NC State Insect Collection
Dedicated to the acquisition and preservation of resources in systematic entomology.
Explore the Bug Life
The NC State Insect Collection is a national and international resource for studying insects and mites from North Carolina and the southeastern United States.
With over 1.9 million prepared specimens, the NC State Insect Collection serves a variety of research, extension, outreach and teaching activities. We are dedicated to acquiring and preserving resources in systemic entomology that would be useful to the department as well as the citizens of North Carolina and the broader entomology community.
Over 1.9 million specimens
The Insect Collection is vital to NC State and North Carolina.
Research Collection
Our main Research Collection holds the majority of our specimens.
Teaching Collection
Comprises approximately 30 drawers of insects used in our insect systematics course (ENT 502).
Outreach Collection
Our Outreach Collection contains about eight drawers for departmental outreach activities.
A Unique Resource for Research
Visit Us
Visiting Scientists
We highly encourage efforts to help us curate the NC State Insect Collection. Arrangements for research visits, including parking passes, research space, etc., can be made through the Insect Collection Director, Gareth Powell (gspowel2@ncsu.edu).
Visits are generally scheduled during regular working hours (Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). However, weekend and off-hour visits may be scheduled upon special arrangements with the collection manager or director.
Contact our collection manager regarding loans and other correspondence concerning specimens.
General Public
We are open to the public by appointment; individuals and small groups should contact our collection manager to make arrangements to visit. We cannot accept groups of more than ten people. Public tours are 30 minutes maximum.
Alternatively, you can arrange to have entomology graduate students bring portions of the collection to you. The Entomology Graduate Student Association manages an excellent outreach program; please get in touch with them for more information.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences also maintains a small insect collection in its Discovery Room, which is accessible to larger groups.
Support the Insect Collection
