Schäfer Expedition (1938–1939).
Research
The sub-collection serves as a key resource for taxonomic, faunistic and ecological research. It is used by researchers as well as specialist collectors and supports the identification and scientific classification of species.
Our own research expeditions and fieldwork, particularly in countries in South-East Asia, Africa and South America, continuously expand the collection. International collaborations contribute to the scientific processing of the material.