Entomological Collections Network@EntCollNet

Nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of entomology collections & taxonomy via preservation, management, use & development.

 International
Based in United Kingdom
ecnweb.net
Joined December 2013
… for #ECN2025! Save the date! Nov 8-9, 2025 Portland, Oregon, USA.
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A huge THANK YOU from the ECN board, to every single one of you that participated in our 2024 hybrid meeting. We hope to see you again next year…
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#ECN2024 would not have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors! A huge thank you goes out to all our corporate, institutional & personal sponsors.
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And with that, our hybrid 2024 meeting has come to an end! We hope you have been enlightened and inspired by the talks and our wonderful community.   May the conversations and ideas continue. We hope to see you again, at #ECN2025!
Save the date: November 8–9, 2025, Portland, OR, USA

ALT Save the date: November 8–9, 2025, Portland, OR, USA
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Our final talk is a beautiful love story from Natalie Dale-Skey (Hymenoptera curator @NHM_London). She shares an exquisite slide preparation by Frederic Enock, of a mymarid in a spider’s web. It's a recreation of a slide that first sparked his love of Fairyflies.   #ECN2024
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See No Weevil. Brilliant Specimen Spotlight talk from Ainsley Seago! The specimen is an acorn that includes the preserved HEAD of a predated Curculio still attached!! 😲 #ECN2024
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Another lightning talk now, with @CharlaReplogle on centralizing the insect collection at @InsectPerc. The collection contains over 1.3 million arthropod specimens, representing 140,000+ different species. Over 10,000 of these specimens are now in the new database! #ECN2024
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Victoria Bayless now, with a warm welcome to Dr. Stephen Baca, the new Director of the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum 🪲 More information on the museum here: lsuagcenter.com/portals/our_… Do get in touch if you want to visit (or return a loan)! #ECN2024
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Coming Into Focus 📸 Knowledge sharing is one of the main aims of our network. This was a great lightning talk from @taytayhori on standardizing the 3D Imaging Process at the @SDNHM. #ECN2024
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We’re into our LIGHTNING TALK session now, kicking off with @isabetabug & @Evantomology 🪲 They share their forays with AI from a collections perspective @NEON_sci. #ECN2024
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An invitation for collaboration from @dr_firefly now. The Michigan Pathogen Biorepository at @UMich want your specimens! They are particularly interested in specimens that are vectors. 🦟🩸 More information here: lsa.umich.edu/content/michig… #ECN2024
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Fresh from her PhD defence, @coleopterasam provides an overview of her diligent work improving accessibility of collections for the study of Neotropical Anthribidae (Curculionoidea). 👏 Check out the new Weevil portal here: serv.biokic.asu.edu/weevil/p… #ECN2024
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Michael Ferro introduces us to Natural History Literature Rescue. Their aim is to preserve literature, specimens, samples, equipment, & supplies associated with the study of natural history that would otherwise be destroyed or lost. “We Save Science” 🔗 goodoldpaper.org
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The McGuire Center houses 20,000+ genitalia slides in the collection! Megan Neal takes us through the microscopic digitization process & the tools used to capture & edit these high-resolution images. 📸 Read more in this blog post on dissection: floridamuseum.ufl.edu/mcguir… #ECN2024
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Maria-Eugenia Losada takes us through the termite collection of the unstoppable Margaret Collins. A great breakdown of the assessment and curation of this incredible collection. #ECN2024
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Words of warning from @Coleopterist this morning… Develop or Die! “Schroedinger’s Curator” is a danger and will result in collections becoming irrelevant. Collections MUST remain active. #ECN2024
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Excellent talk from Brennan Hays (@ASU) introducing us to “ecoPalette”. Environmental data is encoded directly into specimen images, creating a visually rich representation of the “extended specimen”. #ECN2024
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Advice from Doug Yanega (University California, Riverside): focus your digitisation efforts on the “obscure stuff” in your collections, for these are the hidden treasures. #ECN2024
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Including some very satisfying before and after shots! 👏
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Over to Andrés Fermín Morales Ortega now, with his work on the evaluation and restoration of the Formicidae Collection of the Central University of Venezuela’s Museum of Biology 🇻🇪 🐜 … #ECN2024
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Opening day 2 with an entertaining talk from Heather Stehle (Crane Hollow Preserve). She shares the joys and stresses of moving a collection in rural, Appalachian Ohio. #ECN2024
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Our final talk of day 1 comes from Geoff Martin from @NHM_London. Showcasing examples of how AI can help with automated identification & management of natural history collections. “A pretty powerful pipeline”! #ECN2024
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A invitation from @idbdeb for everyone to join the next TaxonWorks Together 2025, taking place 6-8 May. It’s virtual and free to attend! 🔗 together.taxonworks.org/ #ECN2024
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📸 @DryopoidDarling & Christine Fernance showcase the use of LightningBug in collections. Tackling the challenges of capturing label data. #ECN2024
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Andrew Johnston (Purdue University) examines geographic biases & social trends of entomologists inferred from digitized data. Evidence suggests that our knowledge is structured by individual collectors. #ECN2024
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Our final talk session of the day begins with @rachbehm and updates to the World Ichneumonid Database, which has parasitized operational resources from the Universal Chalcidoid Database. #ECN2024
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Matt Buffington and colleagues take a few victory laps, with stories of Trissolcus japonicus and other critical biocontrol agents that were effectively IDed only through strong collections and taxonomic research. ✊ #ECN2024
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WE HAVE STICKERS! If you’re attending #ECN2024 be sure to grab a sticker from the registration desk. These rare treasures were designed by our very own Ainsley Seago and we only have a limited number of them. Get one before they’re gone!
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Don’t panic - @jeh8i8 is here! We’re settling in for story time now with examples of using collections to quell public fears of insect pests. One of those characters is the moth Palpita persimilis (Crambidae). #ECN2024
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Our next symposium looks at using collections to solve agricultural problems. @erincpow demonstrates that reference collections are imperative for accurate and timely diagnostics in regulatory entomology. #ECN2024
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“Closing out this session with some little brown beetles” 🤎 Great work from Madeline Shaw & Tommy McElwrath of @INHSillinois, combining collections & community science to improve our knowledge of the poorly known Bumblebee-riding beetle (Antherophagus, Cryptophagidae). #ECN2024
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Michael Caballero shares another use of iNaturalist. Combining existing data with current survey work, to investigate potential bumble bee range shifts. 🐝 ©Beckham et al 2024
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No way! Happy birthday Robin!

