Insects (Entomology)
The Entomology Section deals with all orders of insects (e.g. bees, wasps and ants, beetles, flies, fleas, grasshoppers, mantises) but not spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks, centipedes or millipedes, all of which have more than six legs and are dealt with by the Arachnology Section.
Collection
Approximately 500,000 specimens of insects are maintained in the Entomology collection. About half of these are dry, pinned specimens stored in unit trays in metal cabinets. The remainder are preserved in alcohol (or formalin). The collection is intended to be representative of the Western Australian insect fauna but contains some material from other states and overseas. As yet, only a small proportion of the collection has been electronically databased. The Curator welcomes enquiries from taxonomists who may wish to borrow material to assist their taxonomic revisions.
The entomology collection holds primary type-specimens of nearly 680 species of insects. To view a list of these types, click on the following link: type-specimens.
Staff
Curator: Dr Terry F. Houston
(e-mail Terry.Houston@museum.wa.gov.au; telephone (08) 9212 3742)
Technical Officer: Brian Hanich
(e-mail Brian.Hanich@museum.wa.gov.au; telephone (08) 9212 3764)
Research
Terry Houston has a special interest in the taxonomy and biology of Australian native bees. His research has focused mainly on solitary bees (particularly those in the families Colletidae and Stenotritidae). He is also interested in the behaviour and ecology of bees, particularly their floral relationships, and has published a number of papers on these subjects (see Publications).
Native bees endemic to Western Australia: (top) green burrowing bee, Ctenocolletes smaragdinus; (centre) Dawson's Burrowing Bee, Amegilla dawsoni; (bottom) smoke-bush bee, Leioproctus pappus.
Over recent years, Terry has also been investigating the biology of sandgropers, burrowing insects allied to grasshoppers. He maintains an interest, too, in local mole crickets, spoon-winged lacewings (Chasmoptera species) and masarine wasps.
Publications
The following publications are available for purchase from the Western Australian Museum Shop:
Hay, R.W., Houston, T.F. (ed.), Williams, A.A.E., Williams, M.R. (1994). Bring Back The Butterflies - Butterfly Gardening for Western Australians (Western Australian Museum, Perth), viii + 72 pp.
Houston, T.F. (2000). Native Bees On Wildflowers In Western Australia. A synopsis of bee visitation of wildflowers based on the bee collection of the Western Australian Museum. Special Publication no. 2, Western Australian Insect Study Society, Perth.
Information Sheets
Displays
See the Butterfly Gallery in the Jubilee Wing. A wide variety of Western Australian insects are displayed in pullout drawers in the Discovery Centre.
To learn more
Consider becoming a member of the Western Australian Insect Study Society and receive its bimonthly newsletter.