Search Suggestions
Make sure the words you have entered were spelled correctly.
Our search capabilities allow you to enter even part of the word, so enter only as much of the name
or other search term as you have confidence. For example, the genus name "Trimeratropis" will return
no listings, as the correct name is Trimerotropis; but a search of just “Trimer” will successfully list
the types the Academy’s collection holds for the genus, along with any other types with that combination of letters.
It is best to search on the original name combination as described by the original author.
Names of species in the type specimen database always are listed with the name combination originally proposed
by the author; in many cases, but not all, the database also includes the equivalent current name combination.
For example, Dietz in 1921 described the crane fly species Tipula beaulieui, although it is now considered
the same (synonymous) as Tipula dorsimacula Walker 1848; a search is successful if one searches on "Tipula beaulieui"
or some part of that, but not if one searches for "Tipula dorsimacula".
Make sure you have entered the text to be searched in the appropriate search box.
The search engine for this database only searches in the relevant field(s), not all fields.
If your search involves Orthoptera s.l., Lepidoptera and Coleoptera please read further!
In the 1960s the Academy entered into two major exchanges of its entomology collections with other museums.
A large portion of the Academy’s Coleoptera collection, including many primary types, was exchanged with the
Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard University for their Orthoptera s.l. holdings. A large portion
of the (Macro-) Lepidoptera collection, including some primary types, was exchanged with the Carnegie Museum
of Natural History for their Orthoptera s.l. holdings. Please note that large portions of the collections
of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, including numerous type specimens, still remain at the Academy, along with
associated materials in the ANSP Archives. If you suspect that the type you seek may no longer be in the ANSP collection,
the logical first places to look (depending on the taxon) will be the Carnegie Museum and the MCZ. The MCZ
insect type specimen collection database can be searched online.
Inquiries regarding specific types that may have been transferred from ANSP to the MCZ can be made to the MCZ
Entomology Department’s Collection Manager, Philip Perkins (perkins at oeb.harvard.edu). The Carnegie Museum’s
insect type specimens are not searchable online, but inquiries can be made to the Invertebrate Zoology Collection
Manager: Robert Davidson (davidsonr at carnegiemnh.org)
This database is only complete for primary type specimens (holotype, syntypes, lectotype).
There are many non-primary (paratype, allotype, etc.) type specimens in our collection which have not been
databased. If interested in our complete holdings of a species or larger group, please send an e-mail inquiry
to the Entomology Collection Manager, Jason Weintraub, (weintraub at ansp.org).
The type specimen may be at the Academy but remain unrecognized as a type.
We have done our best to identify the primary types in our collection but because of lack of label clarity,
and staff limitations in searching the thousands of drawers in the main collection, some primary types may still
remain in the main collection. We need your help in identifying them! If you still believe the type specimen you
search for is in our collection, please email your inquiry to the Collection Manager, Mr. Jason Weintraub,
(weintraub at ansp.org). It helps to send any additional information you have about the specimen, including the
original name combination, author, original citation, and any more recent name combinations.
Please help us improve our database!
If you see a mistake in the database information, or can add information such as the current (valid) name
combination, please let us know! Contact Collection Manager, Mr. Jason Weintraub, (weintraub at ansp.org).