The UMMZ Insect Division's holdings are substantial, with emphasis on the faunas of the Western Hemisphere. The Insect Division has outstanding collections of three groups ­ Orthoptera, Odonata, and Acari ­ with perhaps the best collection of Odonata in North America. We estimate that our collection contains approximately 4.5 million specimens from all over the globe, with significant collections of Coleoptera, Homoptera, and Lepidoptera in addition to the orders listed above. Portions of our collection have been databased ­ primarily the aquatic groups Odonata (Michigan records only), Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera, totaling over 30,000 records. The Acari collection is comprised mostly of the parasitic groups, and includes the feathermite collections formerly housed at the University of Georgia.

Our collections and associated resources are used in biodiversity studies, phylogenetic and systematics research, conservation biology, biological illustration programs, and higher education. We often sponsor visiting systematists that wish to help improve our curation in addition to conducting research using our specimens.

Our two curators, Barry M. OConnor (Acari systematics and ecology) and L. Lacey Knowles (Orthoptera) are engaged in a variety of research programs in systematics and phylogenetics, as well undergraduate and graduate instruction.

Our Collections Coordinator, Mark O'Brien oversees the maintenance and improvement of the collections and associated resources, and coordinates the Michigan Odonata Survey.

We have several emeritus and adjunct curators with interests in the Orthoptera, Homoptera, and Arachnida.

Over the years, graduate students have worked on an amazing variety of topics including Acari systematics, Thrips bioecology, Periodical Cicada evolution and behavior, mating behavior of damselflies, and many other studies in evolution, behavior , and systematics of arthropods. We encourage students that wish to pursue graduate studies in evolution and systematics to contact the curators.

We welcome researchers to use our facilities and collections. In addition, we offer hourly employment opportunities for UM students that wish to gain experience in working with insect collections and projects that the curators are currently involved with. Volunteers are also welcomed!