RHS insect reference collection – maintenance and improvement

RHS insect reference collection – maintenance and improvement

Lead scientist

Dr Andrew Salisbury, RHS

Start date

1918

Keywords

Insect collection

Benefits to gardeners

The RHS insect collection, which is held at RHS Garden Wisley, is an invaluable resource for reference purposes when identifying insect specimens. It also provides a physical record of species that have been recorded at RHS gardens, in addition to examples of garden pests.

 

The problem

The RHS insect reference collection contains more than 22, 800 specimens of beetles, flies, moths, true bugs, bees, ants, and wasps and other insects. The collection has been built up over 90 years and largely consists of UK native species, including examples of some insects that are the first records for Britain.

Many of the specimens were collected at Wisley, providing a physical voucher record of the biodiversity recorded in the garden. Additions to the collection are regularly made by the RHS entomologists. A digital record of the specimens and collection data is maintained on an Excel spread sheet.

The collection was rehoused from storage boxes to museum quality glass-topped wooden drawers purchased second hand from the Natural History Museum in 2010. These drawers provide better access to the collection and improved protection against dampness and pests than store boxes.

Approach

The collection is constantly undergoing maintenance, acquisitions are incorporated and pest infestations treated as required.

 

Further information

The RHS is keen for data it holds to be used and would like to collaborate in research. Contact advisory_entomology@rhs.org.uk if you would like access to the collection or to use RHS data for research.