Entomology
Entomology has played a part in the Academy of Natural Sciences since its founding in 1812. (See History.) The department's collections currently contains more than 3,500,000 specimens of which more than 11,000 are primary types. An online collection of type speciments is available at clade.ansp.org/entomology/.
The Department is currently led by Dr. Daniel Otte, Curator of Entomology, who specializes in the taxonomy, systematics, biogeography and behavior of worldwide Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets), especially for Africa, the South Pacific, Australia and the U.S.
Dr. Jon Gelhaus, Associate Curator of Entomology has expertise in the systematics, biogeography and ecology of worldwide Tipuloidea (crane flies) and the historical biogeography of western North America, particularly desert regions. He is also involved in the Institute of Mongolia Studies of Biodiversity and Ecology.
Jason Weintraub is the Collections Manager.
Written queries should be directed to:
Department of Entomology
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1101
Titian Peale Butterfly and Moth Collection
The Peale Moth and Butterfly Collection of over 3000 specimens is one of the oldest and most scientifically valuable collections of North American insects in any natural history museum. The collection represents an unequaled historical and scientific resource for documenting the butterfly fauna of the world. The fauna of pre-industrial Philadelphia is particularly well respresented. much of which was lost from the city environs as it grew in the last century and a half. In addition to its scientific importance, the Peale Collection is significant in the areas of U.S. history, art history and history of the natural sciences.
The collection is viewable online at clade.ansp.org/entomology/collections/peale/index.html.
Orthoptera Species File
Taxonomic information needs to be shared around the world, so that we can all learn about the species we live with. With the largest collection in the world of grasshoppers and crickets, the Academy's Entomology Department pioneered the placement of a catalog of all known species of a major group of insects on the Internet. The Orthoptera Species File provides direct access to data on one of the most economically important species - grasshoppers, perennially one of man's worst competitors for crops. The OSF contains complete taxonomic and synonomic information for all species and genera of Orthoptera, including text, images and sound recordings.
The American Entomological Society
The Entomology Department and the American Entomological Society have mutually benefited from a nearly 150 year relationship that continues to the present. The Society's office is located adjacent to the departmental offices, its entomological collection is integrated in the department's collection and its meetings are held at the Academy. The Society's world reknown entomological library is housed in the Academy's Ewell Sale Stewart Library. Jon Gelhaus currently serves as the Society's president, and Daniel Otte as the Society's editor of the Transactions of AES.