A Historical Collection of Termites in Ferrara: Recovery, Cataloguing and Geographical Analyses

Insects

Teresa Bonacci¹  Maria Gabriella Marchetti²  Marilena Leis²  Davide Curci²  Chiara Scapoli²  Milvia Chicca²  Marco Pezzi²  Chiara Beatrice Vicentini² 

[1] Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy;Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;

关键词: caste;    cataloguing;    distribution;    foreign;    Italian;    museum collection;   

DOI  :  10.3390/insects12090793

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Termites are an insect group relevant for recycling of organic matter, but they are also biodeteriogenic and may cause serious damages to wooden structures (including historical buildings and ancient libraries) in anthropogenic environments. The collection of Italian and foreign termites gathered over the years by Antonio Springhetti, Professor of Zoology at the University of Ferrara (Ferrara, Italy) and internationally renowned entomologist, contains over 44,000 specimens, collected by Springhetti during his field campaigns or donated by other entomologists from all over the world. The collection is currently preserved at the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology of the University of Ferrara. Unfortunately, all documents, publications and notes concerning the Springhetti Collection were lost; thus, in 2020, the collection was completely re-catalogued within the University Museum System and analyzed in detail. The collection contains specimens dating back to 1878 and represents not only a valuable scientific tool for studies on these ecologically relevant insects that may cause damages to historical buildings, ancient books and artworks but also an important cultural asset for the University Museum System.

【 授权许可】

Unknown