We describe the work with donated insect collections at the Swedish Museum of Natural
History (NRM) in Stockholm, Sweden. The museum receives donations yearly from
amateur entomologists, and they are an important contribution to the enrichment of the
collections. For the collector it is satisfying that a public institution takes on the long term
responsibility of safeguarding the scientific value in a collection, curating and making it
available for study. Significant donations in the last years include that of Lars Huggert
(Hymenoptera, Coleoptera), Hans Bartsch (Diptera) and Anders N. Nilsson (aquatic Coleoptera)
to name a few. The curatorial and digitizing workload at the Entomology collection
are unfortunately not matched by staff funding, and as at other European museums
volunteer work constitute vital and invaluable help. We acknowledge especially some of
the volunteer work in the Coleoptera and Hymenoptera collections. Recently we have engaged
with amateur entomologists by organizing taxon-specific workshops at the museum
which has stimulated exchange and collaboration. The Hymenoptera-day was visited by 30
participants, and the Diptera-meeting by 49. As an example of what happens with a donation
once it reaches the museum, we describe the work with a recent Coleoptera collection
donation by Jan Olsson, Vallentuna. A few highlights from the unidentified material,
including the Archostematan beetle Priacma serrata (Cupedidae) and the false jewelbeetle
Schizopus laetus (Schizopodidae), are presented as they were new to the NRM collections.
We also bring attention to two new websites: www.naturarv.se is the webportal presenting
digitized material in Swedish natural history collections. Both metadata on specimens and
photos are made searchable here. We also launch a new webpage at www.nrm.se/insektsdonationer
where we write about new donations to the Entomology collections, with Jan
Olsson’s Coleoptera collection first out.
2014. Vol. 134, s. 153-162