With over 35 million specimens housed
in more than 132,354 drawers, 33,000
jars or vials, and 23,000 slides in
more than 5,200 cabinets, the
National Insect Collection
is one of the largest
entomological collections
in the world.

Specimens and their associated data
are used as the basis for original
scientific research on the nature,
inter-relationships, origin, and
evolution of insects and their
allies.  The large holdings of
medically and agriculturally
important species make parts
of the collection especially
significant as sources of
systematic research and
identification of insect
pests. 

The Department of
Entomology at the
National Museum
includes research
scientists and museum
specialists from the Smithsonian
Institution as well as the U.S.D.A.
Systematic Entomology Lab and
the Walter Reed Biosystematics
Unit of the Department of
Defense (links at left).

Exhibits

Get a look at life from an ant’s point of view with large-format photographs of ants going about their daily business, a cast of an underground ant city, and a live ant colony. (temporary: May 30 - October 10, 2009)

This immersive exhibit explores the processes and patterns of evolution, and provides our visitors with an exciting new kind of experience in the Museum of Natural History - a walk-through living butterfly house. We will invite visitors to observe the many ways in which butterflies and other animals have evolved, adapted, and diversified together with their plant partners over tens of millions of years. (permanent)

Visitors can observe live insects and other arthropods at the O. Orkin Insect Zoo. Volunteers conduct tarantula feeding demonstrations, work with live insects, and answer questions about the many-legged creatures that live in the Insect Zoo. (permanent)