ALT Happy Birthday GIF by Mumbai Indians
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A common theme so far has been the lack of documentation of our outreach events. 📸 Well, here’s a great capture of Robin Marquez (@UFC) showcasing a gamified outreach drawer for micro-parasitoid wasps in leaf litter. #Goals © Brittany M. Hance, Smithsonian Institution #ECN2024
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Movie time with Lucía Aguilar Benavides & Dario Guevara Plata! 🍿 We’ve been treated to a fabulous overview of their work at @beaslab in Colombia 🇨🇴 Their “Bombinario” provides a unique opportunity for outreach! Very impressive! #ECN2024
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A class in aesthetics and design now thanks to Lacey Restemyer from @hmns. Demonstrating balance and symmetry is key in creating a visually appealing and engaging display. #ECN2024
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Roberta Brett from the Essig museum @UCBerkeley now, on creating a beautiful new exhibit, to entice more visitors to the collection. 🦋 See more about the making of this eye-catching display here: essig.berkeley.edu/exhibits/… #ECN2024
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We all love using our collections to talk about structural color! 🦋 Time for a physics lesson now as @americanbeetles provides some of her favorite methods for demonstrating circular polarization, pointillistic color mixing, diffraction gratings, antireflection & more! #ECN2024
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From trash to teacher! @ColorMeCacti shares the Museums in Miniature project - utilizing the unlabeled, unsealed, and unprocessed for community engagement. Inspiring work! Find out more here: news.clemson.edu/miniature-m… #ECN2024
Logo for the Museums in Minature project, with a mantis in the centre.

ALT Logo for the Museums in Minature project, with a mantis in the centre.
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ECN President, @dr_firefly officially kicking off #ECN2024. We’re delighted that more than 180 of you are connecting with us and hope you enjoy the next 2 days.
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A very warm welcome to all of you joining for the annual Entomological Collections Network meeting, especially to those of you joining us online! #ECN2024
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The ECN promotes a welcoming environment that is safe, collaborative, supportive and productive for all participants. Before our meeting begins, please take a moment to read our Code of Conduct: ecnweb.net/about/code-of-con… #ECN2024
Entomological Collections Network Code of Conduct. The ECN seeks to promote a welcoming environment that is safe, collaborative, supportive, and productive for all participants. We expect all ECN members to adhere to this code, which applies to all forums hosted by the society including but not limited to: conferences (in-person or virtual), social media, and the Listserv. The ECN values the diversity of views and backgrounds reflected among all attendees; as such we are committed to providing a positive environment for all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, career status, or ethnicity. Our respectful dialogue policy asks that participants make every effort to maintain constructive discourse with other conference attendees at all times. This includes speakers honoring designated time limits, attendees being aware of balancing speaking and listening time, and welcoming newer members into conversation.

