Natural History Museum Vienna
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Short Description
The collection "Neuropterida and affiliated collections" of the Natural History Museum comprises a large number of smaller insect orders and consists mostly of dry material of historical and recent collections from all biogeographical regions of the earth. The oldest specimens date from the mid-19th century. Particularly noteworthy are the Orthoptera collection of Karl Brunner von Wattenwyl (1823-1914), rich in type material, and the Neuropterida collection of Herbert Hölzel (1925-2008). New collections have been and are being stored in alcohol for molecular biological studies.
Contact Person
Dr. Susanne Randolf
Research Services
Visiting researchers have access to the collection and library, as well as suitable technical equipment. A stacking photography equipment of the department can also be used. If necessary, curators provide support on nature conservation and educational issues. Digitised species inventories are available.
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The collection "Neuropterida and affiliated collections" can be used for classical morphological-taxonomic studies on the one hand, and for molecular analyses on the other hand. Research focus lies in the investigation of the head morphology of the Neuropterida using microcomputer tomographic scans and histological section series to answer questions about the evolution and relationship of this group. The results of these studies will be used to show effects of miniaturization in very small species.
Allocation to Core Facility
2. Zoologische Abteilung (Entomologie), Naturhistorisches Museum Wien
BROCK P. D., 1998: Catalogue of type specimens of Stick- and Leaf-Insects in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (Insecta: Phasmida). Kataloge der wissenschaftlichen Sammlungen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, 13: 3-72.