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As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, all Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed. We are not announcing a reopening date at this time and will provide updates on our websites and social media.
Department of Entomology
The Hymenoptera Collection consists of about three million specimens including over 15,000 holotypes. More than 7,000 drawers house the pinned specimens and approximately 10,000 glass vials contain the preserved larvae and adults in alcohol.
The collection represents about 15% of the total entomological collections in the department, and is especially rich in Symphyta (sawflies), aculeates, and entomophagous parasites from worldwide locations.