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Insects

About insects

Insects are the most diverse group of animals on earth.
About 1 million insect species have been described but it is estimated that there are between 5 and 10 million species still waiting to be discovered. Insects are also the most abundant type of animal on earth - there may be as many as 1.4 billion insects for every person alive today.
 

Irish insects

More than half of all Irish animals are insects.
About 11,500 different insect species have been discovered in Ireland, and it is estimated that the true number of Irish insect species is between 12,000 and 16,000. Species new to Ireland are discovered every year. Some are new arrivals and others may have been overlooked before.  
 

The Collection

The entomology collection contains over one million insect specimens gathered over the past 230 years. 
It includes examples of insects from all over the world, and is key to understanding the evolutionary relationships among species, where certain species live, and the ways in which species distributions have changed over time. Species new to science have been discovered from the NMI entomology collection. Species new to Ireland are often rediscovered among the collection as well.

We also hold an extensive entomological reference library with thousands of specialist book titles and scientific journals. 

The entomology collections and research services are available to any interested person (students, researchers, artists etc.) by prior appointment with the relevant staff member.


Online Resources

Publications on Irish insects

  • Ashe, P., O’Connor, J.P. and Casey, R.J. 1991. Irish mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): a checklist of the species and their known distribution. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 91B: 21-36. 
  • Ashe, P., O’Connor, J.P. and Chandler, P.J. 2012. A revised checklist of the biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 36: 190-231. 
  • Ashe, P., O’Connor, J. P. and Chandler, P. J. 2013 A revised checklist of the biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Ireland: correction. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 37: 56-57. 
  • Ashe, P., O’Connor, J.P. and Chandler, P.J. 2013. Additions and corrections to the checklist of the biting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) of Ireland. Dipterists Digest (Second Series) 20: 87-90.
  • Ashe, P., O’Connor, J.P. and Murray, D.A. 1998. A checklist of Irish aquatic insects. Occasional Publication of the Irish Biogeographical Society 3.
  • Bond, K.G.M., Nash, R. and O’Connor, J.P. 2006. An annotated checklist of the Irish butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera). The Irish Biogeographical Society in association with the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
  • Bond, K.G.M. and O’Connor, J.P. 2012. Additions, deletions and corrections to An annotated checklist of the Irish butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) with a concise checklist of Irish species and Elachista biatomella (Stainton, 1848) new to Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 36: 60-179. 
  • Chandler, P.J., O’Connor, J.P. and Nash, R. 2008. An annotated checklist of the Irish two-winged flies (Diptera). The Irish Biogeographical Society in association with The National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
  • Nelson, B., Ronayne, C., Nash, R. and O’Connor, J.P. 2002. Additions and changes to the Irish aculeate Hymenoptera checklist. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 26: 453-459.
  • O’Connor, J.P. 2004. A checklist of the Irish Eucoilinae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) including fourteen species new to Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 27: 382-386. 
  • O’Connor, J.P. and Ashe, P. 2000. Irish indoor insects, a popular guide. Town House, Dublin.
  • O’Connor, J.P. and Ashe, P. 2007. Contributions towards a checklist of insects feeding on Irish trees. Part 1: Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 31: 197-267. 
  • O’Connor, J.P., Fergusson, N.D.M. and Nash, R. 2003. A checklist of the Irish Figitidae excluding Charipinae and Eucoilinae (Hymenoptera). British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 16: 229-232. 
  • O’Connor, J.P., Liston, A.D. and Speight, M.C.D. 1997. A review of the Irish sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) including a checklist of species. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 20: 2-99.
  • O’Connor, J.P., Nash, R. and Broad, G. 2009. An annotated checklist of the Irish Hymenoptera. The Irish Biogeographical Society in association with The National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
  • O’Connor, J.P. and Nelson, B. 2012. An annotated checklist of the Irish Hemiptera and small orders. The Irish Biogeographical Society, Dublin.

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