ALT Entomological Collections Network Code of Conduct. The ECN seeks to promote a welcoming environment that is safe, collaborative, supportive, and productive for all participants. We expect all ECN members to adhere to this code, which applies to all forums hosted by the society including but not limited to: conferences (in-person or virtual), social media, and the Listserv. The ECN values the diversity of views and backgrounds reflected among all attendees; as such we are committed to providing a positive environment for all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, career status, or ethnicity. Our respectful dialogue policy asks that participants make every effort to maintain constructive discourse with other conference attendees at all times. This includes speakers honoring designated time limits, attendees being aware of balancing speaking and listening time, and welcoming newer members into conversation.
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Final countdown! There’s just 2 days until #ECN2024! Our meeting mascot this year is the Blue Death-Feigning Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus), so we want to see YOUR PHOTOS! Whether from the field or from your collections, share your beetles & don’t forget to tag us! 📷 Chris Wirth
Blue Death-Feigning Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus) specimens, in various shades of blue.

ALT Blue Death-Feigning Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus) specimens, in various shades of blue.
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Less than 1 week to go until our annual meeting! We’re so excited to see you soon in Phoenix (and online)! The full program is available to browse on our website: ecnweb.net/welcome/meeting/e… #ECN2024
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A reminder for all our speakers… full abstracts (200 word max.) are due Friday 27th September! #ECN2024
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Ahead of #ECN2024 later this year, please help us understand how outreach drawers are conceived, used, and assessed in entomological collections. Fill out this very brief survey: kusurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/j…
Advert including images of example drawers. Survey of outreach drawers. Please help us understand how outreach drawers are conceived, used, and assessed in entomological collections. Fill out this brief survey (13 out of 16 questions are multiple selection; ~ 5 mins) https://kusurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PgzFb2jq0L1kOi Or follow the QR code

ALT Advert including images of example drawers. Survey of outreach drawers. Please help us understand how outreach drawers are conceived, used, and assessed in entomological collections. Fill out this brief survey (13 out of 16 questions are multiple selection; ~ 5 mins) https://kusurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PgzFb2jq0L1kOi Or follow the QR code

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Titles for both in-person talks & pre-recorded talks, are due on August 16, 2024, with abstracts (200 word maximum) due on September 27, 2024. Please use our google form to submit your title: forms.gle/cuKUc9JEwG4FVAas6 #ECN2024 [2/2]
Specimens of Blue Death-Feigning Beetles (Asbolus verrucosus) by Chris Wirth.

ALT Specimens of Blue Death-Feigning Beetles (Asbolus verrucosus) by Chris Wirth.

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We are now CALLING FOR TALKS & symposia for the our next annual meeting, taking place in Phoenix, AZ (& online) on November 9–10. We have one symposium slot remaining. Please contact our program co-chairs at program@ecnweb.org to submit a proposal. #ECN2024 [1/2]
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📢 CALL FOR SYMPOSIA! We have a couple of spaces left for symposia at our next Entomological Collections Network annual meeting. To propose one, please email our program chairs: program@ecnweb.org #ECN2024
Advert for the Entomological Collections Network annual meeting 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. USA. November 9-10. The advert shows the ECN logo and 4 preserved specimens of Blue Death-Feigning Beetles (Asbolus verrucosus).

ALT Advert for the Entomological Collections Network annual meeting 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. USA. November 9-10. The advert shows the ECN logo and 4 preserved specimens of Blue Death-Feigning Beetles (Asbolus verrucosus).

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📢 Registration is now open for the next Entomological Collections Management Workshop! 🐝 Taking place July 28-31 2024, this hybrid model will be held virtually & in-person at Yale’s Peabody Museum. Full details ⬇️ ecnweb.net/workshop/ #ECMWorkshop2024
Course instructor, Floyd Shockley, showing workshop participants how to safely prepare multiple drawers for transit.

ALT Course instructor, Floyd Shockley, showing workshop participants how to safely prepare multiple drawers for transit.
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JOB KLAXON! 🪲 @NEON_sci are recruiting for an Invertebrate Collections Manager 🗓️ Closing date: February 13th ➡️ sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/…
NEON and NSF logos, together on a blue background

ALT NEON and NSF logos, together on a blue background
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This week, we circulated a very important survey via the ECN Google Group. Please check your inbox and take a few moments to share your feedback. Your opinions are very important to us - they help shape our future meetings.

ALT Speech bubble containing the words “we need you!”
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