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Department of Entomology

Collections Contact Information

To obtain a loan or other information about the collections, and to arrange for on-site use of the collections, please contact the appropriate person or persons responsible for the group in which you are interested. 

For general information about the entomology collection, please contact Floyd Shockley, Entomology Collections Manager.  e-mail: ShockleyF@si.edu 

USDA SEL

  • Ron Ochoa: Ron.Ochoa@usda.gov

Off-site Collections

  • Ticks: Lorenza Beati (LorenzaBeati@GeorgiaSouthern.edu)

Smithsonian Institution:

  • Jonathan Coddington: CoddingtonJ@si.edu
  • Hannah Wood: WoodH@si.edu

 

Smithsonian Institution

  • Floyd Shockley: ShockleyF@si.edu
  • Torsten Dikow: DikowT@si.edu

Smithsonian Institution

  • Torsten Dikow: DikowT@si.edu

Smithsonian Institution

  • Floyd Shockley: ShockleyF@si.edu​​​​​​
  • Torsten Dikow: DikowT@si.edu

​Off-site Collections

  • Mantodea: Gavin Svenson (gsvenson@cmnh.org)

USDA SEL

  • Tom Henry: thomas.henry@usda.gov
  • Stuart McKamey: stuart.mckamey@usda.gov
  • Gary Miller: gary.miller@usda.gov
  • Scott A. Schneider: scott.schneider@usda.gov

USDA NIS

  • Cheryle O'Donnell: cheryle.a.odonnell@usda.gov
  • James Zahniser: james.n.zahniser@usda.gov

Smithsonian Institution

  • Floyd Shockley: ShockleyF@si.edu​​​​​​
  • Torsten Dikow: DikowT@si.edu

Smithsonian Institution

  • Seán Brady: BradyS@si.edu
  • Ted Schultz: SchultzT@si.edu

USDA SEL

  • Matt Buffington: Matt.Buffington@usda.gov
  • Mike Gates: Michael.Gates@usda.gov
  • Bob Kula: Robert.Kula@usda.gov

Smithsonian Institution

  • Torsten Dikow: DikowT@si.edu

SI

  • Torsten Dikow: DikowT@SI.edu 

USDA SEL

  • Lourdes Chamorro: Lourdes.Chamorro@usda.gov
  • Alex Konstantinov: Alex.Konstantinov@usda.gov

USDA NIS

  • Gino Nearns: Eugenio.H.Nearns@usda.gov

Off-site Collections

  • Lycidae: Michael Ivie (mivie@montana.edu)
  • Scarabaeidae: Brett Ratcliffe (bratcliffe1@unl.edu)
  • Lampyridae: Marc Branham (marcbran@ufl.edu)

Smithsonian Institution

  • Torsten Dikow: DikowT@si.edu

USDA SEL

  • Allen Norrbom: Allen.Norrbom@usda.gov

USDA NIS

  • Jung-Woog Kim: Jung.W.Kim@usda.gov

WRBU

  • Yvonne-Marie Linton: LintonY@si.edu

Off-site Collections

  • Bombyliidae and Mythicomyiidae: Neal Evenhuis (neale@bishopmuseum.org)
  • Pipunculidae: Jeff Skevington (jeffrey.skevington@agr.gc.ca)
  • Celyphidae, Chamaemyiidae and Lauxaniidae: Steve Gaimari (gaimari@cdfa.ca.gov)

List of Diptera Families and Associated Contact Person

Smithsonian Institution

  • Bob Robbins: RobbinsR@si.edu

USDA SEL

  • Paul Goldstein: paul.goldstein@usda.gov
  • Mark Metz: mark.metz@usda.gov
  • Alma Solis: alma.solis@usda.gov

USDA NIS

  • Jim Young: Jim.D.Young@usda.gov

Smithsonian Institution

  • Floyd Shockley: ShockleyF@si.edu​​​​​​
  • Torsten Dikow: DikowT@si.edu

Smithsonian Institution

  • Torsten Dikow: DikowT@si.edu
  • Ted Schultz: SchultzT@si.edu

Guidelines for Digital Imaging of USNM Entomology Specimens



Use these guidelines to create high-quality digital surrogates of USNM specimens. Doing so will ensure that we have images that can be published on the Smithsonian Open Access Portal, and used for analysis, documentation, and visual reference. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Bird, Entomology Informatics Manager (email: birdj@si.edu or phone: 502-599-3157) or email the Entomology Informatics Unit resource account (NMNH-ENT-Informatics@si.edu).



Image Guidelines

  • When possible, include a scale and a color reference.
  • Specimens being imaged must have a USNMENT unique specimen identifier label (USNMENT label). If the specimen has not been assigned a USNMENT label, please request them from the Collection Manager (Floyd Shockley, email: ShockleyF@si.edu). One USNMENT label should be assigned to each specimen. Please ensure that you do not pin through the matrix code.
  • Please include a full specimen image in the view that best represents the group (typically a dorsal or lateral view).
  • Always submit images of the labels, which must include the USNMENT label.

