Bohart Museum of Entomology facts for kids
| Established | 1946 |
|---|---|
| Visitors | 12000 |
The Bohart Museum of Entomology is a fascinating place at the University of California, Davis. It was started way back in 1946. This museum is home to an amazing collection of insects and other small creatures. It is one of the biggest insect collections in North America.
The museum holds more than seven million specimens. Most of these are insects. The collection includes creatures from all over the world. You can find many from the Western Hemisphere, Indonesia, and Australasia.
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What the Museum Does
The Bohart Museum has several important jobs. It helps students and scientists do research. It also helps identify insects and teaches people about them. The museum is a great place for learning about the insect world.
Studying Insects
Scientists at the museum focus on different types of insects. They study the worldwide insect group called Hymenoptera. This group includes bees, wasps, and ants. They also study freshwater creatures that are not insects. Plus, they look at insects found in California.
Professor Emeritus of entomology Richard M. Bohart started the museum. He also gave many specimens to it. In 1986, the museum was named after him to honor his work.
Helping UC Davis Students
The museum works closely with the Entomology Department at UC Davis. Entomology is the study of insects. The museum helps with research for the department. It also has insect collections for students taking insect classes. These collections help students learn hands-on.
The museum also keeps records for the California Insect Survey. Lynn Kimsey has been the director of the museum since 1989.
How the Museum Grows
Each year, about 30,000 new specimens are added to the collection. These new insects come from many places. Some are found during museum field trips. Others come from university research projects.
Many specimens are also given to the museum. These donations come from members of the Bohart Museum Society. People from the community also donate insects.
Sharing with Researchers
About 7,400 specimens are loaned out each year. These go to researchers in the United States and other countries. Scientists use the museum's collection for their studies. They write many articles and books based on what they find. University staff and their helpers also publish a lot of research.
Visiting the Museum
The Bohart Museum is a popular spot. Around 12,000 visitors come to the museum every year. It's a great place to see incredible insects up close.
