INSECT
COLLECTION
The
arthropod reference collection [PADA] of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
(PDA) is one of the most important assets in the arsenal to fight pests of
Pennsylvania’s agricultural and natural resource commodities. Throughout its history,
this collection has been used for reference in comparing and identifying pests
of agricultural lands and products and have been invaluable tools in education,
demonstration and scientific publications. However, this collection extends
well beyond its immediate value in pest identification, as it catalogues a rich
history of biodiversity, biology and taxonomy, providing a unique catalogue of
regional significance.
The
PDA arthropod reference collection is one of the largest and most comprehensive
of those maintained by the state departments of agriculture, only exceeded by
collections maintained by Florida, California, and Hawaii. Representing a large
portion of the insect and mite faunas of Pennsylvania and the surrounding
region, particularly regarding agricultural commodities pests, this collection
retains particularly excellent regional representation of: Miridae, Cicadellidae,
Membracidae, Fulgoroidea and Coccoidea (Hemiptera); Noctuidae (Lepidoptera);
Chrysomelidae, Cerambycidae, Buprestidae and Scolytinae (Coleoptera);
Ichneumonoidea and Apoidea (Hymenoptera); Syrphidae and Tabanidae (Diptera);
and Acarina.
Its current holdings include approximately
163,000 pinned specimens, 6,700 alcohol specimens and 10,800 slides, about half
from Pennsylvania and the remaining from surrounding states and throughout the
world. Its holdings include: 1 lectotype, Chrysops pikei Whitney (Diptera: Tabanidae); 1 allotype, Microdon pseudoglobosis Curran (Diptera: Syrphidae); 373 paratypes, 257
in the plant bug family Miridae (Hemiptera); and 47 meta- and homotypes and 9
metatopo- and topotypes. In addition, the collection continues to grow through
biological survey conducted as part of the regulatory mission of the department
of agriculture. The Entomology Program conducts a large number of major surveys
per year, identifying approximately 97,000 specimens annually. The collection also actively trades with
other collections, institutions and researchers, domestic and international, to
enhance our diversity of possible pests the Pennsylvania.
Summary of arthropod reference collection holdings.
Includes number of specimens, geographic coverage and notable holdings.
Survey
specimens are considered temporary holdings of the collection.
taxon
|
preparation
|
prepared specimens
|
types
|
geographic coverage
|
notable
|
Coleoptera
|
pinned, vials
|
61,359
|
34 paratypes
|
worldwide,
strong in northeastern USA
|
strong
in agricultural and forest pests, including Carabidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae and Chrysomelidae
|
Heteroptera
|
pinned, vials
|
25,372
|
257 paratypes
|
North
American, PA emphasis
|
half
are Myrids from A.G. Wheeler's biodiversity work
|
Diptera
|
pinned, slides, vials
|
23,552
|
1 allotype,
53 paratypes
|
strong in northeastern USA, PA emphasis
|
|
Hymenoptera
|
pinned
|
18,199
|
17 paratypes
|
worldwide, PA emphasis
|
strong
in Ichneumonoidea and Apoidea
|
Hemiptera (minus Heteroptera)
|
pinned, slides, vials
|
14,686
|
|
primarily Pennsylvania
|
stong
in agricultural and ornamental pests in Coccoidea and Aphididae
|
Lepidoptera
|
pinned, vials
|
14,301
|
3 paratypes
|
worldwide, emphasis on PA
|
C.S.
Anderson Collection, strong in agriculturally important microlepidoptera
|
Acari
|
slides, vials
|
4,082
|
6 paratypes
|
primarily Pennsylvania
|
large slide collection of mites of agricultural/ornamental importance
|
Mecoptera
|
pinned
|
117
|
3 paratypes
|
primarily Pennsylvania
|
|
Other Ag- significant Orders
|
pinned, vials, slides
|
3,260
|
|
worldwide, emphasis on PA
|
|
Miscellaneous Orders/Specimens
|
pinned, vials, slides
|
15,519
|
|
|
|
Survey Targets (estimate)
|
vials
|
73,000
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
Specimens
from 2008-2010 Exotic Pest Surveys
|
The
insect reference collection has enjoyed a rich history of entomological
importance, beginning with the appointment of H.A. Surface to the office of
Economic Zoologist in 1903. Surface was dedicated to establishing “… complete
collections of all our Pennsylvania animals and animal products (including
insects and their work)…” (Wheeler and Valley, 1975). This dedication led to
the appointment of a number of entomological assistants, beginning a rich history
of entomology at the PDA. Over the more than 100 years of the collection’s
existence, a number of well-known entomologists have spent part or all of their
careers with the PDA, including D.M. DeLong, W.S. Fisher, J.N. Knull, A.B.
