In July 2016, The American Entomological Institute relocated to Logan, Utah, and became part of Utah State University. The USU collection consists of about 3.5 million insect specimens, of which approximately 75% are Hymenoptera. The USDA Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory has a collection of 1.5 million bees, and this is situated on the same floor as the USU collection. About 30% of these specimens are the property of USU. The two collections thus comprise 4 million specimens. The addition of the AEI’s 1.4 million specimens will make this one of the most significant Hymenoptera collections in North America. The USU collection’s particular strength is aculeate Hymenoptera (bees, and wasps such as velvet ants, digger wasps, etc.). In terms of size, collecting and preparation techniques, morphology, and curational considerations, Aculeata and Ichneumonidae fit very well together.

Dr. James Pitts is the Curator of the USU insect collection. Queries and loan requests for non-ichneumonoid Hymenoptera should be directed to him at:

Dr. James Pitts
Department of Biology
Utah State University
5305 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322

e-mail: jpitts@biology.usu.edu
Telephone: 435-797-8872

Dr. David Wahl will handle requests and loans for Ichneumonoidea. His contact information:

Dr. David Wahl
Department of Biology
Utah State University
5305 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322

e-mail: (dr_x [at] msn [dot] com)
Telephone: 435-797-6361

Please contact Dr. Wahl concerning the sale of back issues of Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute and Contributions of the American Entomological Institute.