MSB Arthropod Division

Specimen Collections. The dry pinned and microscope slide insect specimens are stored in Cornell style insect cabinets in the climate controlled Collection Room (dry collection) of the Arthropod Division. Other insects and arthropods that are stored in ethanol are housed in the liquid portion (wet collection) of the Arthropod Division, located in the MSB fluid collections area. Research voucher and reference collections are maintained for UNM researchers for ongoing ecological research projects. Specimens within those research collections are maintained by both Arthropod Division staff, and outside researchers. Research collection specimens may eventually be accessioned into the MSB collection, or may be removed and housed in other museums once the particular research project has terminated. All research collection specimens incorporated into the Arthropod collection may be tracked through the specimen database. The accession of research collections must be approved by the Curator. A research collection agreement form must be filed before the MSB will provide facilities and services for research collections (see Research Collection Agreement Form). In general, all research collections housed in the Arthropod Division will eventually be incorporated into the Arthropod collection.

Specimen Database. Information for arthropod specimens in our collection is maintained in a relational database developed from File Maker Pro software. Database records include the taxonomic ranks from class to species, locality, collection date, host/habitat, collector name, and name of the authoritative determiner and date. The amount of information is variable, depending upon the label information available with each specimen. Our database records may be queried from the New Mexico Biodiversity Collections Consortium (NMBCC) web site. Select "query data" from the panel on the left side of the NMBCC web page. The NMBCC web site includes arthropod database information not only from the Museum of Southwestern Biology, but also from the insect collections at New Mexico State University, Eastern New Mexico University, and Western New Mexico University. Institutional affiliation is noted for each record. We are currently still adding records to the database, and will continue to as new specimens are accessioned into our collection.

Work Space. Two working laboratories are available for arthropod research and educational activities. The Collection Work Room (Room 216) is the principal work space for activities involving the Arthropod Collection. The Collection Room is located adjacent to the Collection Work Room. The Collection Work Room provides table space, computers, microscopes, refrigerator and freezer space, and sinks. The Collection Room is considered a clean lab. The Collection Manager's office is also located adjacent to the Collection Work Room. The Arthropod Division Library, and computer database are housed in the Collection Manager’s office. The Arthropod Laboratory (Room 124) provides a working facility for specimens preserved in liquids, use of toxic chemicals, and processing of ecology field samples of arthropods in soil, plant foliage, or other materials. The wet arthropod collection is stored adjacent to the Arthropod Laboratory, and work with those specimens stored in ethanol can be conducted on lab tables. Air hoods are available for work with noxious chemicals and dust.

Live arthropods may be kept in a laboratory at the UNM Biology Annex, Room 111A. This live arthropod facility may be used to rear immature arthropods so that adults may be obtained for taxonomic studies. The live arthropod lab provides rearing cages, and incubation chambers.

Taxonomic Classification

The Division of Arthropods follows and Arnett (2000), American Insects, CRC Press, for insect classification above the Genus rank, the Nomina Insecta Nearctica for the taxonomic classification of insects below the Subfamily rank. Various sources are used to classify the non-insect arthropods. The Arthropod Division classification system utilizes only major taxonomic ranks because there are so many differences among published classification schemes within and between taxonomic groups. Taxonomic ranks including Subfamily and above are organized phylogenetically, and Genera and Species are organized alphabetically below the Subfamily level. The Arthropod Division classification system, specimen organization, and the specimen database are all updated as new versions of the Nomina, American Insects, and other sources are released.

Taxonomic classification rank system used for the classification of specimens in the MSB Division of Arthropods: Phylum, Class, Order, Suborder, Family, Subfamily, Genus organized alphabetically and Species (subspecies when applicable) organized alphabetically.

Arthropod Classification Sources

Insects

Arnett, R. H., Jr. 2000. American Insects. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Poole, R. W. and P. Gentili, editors. 2003. Nomina Insecta Nearctica. Entomological Information Services, P.O.Box 4350 Rockville, MD.

Spiders

Ubick, D., P. Paquin, P. E. Cushing and V. Roth, editors. 2005. Spiders of North America: An identification manuel. American Arachnological society. American Arachnological Society.

Coddington, J. A. and H. W. Levi. 1991. Systematics and evolution of spiders (Araneae). Annual Review of Systematics and Evolution 22: 565-592.

Platnick, N. I. 2002. World Spider Catalog v.3.0 .

Scorpions

Fet, V. 2002. Catalog of the Scorpions of the World (1758-1998). New York Entomological Society, New York.

Centipedes (Chilopoda), Millipedes (Diplopoda), Harvestmen (Opiliones), Psedoscorpions (Psedoscorpiones), Mites (Acari), Isopods (Isopoda)

Dindal, D. L., editor. 1990. Soil Biology Guide. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY.

Aquatic Crustaceans

Pennak, R. W. 1978. Fresh-water Invertebrates of the United States. 2n edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY.