Love insects? Then you’ll really enjoy visiting the Entemology Museum in Riverside, CA. Here you’ll find the second oldest UC insect collection. The very first specimens arrived in 1923 when Harry Smith joined the faculty. P.H. Timberlake’s personal collections were added in 1924 and and L.D. Anderson’s in 1948. In 1965 the G.P. McKenzie collection of North American Coleoptera was purchased.
A new building was dedicated and officially named the Entomology Research Museum in March of 1994 to house the large collection and insects and related arthropods. Among the floors that houses the collections and office space, there is also a preparations room, a small library/lab room and a large room for special seminars, events and teaching.
In addition to being a place where Entomology enthusiasts can go to be amazed, the museum is also a repository for voucher specimens associated with research. There are so many insect species and many look very alike that sometimes it’s amazing to learn that a single species is actually two or more! The faculty, staff and students at the University of California are responsible for examining these specimens and determining their official species.
The Entomology Museum is home to more than 4 million speciments, over 200 primary type specimens and the oldest specimen is from 1807. There are no public display cases in the museum, but you’ll find some in the building nearby (Entomology Department) and are viewable by the public. They also welcome visitors who need help identifying a specimen in-person or you can submit a digital photo.
If you want to visit the museum, you can make an appointment through the Senior Museum Scientist; contact information is available on their website. After your visit to the museum, you might go here if you’re looking for a fun-filled day. And when funds start getting low, consider calling us for assistance.
