Kean University Arthropod Collection
The phylum Arthropoda (insects, spiders, crabs, etc.) is the most
successful and ecologically diverse group of multicellular organisms on
earth. Over 1,000,000 species have been described, and recent estimates of the
actual number of species vary from 5 to 10 million.
The insects themselves are present and usually abundant in all the earth's
ecosystems save the open ocean. Insects range from mundane to startling
in appearance and illustrate many fundamental biological concepts. They
also profoundly affect human life in numerous ways. Some insects consume our
food crops, destroy our forest trees and transmit disease. Yet others
pollinate our crops, serve as food for wildlife, keep populations of pest
species in check, and serve as valuable subjects for scientific research.
The Department of Biological Sciences maintains a comprehensive collection
of preserved arthropods, which supports a variety of important teaching,
outreach and scholarship activities at Kean University. In addition to its
intangible aesthetic value, an insect collection is a critical tool for work
in evolutionary biology, ecology, systematics, conservation biology, medical
entomology and agriculture. Since its inception in 1996, the Collection
has been supported by the efforts of numerous undergraduate research
assistants under the direction of Dr. Sylvio Codella. The Collection has
been generously supported by Kean University and by the Kean Alumni
Association.
The Collection currently houses over 3000 specimens from ten states of the
union and 19 nations on six continents. It is particularly strong in the
order Hymenoptera (sawflies, wasps, ants, bees), which is the focus of
research activity in the Codella Lab (click here for a
catalog of the collection). Contact Dr. Codella if you
wish to:
View the collection
Arrange a visit to your classroom, organization, scout group,
etc.
Learn more about undergraduate research oportunities