Arthropods

Division of Arthropods

open weekdays 8am - 5pm
visitors welcome by appointment
information for visitors

phone: (505) 277-1360
fax: (505) 277-1351
museum administrator


tarantula hawk wasp

mailing:
Division of Arthropods
Museum of Southwestern Biology
1 University of New Mexico
MSC03-2020
Albuquerque, NM 87131
shipping:
Division of Arthropods
Museum of Southwestern Biology
302 Yale Blvd NE
CERIA 83, Room 204
Albuquerque, NM 87131
shipping contact: 505-277-1360

Welcome to the Division of Arthropods

The Museum of Southwestern Biology's Division of Arthropods supports taxonomic and ecological research on arthropods of the Southwest and elsewhere in the world. The Division of Arthropods maintains collections of specimens that are dry pinned, mounted on microscope slides, stored in alcohol, and frozen tissues of arthropods for DNA and other molecular samples. Please see the Collections page for more information. 

SCAN

See the Division of Arthropods' latest news.

SCAN

The Arthropod Specimen Database is part of an online national arthropod collections database called Symbiota Collection of Arthropods Network (SCAN). See Using the Collection for tips on searching the database.

NM arthropods This is a collection of photographs and information representing some common and interesting New Mexico arthropods
services Visit our Services page to learn about information and assistance the Division of Arthropods can provide
visit Learn about visiting the museum. Research visits and educational tours to the Division of Arthropods can be arranged by contacting the collection managers.


Our Mission is to

  • Serve as a center of excellence to support state and regional study of arthropods.
  • Advance the taxonomy of arthropods and their inventory in the state and region.
  • Provide scientific understanding of the role of arthropods in community ecology and ecosystem function, evolutionary biology, and Earth’s biodiversity
  • Support the conservation and management of rare or endangered arthropods.
  • Provide training and support for graduate and undergraduate students interested in arthropod study.
  • Provide outreach to the K-12 student community and general public of New Mexico to enrich their appreciation of arthropods and increase their general knowledge of them.
  • Support biodiversity informatics research to develop tools and resources to better make arthropod and other museum data available to the scientific, management and general public.
state insect 
The New Mexico State Insect:
Tarantula Hawk Wasp (Pepsis grossa)
state butterfly 
The New Mexico State Butterfly:
Sandia Hairstreak (Callophrys mcfarlandi)