KFRI - Insect Repository

KFRI Insect Repository The KFRI Insect collection has 40,483 tropical forest insect specimens collected over a period of four decades. The collection serves as a reference collection used by entomologists for identifying insect specimens. Of the insects in the collection, 17484 specimens have been identified and the rest- 22999- remains to be identified. Major groups in the collection represented are Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Odonata, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera. The insect collection provides identification aids for students and researchers from various colleges / institutions. In order to solve the taxonomic complexities of insect specimens in KFRI collection scientific specimen loan procedures have been initiated for experts from scientific institutions across the country. Recently five new species of beetles were newly reported to science from KFRI Insect Collection.

Status of specimens in the KFRI Insect repository

Order	No. of identified specimens	No. of unidentified specimens	Total no. of specimens
Thysanura	1	0	1
Phasmida	0	89	89
Odonata	34	511	545
Dictyoptera	52	178	230
Orthoptera	77	562	639
Lepidoptera	12,646	8,763	21,409
Hemiptera	1349	593	1,942
Coleoptera	2,794	5,077	7,871
Diptera	92	927	1,019
Hymenoptera	439	1714	2,153
Others	0	4,585	4,585
Total	17,484	22,999	40,486

Contact: Kerala Forest Research Institute
Peechi P.O, Thrissur District, Kerala - 680653, India.
Tel: +91-487-2690320
e-mail: insectcollection@kfri.res.in