Preparation of Specimens Submitted for Identification to the Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA

The insect and arachnid identification service maintained by the Systematic Entomology Laboratory (SEL), IIEIII, with the aid of SEL Cooperating Scientists, taxonomists of the Smithsonian Institution, and other specialists, provides identifications of about ⅓ of a million specimens per year for a. wide variety of users. The Systematic Entomology Laboratory and almost all of our collaborators lack sufficient technical help to mount and prepare specimens prior to identification by the research scientists.