Champlain, H.B. Kirk, J.G. Sanders, H.L. Viereck, V.A.E. Daecke, F.C.
Craighead, W.R. Walton, J.O. Pepper, G.B. Sleesman, A.G. Wheeler, Jr., E.E.
Simons and T.J. Henry. Their impact has been felt in agricultural and economic
entomology, insect biology and natural history, and insect taxonomy and
systematics, including a number of species named for and described by these
individuals. Further, their work can be seen in collections throughout the
region, including both type and duplicate specimen deposition at the Carnegie
Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh, PA), Philadelphia Academy of Natural
Sciences (Philadelphia, PA), Frost Entomological Museum (Penn State University,
State College, PA), Cornell University Insect Reference Collection (Ithaca, NY)
and the U.S. National Museum (Washington, D.C.).
The
PDA insect reference collection is the largest, most actively used state
department of agriculture collection in the northeastern United States. The collection has occasionally been included
in regional biodiversity and taxonomic studies, most recently for: Recent
taxonomic studies referencing or depositing specimens from the PDA arthropod
reference collection include: vanEngelsdorp and Donovall (2009), Donovall and
vanEngelsdorp (2010), and Biddinger, et al. (2009, 2010) (Hymenoptera:
Apoidea); Duon et al. (2009; Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae); Conrow et al. (2016)
(Hymenoptera: Chrysididae); Holliday and Coelho (2006) and Kurczewski (2008)
(Hymenoptera: Crabronidae);
Mathis, et al. (2009; Diptera: Sciomyzidae); Barringer (2015; Hemiptera:
Membracidae); and Pinto (2009; Coleoptera: Meloidae). Other ongoing
biodiversity studies currently underway include Miridae (Hemiptera; A.G.
Wheeler and T.J. Henry), Acrididae (Orthoptera; J. Sheldon and L.R. Donovall),
Carabidae (Coleoptera; R. Davidson), Weevils (Coleoptera: G. Setliff) and
Cerambycidae (Coleoptera: R. Androw).
A
recent resurgence in taxonomic emphasis, along with a number of
federally-supported exotic pest detection programs at the PDA has led to great
increases in collection holdings. These programs are contributing much to
knowledge of Pennsylvania’s insect fauna. The entomological pest surveys
conducted by the PDA now emphasize the importance of retaining reference
specimens from the families of all targeted insects of economic importance,
with current emphasis on broad surveys of Membracidae and Pentatomoidea
(Hemiptera); Cerambycidae, Buprestidae, Scolytinae and Cleridae (Coleoptera);
and Symphyta and Apoidea (Hymenoptera). Additional emphasis is placed on
increasing holdings in other agriculturally significant groups, encouraging
amateurs, students and professionals to place voucher specimens into the insect
reference collection. Increasingly, the PDA insect reference collection is
gaining recognition as both the largest, most complete repository of
Pennsylvania’s historical insect fauna and as one of the most active
collections in contemporary insect fauna of the region. The regulatory mission
of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requires that the Entomology
Program retains vouchers of potential exotic pests. The arthropod reference collection
has had a long history of acquiring specimens of exotic insects and mites
through exchange and request, as well as collecting native and naturalized
species for direct comparison. These exchanges have increased in recent years
with the greater emphasis on forest pests and more state-wide exotic pest
surveys being conducted. The exotic pest surveys often require verification by
national program verifiers while new state records are sent to the USDA for verification
and vouchering at the U.S. National Museum; the vouchering and verification of these
specimens often leads to specimen placement in the reference collection.
All
these collections are vital to the PDA’s mission of protecting agricultural
commodities in the Commonwealth. The
collection stands as a resource for reference, research, education and
outreach, uniquely offering open, guided access to the entirety of the
holdings.
For inquiries about the
collection or loans contact Lawrence Barringer (lbarringer@pa.gov).