Arthropoda Collection (#28)

Plate from The Gleanings of Natural History by George Edward
Plate 347, hand coloured copperplate etching from George Edwards The Gleanings of Natural History, Vol. 3 (1764). Annotated Red-breasted green creeper and spotted green creeper

Argynnis adippe, high brown fritillary
Plate 29 from Illustrations of British butterflies and their larvae, with the plants on which they feed, by Theo Johnson, 1892

Butterflies - attrib. to Jan van Kessel
Painting of butterflies and other insects attributed to Jan van Kessel (1626-79). Oil on copper panel 57 x 43cm

Isotoma viridis, springtail
This springtail specimen was collected from the flood plain of Easdale Tarn, Westmorland, U.K. Image 21.x.1954. by M.E. Bacchus

Scale insect in amber
A scale insect preserved here in Baltic amber. These insects often secrete a protective, waxy covering. Specimen dates from the Upper Eocene

Midges in amber
Pair of copulating midges preserved in Baltic amber accompanied by two air bubbles. Specimen dates from the Upper Eocene

Ctenocephalides canis, dog flea
Scanning electron microscope image showing a dog fleas backwards pointing hairs that help it stay attached to its host (x 40 on standard 9cm wide print). Artificially coloured by computer

Bristletail in amber
A bristletail, Archaeognatha: Machilidae preserved in Baltic amber. Specimen originates from the Upper Eocene

Fly in amber

Chrysophanus dispar, large copper
From Illustrations of British Butterflies: with occasional figures of the larva, pupa, and food-plant (1878) by Theo Johnson

Bee in Dominican amber
A bee, Hymenoptera: Aculeata: Apidae trapped in Dominican amber. This specimen was used to attempt DNA extraction

Dominican amber containing a cockroach and two termites dating from the Lower Miocene about 20 million years old. Donated by Cobra and Bellamy

Caterpillar skin in Dominican amber
A shed caterpillar skin Lepidoptera, in Dominican amber. Specimen dates from the Lower Miocene. Page 66 Fig. 66 from Amber the Natural Time Capsule

Erebia aethiops, scotch argus butterfly

Colourful illustration of an eel and a crustacean
Plate 45 from Louis Renards Poissons, Ecrevisses et Crabes, Vol 2, 1754. This was the earliest known work on fish to be produced in colour

Aramus guarauna pictus, limpkin
Drawing 56 (Ewan 18) from the Botanical and zoological drawings (1756-1788) by William Bartram

Colourful illustration of five fish and a crustacean
Plate 26 from Louis Renards Poissons, Ecrevisses et Crabes, Vol 2, 1754. This was the earliest known work on fish to be produced in colour

Colourful illustration of five fish, two lobsters and a crab
Plate 53 from Louis Renards Poissons, Ecrevisses et Crabes, Vol 2, 1754. This was the earliest known work on fish to be produced in colour

Social wasp in amber
A social wasp preserved in Dominican amber. Specimen dates from the Lower Miocene. Donated by Cobra and Bellamy

Isle of Wight amber
Spider in Isle of Wight amber. Lower Cretaceous about 130 million years old. Borrowed from Museum of Isle of Wight Geology

Parthenos sylvia salentia, clipper butterfly

Moth preserved in Baltic amber
A moth preserved in Baltic amber dating from the Upper Eocene period, about 40 million years old

Detail of terracotta moulding of a beetle in the Waterhouse
The Waterhouse Buiding at the Natural History Museum, London was designed by Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905) and first opened its doors on Easter Monday 1881

Handwritten notes by John Abbot
Handwritten notes to accompany Plate 34, 7 from Volume 16 by John Abbot. Illustration of Metitaea ismeria and Helianthus tracheliifolius

Papilio peranthus

Symphoromyia pachyceras, snipe fly
Snipe fly from California, U.S.A. Females of this fly feed on blood which is necessary for egg production. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Coenagrion puella, azure damselfly
Azure dameselflies (Coenagrion puella) are often seen in the Wildlife Garden at the Natural History Museum, London. May 2003

Carausius morosus, Indian stick insect

Theobaldia annulata, mosquito
Watercolour by Amadeo John Engel Terzi (1872-1956) c. 1904

Scientist working with butterfly specimen
Entomologist opening butterflys wings after relaxing ready to be placed into a specimen drawer. Specimen held at The Natural History Museum, London

Ixodes ricinus, tick
Close-up of a recently fed tick (Ixodes ricinus) full of its hosts blood, on black background

Crowd around flea case, 1927
During the first decades of the 20th century, the Central Hall contained a number of exhibit cases explaining the role of insects and other animals in spreading disease

Coronula diarnderna
Plate 10, watercolour by Anna Atkins from her 256 original drawings for Lamarcks Genera of shells, 1822-24

Amblyomma americanum, lone star tick
A pair of lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum). Ticks are blood-sucking parasites which feed on the blood of their host

Neotrombicula autumnalis, harvest mite
These harvest mites also known as bracken bugs or chiggers occur in Britain during late summer. The tiny mites attach themselves under tight fitting clothes, feed and then detach causing itchy scabs

Astroboa clavata, basketstar

Argynnis paphia var. valezina, female silver washed fritilla
Plate 12, figure 22 from Natural History of British Butterflies Vol.1, c. 1914 by Frederick William Frohawk (1861-1946). Held in the Entomology Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Pacifastacus leniusculus, signal crayfish
Signal crayfish specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Memoirs sur le Termes, 1786

Amblyomma hebraeum, African cattle tick
A male African cattle tick (Amblyomma hebraeum). Ticks are blood-sucking parasites wich live off the blood supply from their host

Locust Tree, Tenerife 1873
A photograph taken during the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876), funded by the British Government for scientific purposes

Cocytius antaeus antaeus Drury, giant sphinx moth
Watercolour by Edith Blake (1845-1928), 1892, from Lady Edith Blakes collection of drawings of Jamacian lepidoptera and plants, held at the Natural History Museum, London

Bombyliidae specimens
Bee-flies from around the world, clockwise from top left: Systropus, Bombylius, Cephalopdromia and Ligyra. Adults are flower feeders, the larvae are parasitoids of other insects

Dragonfly from decorative ceiling panels

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