|
|
Although the Insect Divsion has something on the order of 5 million (or more?) specimens in all of our collections, we have only a small part catalogued in databases. The parts of the collection that are being used for current research projects as well as portions that have been recently curated and updated to current nomenclatorial standards are available as lists of species. While not providing much more than names, they serve as useful lists of taxa for researchers and indicate the breadth of our collections. |
 We
have made some movement towards databasing the UMMZ Insect collection, and
small portions of it are available on the web. All of our databases are
now in Filemaker Pro, with version 5 serving as the ultimate version for
providing web access to data. Specimen-level catalogs are essential tools
for taxon-based reseach as well as ecological and biodiversity-based inquiries.
However, until funding for the actual data-entry and data verification process
is made available, the bulk of our collection information will be unavailable
via any means other than hand inspection of the specimens. |
|
|
 The
Michigan Odonata
Survey has databased all of the Michigan Odonata in the UMMZ, as well
as parts of the Michigan State University collection as well as some other
small collections. At around 25,000 records, it is so far our largest specimen-level
database available on the web. We will continue to add
to that database and hope to eventually expand our coverage to all of the
Odonata specimens within the UMMZ. |
|
|
If you do use the data from our databases, please let me know! |
Note: The Filemaker databases work best when viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer.
last updated 06/24/2005
In
May 2003, we started to reorganize parts of the Orthoptera collection.
Part of Dr. Lacey Knowles' research is involved with answering questions
on the evolution of species and relationships of species-groups within
the Acrididae, especially the Melanoplinae. Therefore, an effort has begun
to catalog the specimens. Using Filemaker Pro, we have so far databased
120,000 specimens of Acrididae as of June, 2005. 
Barry
OConnor's work on the Acari has resulted in some recent additions to web-accessible
data. Many thanks to Pavel Klimov, Mike Ebinger and George Hammond for
working so hard on these databases and in getting them ready for a larger
audience. In addition, Pavel Klimov has been instrumental in preparing
the many new additional acari databases that are being brought online.