ASCU - Scientific Collections

Insect and Mite Collections
There are 500,000 pinned insects, 30,000 slide mounted mites and smaller insects and 30,000 specimens stored in alcohol. These collections represent a physical record of the insects and related forms associated with agricultural activity in New South Wales since 1890 when A.S. Olliff was appointed as the first government entomologist in NSW. There are about 400 primary types of insect and mite species held in the collections. Databasing of the collection has proceeded, funded by BioFirst (a NSW Government initiative), the Australian Plant Pest Database data capture program (Plant Health Australia in association with AFFA) and NSW Agriculture. Click here for a photograph of the capture of data from the 100,000th specimen in the database.

Plant Pathology Herbarium
The plant pathology herbarium (HERB-DAR) has about 100,000 specimens of fungi, viruses, nematodes and bacteria of economic importance. About 2,000 type specimens are held and these specimens are loaned on request. The collections were established in 1890 when Nathan Cobb was appointed as the first plant pathologist within NSW Agriculture. The entire Plant Pathology Herbarium has been databased.

Living Culture Collections
There are two collections of living cultures included in the Plant Pathology Herbarium. The fungal culture collection includes 3,500 isolates under oil on slopes and freeze dried. The bacterial collection includes 1200 isolates of plant parasitic bacteria.

Loans
Loans of material from either collection for genuine scientific purposes and purchase of living cultures can be obtained through writing to the Unit: ascu@dpi.nsw.gov.au

PLEASE NOTE: It is a condition for the issue of loans from collections in Australia that holotype specimens of new Australian species be deposited in an Australian institution. Holotypes designated from material on loan from NSW Agriculture's collections should be returned to these collections. Deposition of paratype or isotype material is subject to negotiation with the curators.

	Taxa named by ASCU staff


	Taxa named after ASCU staff


	Type Lists
	Insects and Mites

	Art Gallery
	E.H. Zeck - Insects and Mites Margaret Senior - Plant Diseases