Photographs of all species represented in the collection
New to BC and Canada, these tiny predatory bugs live under stream-side rocks in burrows of their own making.
The only known species in BC is Macropis nuda, a rare specialist pollinator on Lysimachia flowers.
The twist-winged male of this parasite mates with a wingless female when she sticks her abdomen out of her host.
Photos of species included in G.G.E. Scudder's publication on potentially rare and endangered invertebrates of British Columbia.
A collection of over 8,000 microscope slides of fleas and lice from around the world that constitute G.J.S. Spencer's personal holdings.
Over 3,000 historical specimens from the UK, Japan, and BC are showcased along with their accompanying field note book entries.
Through fieldwork and examination of older museum specimens sixteen species of insects are recorded for the first time from British Columbia, including seven new to Canada. Read more here.
Beginning in 2016, an inventory of the insects on the VCC Green Roof was conducted monthly.
A complete list of BC and YT species including distributiions, host plant records, and general biology.
In the summers of 2019 and 2020, three Asian Giant Hornet species were discovered in BC.
As long as there have been natural history collections there have been natural history illustrators.
Over half a million pinned specimens, 75,000 alcohol-preserved specimens and 25,000 specimens on slides showcase BC and the Yukon's spectacular insect diversity. Past collectors' particular projects have shaped the collection, and have resulted in particularly strong holdings of Hemiptera (true bugs), Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), Siphonaptera (fleas) and Anoplura and Mallophaga (lice). The collection has also been enriched by the following notable holdings: de Waard Lepidoptera (moths), Downes Hemiptera (true bugs), Foxlee Diptera (true flies) and Hymenoptera (bees and wasps), Harrison Coleoptera (carabids), Llwewllyn Jones Lepidoptera (butterflies), Scudder Hemiptera (true bugs), Stace-Smith Coleoptera (beetles). The Collection also includes an extensive library of entomological literature, ranging from insect taxonomy, biology, and habitat to pest control. It includes over 350 books, 8000 reprints, and 20 series of unbound journals. We also have over 10,000 photographic slides of insects and arachnids with accompanying data.
The Spencer Entomological Collection is housed along with five other natural history collections in the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at the University of British Columbia.
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