This document discusses curating the Diptera spirit collection at the Natural History Museum to meet modern taxonomic demands. It outlines the existing collection, which represents 3% of the museum's species and is important for families of medical significance. Most Diptera larvae are preserved in spirit. The collection was rehoused in 2005 and contains around 160,000 species globally. However, less than 2% of Diptera species are known as larvae. The presentation discusses tasks like checking spirit jars and parfaits according to the Notton Protocol, creating a collection of British and Irish material, and emphasizing DNA and larvae to influence research. It raises questions about using absolute ethanol for preservation and whether this affects evaporation rates, sealing, and os
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Sivell ecn 2012
1. Dr Duncan Sivell
Do juveniles have enough alcohol?
Recurating a spirit collection to meet
modern taxonomic demands
2. Outline
The NHM Diptera spirit collection
Diptera life cycles and ecology
Existing curation: Notton protocol
New curation and enhancement
What for the future?
5. Darwin Centre 1
Steel fire resistant cabinets
Adjustable wooden shelves
Standardised plastic trays
Environmental control
Lab area for curation work
6. Diptera Spirit Collection
Represents 3% of species housed in dry collections
Collection Global; British and Irish material not separated.
Families of medical importance well represented
(eg Simuliidae, Culiciidae)
Spirit is default preservation method for Diptera larvae
New spirit building; Darwin Centre 1; collection rehoused in
2005. Eighteen cabinets of Diptera material.
8. Diptera
160 000 species globally (an underestimate!)
> 7000 species in Britain (well studied fauna)
Diptera spend majority of their life as juveniles
< 2% of Diptera are known as larvae
~ 4% of British species known as larvae
15. Spirit jars and parfaits need checking and
topping-up; a ongoing task (Notton Protocol)
New Curation Tasks
Create a collection of British and Irish material
(to coincide with the dry collections)
Emphasis on DNA and larvae: influence research
by creating an appropriate resource
Spirit Curation
17. Notton, D.G., 2011. A new practical method for profiling and topping up
alcohol preserved entomology collections. NatSCA News 21(August): 44-98
Notton Protocol
19. Spirit jars and parfaits need checking and
topping-up; a ongoing task (Notton Protocol)
New Curation Tasks
Create a collection of British and Irish material
(to coincide with the dry collections)
Emphasis on DNA and larvae: influence research
by creating an appropriate resource
Spirit Curation
20. Spirit jars and parfaits need checking and
topping-up; a ongoing task (Notton Protocol)
New Curation Tasks
Emphasis on DNA and larvae: influence research
by creating an appropriate resource
Create a collection of British and Irish material
(to coincide with the dry collections)
Spirit Curation
22. Summary
Do juveniles have enough alcohol?
No! But curation must be fit for purpose.
What are the implications of preserving
material in absolute ethanol?
Evaporation rates?
Less damaging to seal than IMS?
Potential problems with osmotic stress?
These factors need investigation
23. Summary
Do juveniles have enough alcohol?
No! But curation must be fit for purpose.
What are the implications of preserving
material in absolute ethanol?
Evaporation rates?
Less damaging to seal than IMS?
Potential problems with osmotic stress?
These factors need investigation
