The University of Texas Insect Collection contains over 2 million specimens focused on insects from Texas and the surrounding region. It has strengths in arachnids, cave invertebrates, lepidopterans, hymenopterans, mosquitoes, and odonates. The collection aims to document changes in biodiversity over time at field sites. Specimens are stored in cabinets, alcohol, envelopes, and microscope slides. Digitization efforts include barcoding, imaging, and combining databases. The collection supports research and education.

1. Collection Profile:
University of Texas Insect Collection
John Abbott, Curator
Tom Atkinson, Collections Manager

2. 1883 2006
Ant/Insect
Taxonomy
Gene Mutation
Drosophila Systematics
Mosquitos
Historical Time Line
of Entomology at
The University of Texas at Austin
OdonataAnts
Lepidoptera
& Ants
Lepidoptera
Diptera &
Plecoptera
SphecidsLepidoptera
Cave
Inverts
Screw worm
Biology
Drosophila

3. William Morton Wheeler
born March 19, 1865; Milwaukee, WI
died April 19, 1937; Cambridge, MA
Professor of Zoology at UT 1899-1903
• Large mosquito collection (pinned adults/larvae on slides)
• spermatozoa studies
• started the insect collection
• John Rawlins arrived in 1982 and brought systematics to the department
Osmond “Oz” Breeland
Professor of Zoology at UT, 1938-1981

4. front row: L.E. Gilbert, Mike Singer, Susan Weller, Nancy Jacobson, Phil DeVries
standing: Sandy Davies, John Rawlins, Don Harvey, Connie Kendall, Roy Kendall,
Jack Longino, Jim Mallet, Nalini Nadkarni, Chris Durden)
UT Austin Lepidoptera group
with Roy Kendall about 1984

5. Past Curators
Chris Durden
Curator of Entomology and Geology
1968-2000
James Reddell
Curator of Invertebrate Zoology
1978-2012

6. Mission
The focus of the Freshwater and Terrestrial Invertebrate Collection at the
University of Texas at Austin is to:
1) build and maintain high quality comprehensive collections of
freshwater, terrestrial & cave invertebrates from TX and the south-
central US,
2) with particular emphasis on documenting long-term changes in the biota
at representative field stations, preserves, caves, and other notable field
sites.
3) We aim to provide specimens and associated data for research and
education along with promoting and encouraging avocational interests in
freshwater, terrestrial, and cave invertebrates around the state.

7. Brackenridge
Field
Laboratory

8. Lake Austin Centre
Collections combined in 2011

9. Physical FacilitiesPhysical FacilitiesFloor plan – Main UTIC Space
Total UTIC Space: 6,887 sq. ft.
Collection Space: 2,222 sq. ft.
Research Space/offices: 3,065 sq. ft.
USDA Containment Facility: 480 sq. ft.
Education Space: 1,120 sq. ft.

10. Physical Facilities
Floor plan – Secondary UTIC Space
Total UTIC Space: 6,887 sq. ft.
Collection Space: 2,222 sq. ft.
Research Space/offices: 3,065 sq. ft.
USDA Containment Facility: 480 sq. ft.
Education Space: 1,120 sq. ft.

11. Collection Storage
Pinned Collection
• Cornell-style cabinets/drawers/unit trays
• Working on header cards & interior
drawer lists
• Combination of 15-drawer, 25-drawer &
48 drawer cabinets
• 60 cabinets, 2,018 drawers

12. Collection Storage
Alcohol Collection
• Currently housed at two locations (UTIC/PRC)
• Bulk of collection at UTIC stored in vials/jars on shelves
• Substantial cave invertebrate collection
• Wet-bulk storage – in variable containers, generally sorted by
taxon

13. Collection Storage
Envelope Collection
• Odonata envelopes
• Stored in 5 - 36 drawer custom
Steel Fixture Cabinets

14. Collection Storage
Microscope Slide Collection
• Stored in combination of metal slide cabinets/trays & various
styles of slide boxes

15. Library
• 282 Linear Feet of shelving with
books
• 100 file drawers of reprints

16. Invertebrate Containment Facility
• USDA Containment Facility
• Houses both live research
and outreach animals

17. Collection Size
Curated Material Only – prepared & labeled
Total Specimens:
 Alcohol
 Pinned
 Envelopes
 Slides
2,065,000
1,500,000
500,000
40,000
25,000
Alcohol
Pinned
Envelopes
Slides

18. Collection Strengths: Geographic
• Texas and the south-
central U.S.
• Reddell made many trips to survey Mexican caves in the
80’s and 90’s
• Reeder & students made numerous trips Galapagos Isl.
• Routine collection of preserves, parks and unique
properties like National Guard facilities since the 90’s

19. Collection Strengths: Taxa
Taxon strengths reflect interests of staff
Arachnids – high representation, James Reddell
Cave invertebrates – James Reddell
Comprises Federally Endangered Species
Lepidoptera – Chris Durden, James Gillespie
Hymenoptera – Al Hook, Jack Neff
Mosquitos – Osmond Breeland
Odonata – John Abbott

20. Data Capture Initiatives – past
numerous individual databases
MS Access
FileMaker Pro

21. Data Capture Initiatives - current
Combine individual
databases into single
system.

22. Data Capture
Initiatives -
current

23. Data Capture Initiatives - current

24. Use of QR codes in Collection

25. Data Capture Initiatives - current
• Barcoding specimens from projects where data is already digitized
• Barcoding new material coming in
• 47,575 specimens barcoded

26. Data Capture Initiatives - current
• Digitizing labels retroactively
• Begin imaging pinned
specimens in near future
• 644,119 specimens cataloged

27. • Rely heavily on volunteers with
varying expertise/experience
• Currently have over 20 putting in an
average of 80 hours/week

28. Collection Management Issues
• Growing physical and digital collections
– Requires staff, $$
• Migrate individual collection databases to Specify
• Barcode wet collection
• Transcribe locality/collector codes to meaningful
locality labels
• Georeference specimens
• Exporting data to portals like GBIF

29. UTIC Website
http://www.utinsects.org/
• Virtual Tour of collections and facility
• Working towards making collection data
available
• Links to Web-based initiatives
(OdonataCentral, Migratory Dragonfly
Partnership, Bark & Ambrosia Beetles, etc…)
• Research Projects
• Virtual Object Library

30. Acknowledgements
Co-workers
Kendra Abbott
Bill Hamblen
Laura Naski
Heather Oslund
James Reddell
Numerous volunteers
The Austin insect enthusiast community
Texas Army National Guard
U.S. Forest Service
Texas Ecolab Program