The NC State Insect Collection is a national and international resource for studying insects and mites from North Carolina and the southeastern United States.

An essential part of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, the NC State Insect Collection is dedicated to acquiring and preserving resources in systemic entomology that would be useful to the department, the citizens of North Carolina and the broader entomology community.

With over 1.9 million prepared specimens, the NC State Insect Collection serves a variety of research, extension, outreach and teaching activities. Our holdings of North Carolina insects and Hemiptera are especially remarkable. Our worldwide collection of non-heteropteran Hemiptera and NC State’s extensive literature collections on these lineages form a unique resource for research on these insects. We also host other outstanding research collections, mainly in Lepidoptera, Acari, Anthophila (the bees), Diptera, Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Orthoptera, and Collembola, and houses associated assemblages of literature that are of international importance.

Our holdings of North Carolina insects and Hemiptera are especially remarkable. We host several other outstanding research collections, mainly in Lepidoptera, Acari, Anthrophila (the bees), Diptera, Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Orthoptera, and Collembola, and associated assemblages of literature that are important internationally.

Learn more about our various collections.

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 our Collection Manager, Bob Blinn.

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.