The entomological collection contains about 35 800 specimens of beetles (Coleoptera), moths (Lepidoptera), sawflies (Tenthredinidae) and other insects. It consists of three main parts: the first represents Estonian insect fauna from the end of the 19th century until the mid- 20th century; the second, more recent part is also of local origin and the third part contains material from tropical regions (e.g. A. Böttcher’s collection dated from the 19th and 20th centuries).

Material from the earlier periods originates from the collections of B. Gebauer, F. Sintenis and Max von zur Mühlen. The second part, the later collection, has largely been compiled by H. Haberman, H. Õunap, M. Heidemaa and others.

The material of Coleoptera has served as a basis for faunistic monographs by H. Haberman and S. Rubel. This material has also been used nowadays for compiling the distribution maps of some Coleopteran families in Estonia by K. Voolma, H. Õunap and I. Süda.

The material of Hymenoptera, especially Tenthredinidae, was employed for completing the dissertation of M. Heidemaa on systematic studies of sawflies in 2004.

The entomological collection has been supplemented by private entomological collections of E. Merivee and G. M. Dlussky, compiled mainly on the basis of material from Estonia and certain areas of the former Soviet Union. The local material has also been used as a basis for faunistic monographs and distribution maps by several researchers.

The collection is continuously being enriched with new insects from Estonia, largely from monitoring projects and samplings in the framework of agricultural and forestry research.

The most valuable and significant part of the material is Karl Zolk’s (Kaarel Leius) coleopterological collection which contains about 12 600 samples gathered mainly in the first half of the 20th century in Estonia. The bulk of this is formed of beetle specimens from the genera Chrysomelidae and Curculionidae including Ipidae.

The material of the entomological collection is essential for conducting the research on formation and development of Estonian insect fauna but it also comprises faunistically unique material (the first samples dating from 1874).

Curator: Märt Kruus (mart.kruus@emu.ee)
Address: Entomological Collection
Institute of agricultural and environmentak sciences
5 Kreutzwaldi Str.
Tartu 51014

18/12/2016