Entomologists do more....

[Richard Faulder]

On Fri, 4 Aug 1995, Stan Blum wrote:

> At 04:40 PM 8/4/95 -0700, Peter Rauch wrote:
> >>From: Bruce Neill <bneill at LCLARK.EDU>
> >>Subject:      Re: specimens examined lists, again
>
> >>Why can't entomological collections be curated by lots and the specimens
> >>examined be identified by lot numbers?
>
> Not to detract from anything Peter said, but I think a more simple minded
> answer is to be found in the handling/storage requirements of the specimens.
> Non-terrestrial invertebrates are typically stored in containers (=lots) of
> alcohol, whereas (most) insects are individually pinned.  How would one
> physically create/denote (and then determine) the boundary for a lot of
> individually pinned insects?  Pin all members of a lot in a single box?

     Actually, other than insects, most terrestial invertebrates are also
typically stored in alchohol. Disregarding unsorted mass-trappings, most
specimens are stored in individual vials or other containers, with a
label in each vial (if they haven't been mounted on slides). These vials may be stored individually or in larger containers also filled with alchohol, depending on the
availability of the larger containers, the size of the specimens and the
preferences of the curator, past or present.