    Labels should always be returned to the pin in the exact same order they were found, with the USNMENT label placed last and upside down (unless specific instructions from the curator are received).
  • All images should be delivered in TIF format, using the best resolution available. Do not submit RAW, JPEG, or proprietary formats.
  • Submit all images to the Entomology Informatics Manager via the shared departmental OneDrive or DropBox folder. To gain access to the shared drives, please email NMNH-ENT-Informatics@si.edu.  When submitting photos using shared drives such as OneDrive or DropBox, please create your own folder using your last name and date (e.g., Bird_29Jul2023). You may also arrange delivery in your preferred format by emailing the resource account.

File Naming

  • Use the following structure for the file name: USNMENTxxxxxxxx_Genus_species_view.tif
  • The USNMENT# (no spaces or dashes and all leading zeros included) and the species name must be in the file name, along with the view captured. Please refrain from the use of spaces or special characters. If multiple photos of the same view are taken, please use a number series to distinguish the images.
    • Examples:
      • USNMENT00123456_Euxoa_alba_label.tif
      • USNMENT01234567_Euxoa_alba_lateral_01.tif
      • USNMENT01234567_Euxoa_alba_lateral_02.tif
      • USNMENT12345678_Unidentified_sp_dorsal.tif



Specimen Data Capture and Image Publication

To publish specimen images online, there must be a corresponding specimen catalog record in our Research and Collections Information System (RCIS) EMu. Please see our data template and user guidelines. All images marked to publish in EMu will be posted on the public side of EMu and on the Smithsonian Open Access portal (https://www.si.edu/openaccess). Viewers will have the option of downloading images in various resolutions from both platforms.

Note that the EZID on the public EMu record (e.g., http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3ea3c3b2f-78ce-4f1e-a092-a9c60032f161) can be shared with colleagues and cited as the ‘repository’ of the images in publications, etc. This EZID works similarly to an article DOI and will always be resolvable in the future to access the images.

Image Usage Rights

As of February 2020, the Smithsonian has launched an Open Access initiative. Most images will now carry a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation and are in the public domain. Currently, there are a few restrictions for CC0 designation that pertain to entomological specimens such as when (1) specimens were collected in Brazil and (2) the labels imaged are of endangered or protected species. If your images contain either of these, or you have a reason falling within SD 609 to restrict specimen images, please notify the Entomology Informatics Manager of the images that need to be restricted. The photographer will always be credited for the image created.



Embedded Metadata

If you have access to editing your camera’s IPTC block of fields, please populate as instructed below. You may leave the EXIF and XMP alone.

  • DOCUMENT TITLE (populates Title field): Use the above file name convention as it contains all the information required by the standards. Do not include the extension.
  • AUTHOR/CREATOR (populates Creator field): the name of the person who created the image (e.g., photographer, scanner, etc.), use “Department of Entomology” when unknown.
  • COPYRIGHT NOTICE (populates Rights field): The most common entry in this field will be CC0. If the image needs to be restricted (based on valid restrictions listed in the Image Usage Rights section) please leave this field blank and contact the Entomology Informatics Manager.
  • SOURCE (Populates the Source field): Most of our images will depict an object/specimen in the collection. Please use the following statement: “Specimen from Department of Entomology, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (USNM)”. Do not use a description of how the image was captured such as “flatbed scanner”, or the camera brand.

Image Archives

All images uploaded to EMu are considered the archived master image. Once the images are in EMu, they are permanently stored by the Smithsonian DAMS (Digital Asset Management System). If you want to save your images in RAW for archival purposes, you will be required to convert them to Digital Negative (DNG) format. If you want to save image slices of Extended Depth of Focus these must be saved as TIF or DNG, and follow the above naming convention. Please contact the Entomology Informatics Manager, as these files cannot currently be stored in EMu, and will follow a different workflow.

v. August 2023

The Entomology collections are accessible to qualified scientists and graduate students with stated research objectives and are not available for public tours.

Scientists and graduate students wishing to conduct research in the Department of Entomology should contact the appropriate staff member well in advance of your anticipated arrival to make arrangements for your visit. Advanced notice is critical to ensure availability of the collections, the workspace and any laboratory equipment you may require.

Visitors to the Department of Entomology may expect general laboratory equipment and library support but should bring a personal laptop, due to a shortage of visitor computers.

Find more information about academic opportunities, including internships, fellowships, and volunteering.

The National Museum of Natural History is located on the National Mall in Washington, DC., and is within a short walk of three Metro rail stations and a number of bus stops. Onsite parking is not available at the downtown museum, but there are a number of commercial parking garages within 5 blocks of the museum.

The museum has two entrances, one on the south side of the building facing the National Mall and one on the north side facing Constitution Avenue. For your first visit, please use the north entrance at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW (Google Map link). The closest Metro stations to this entrance are:

  • Blue, Orange, and Silver lines - Federal Triangle
  • Red line - Metro Center
  • Green and Yellow lines - Navy Archives

At the North entrance, use the doors on the left labeled ‘‘Staff’’ and proceed to the security officer in the lobby. Mention to the security officer that you are going to visit the Department of Entomology and he or she will direct you to the security office in the right-hand corner of the lobby. A security officer will call your contact person who will come down to pick you up and get your visitor pass set-up.