Insecta Collection (page 18)

Anax imperator, emperor dragonfly egg
This spindle-shaped egg of the emperor dragonfly is typical of a species that lays its eggs inside the stems or leaves of plants. Next to the egg is the prolarva

Philonthus dictator, rove beetle

Titanus giganteus L. titan beetle
The titan is the largest beetle in the world. Measuring between 12 and 20 cms in length, this specimen was 15 cms. They live in the rainforests of French Guiana and Brazil

Scientist at work
Entomologist studying beetle specimens at the Natural History Museum, London

Burnet moth
Plate 2 from 298 water-colour drawings of insects and larvae (1622) by C. Flegel

Locust model on display in the Creepy Crawlies gallery at the Natural History Museum, London

Argiope bruennichi, wasp spider
The wasp spider is a non-poisonous species from the Mediterranean that is now also found in southern England. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Copepod parasite
Specimen jar containing copepod parasites, which live on the body surface of salmon and in large numbers can cause damage to the fish. Specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London

Acronicta rumicis, knot grass moth
Knot grass moth (Acronicta rumicis) and an iron prominent moth caterpillar (Notodanta dromedarius) by J. Bronckhorst. From Collection of Drawings by Dutch Artists, 17th-19th centuries

Deilephila elpenor, elephant hawk moth caterpillars
Two elephant hawk moth caterpillars by H. Hengstenburgh. From Collection of Drawings by Dutch Artists, 17th-19th centuries. Held in the Entomology Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Butterfly lifecycle
Plate 109 from 298 water-colour drawings of insects and larvae, Frankfurdt 1622 by C. Flegel

Butterflies
Plate 86 from 298 water-colour drawings of insects and larva (1622) by C. Flegel. Held in the Entomology Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Saturnia pyripavonia, emperor moth
Plate 1 from 298 water-colour drawings of insects and larvae, Frankfurdt 1622 by C. Flegel

Herochroma mansfieldi, moth

Bhutanitis (Yunnanopapilio) mansfieldi, two-tailed Bhutan gl
A two-tailed Bhutan glory butterfly collected by George Forrest in 1918. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London. Viewed from underneath

Butterflies on display
Detail of drawer R19/251 containing George Forrests specimens of Lepidoptera in the M. J. Mansfield collection drawers

Army biscuit enquiry, 1920s
Troops in South Africa and Mauritius found that biscuits sent out had been infested with moths, and become inedible. John Hartley Durrant of the Zoology Department was asked to investigate

Charles Badcock, gatekeeper, c. 1920
Charles Badcock, Police Constable no. 209, began work at the Museum in 1902, aged 43. In 1910 he joined the Museum staff as a front gatekeeper

Sympetrum striolatum, common darter dragonfly
Emerging from the larval skin, which may take over two hours. The head and thorax begin to burst out of the larval skin

Viola patrinii and wild flowers
Kotagherry wild flowers with feeding butterflies. Plate 6 by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn (1829-1928). Held at the Natural History Museum, London

Desmodium and wild flowers
Kotagherry wild flowers with feeding butterflies. Plate 10 by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn (1829-1928). Held at the Natural History Museum, London

Lysimachia leschenaultii, primrose family
Butterflies feeding on Lysumachia Leschenaultii. Plate 14 by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn (1829-1928). Held at the Natural History Museum, London

Wild Flowers, kotagherry and six butterflies
Wild Flowers, Kotagherry and six butterflies. Plate 37 by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn (1829-1928). Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Wild honey comb
Plate 42 from Neilgherry birds and Miscellaneous (1858) by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn (1829-1928)

Gloriosa superba, flame lily
Two butterflies feeding on flame lily (Gloriosa superba). Plate 47 by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn (1829-1928). Held in the at the Natural History Museum, London

Kotagherry Wild Flowers & Strawberries
Plate 50 by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn (1829-1928). Held at the Natural History Museum, London

Gentiana sp. blue gentian
Plate 63 by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn (1829-1928). Held at the Natural History Museum, London

Mussaenda speciosa
Plate 66 by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn (1829-1928)

Papilio ecclipsis, hoax butterfly species
This insect was uncovered as hoax by John Curtis. It is infact a European brimstone butterfly with patches carefully painted on its wings. Specimen from the Linnean Society photographed by the NHM

Preparation of skeleton material using the larvae of Dermestes maculatus (hind or leather beetle) to eat the flesh

Tabanus autumnalis, horse fly
Original painting of a horse fly by Amadeo J. E. Terzi, (1872-1956)

Plate 22 from Libellulinae Europaeae by de Charpentier
Illustration of dragonflies. Plate 22 from Libellulinae Europaeae illustrated and described by Toussaint von Charpentier (1780-1847), 1840

Plate 15 from Libellulinae Europaeae by de Charpentier
Illustration of dragonflies. Plate 15 from Libellulinae Europaeae illustrated and described by Toussint de Charpentier, 1840

Thrip in amber
A thrip, a small to minute sucking insect seen here preserved in Dominican amber. Specimen dates from the Lower Miocene

Froghopper in amber
A froghopper is a type of spittlebug, seen here preserved in Baltic amber. Specimen originates from the Upper Eocene

Caddis fly in amber
Caddis fly, Trichoptera, a small moth-like insect preserved here in Baltic amber. Specimen dates from the Upper Eocene

Dendroica magnolia (Wilson), magnolia warbler
Drawing 64 (Ewan 2) from the Botanical and zoological drawings (1756-1788) by William Bartram. Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Insect droppings in Dominican amber. Specimen dates from the Lower Miocene, about 20 million years ago. Fig. 65 from Amber the Natural Time Capsule

Moth fly in amber
Moth fly exquisitely preserved in Baltic amber. This specimen dates from the Upper Eocene

Earwig in amber
An earwig preserved in Dominican amber. Specimen dates from the Lower Miocene

Click beetle in amber
A click beetle preserved in Baltic amber. This specimen originates from the Upper Eocene period

Cricket in amber
Cricket preserved in Dominican amber. Specimen originates from the Lower Miocene

Termites in Dominican amber
Dominican amber containing termites, a flightless scuttle fly and a rove beetle. Specimen dates from the Lower Miocene about 20 million years old

Argynnis aglaja, dark green fritillary
From Illustrations of British Butterflies: with occasional figures of the larva, pupa, and food-plant (1878) by Theo Johnson

Dactyloprus coccus, scale insect
The colouring agent cochineal is derived from this insect which lives on the prickly pear cactus and is native to Mexico. Insects measure 3-4mm in length

Braconid wasp in amber
A braconid wasp preserved in Baltic amber. This specimen dates from the Upper Eocene period

Beetles from Joseph Dandridges collection
Beetles, only some of which are from the Petiver Collection, shown with Sloanes catalogue numbers

Cockroach in amber

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