I. Processing of specimens through the museum:

1. Relaxing, pinning, labeling
2. Sorting to order, family, genus
3. Sending to specialist for identification
4. Curating identified specimens into collection

II. Voucher collections

1. Ecological (Biodiversity), Agricultural, Medical

III. Type collections

1. Type specimens of new named species

IV. Special collections

1. Slide mounts (e.g., Thrips, Aphids, Apterygota)
2. Alcohol vials (e.g., Immatures, Spiders, Aquatics)
3. Scales on host plants (e.g., on leaves, roots, branches)
4. Other (e.g., Electrophoresis gels, SEM stubs, sonograms)
5. Teaching displays - Educational outreach

VI. Value of a museum collection (storehouse, "library" of information):

1. Insect structure
   1. Comparative morphology, Morphometrics
2. Biodiversity
3. Biogeography
4. Ecology (plant/habitat labels)
   1. Phoretic: Mites, Triungulins
   2. Pollen; other plant parts (e.g., exudates)
   3. Pathogens (surface; internal- Lyme disease)
5. Biochemistry (DNA from specimens in alcohol or dried or in amber)
6. Education: Tours; displays

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