Lepidoptera. The Lepidoptera collections have grown from several prominent lepidopterists associated with the collection and from a considerable number of private donations. The W.T.M. Forbes and J.G. Franclemont personal collections form the backbone of the holdings. Their many students have also been particularly important to the growth and development of the Lepidoptera collection. There are 5500 drawers of Lepidoptera (51% of drawer count for entire collection), 2471 vials of adult structures and larvae, and over 5700 microscope slide mounts of wings, genitalia, and other structures. We have over 275 primary types, and about 750 species represented by types (Search Types). Families especially well represented in the collection include Pyralidae (200 drawers), Geometridae (330 dr.), Noctuidae (648 dr.), Nymphalidae (900 dr.), Papilionidae (312 dr.), and Pieridae (210 dr.). Several noteworthy collections are discussed below. Geographic regions well represented include tropical South America, eastern North America, the American southwest including west Texas and southeastern Arizona, and Puerto Rico.

The butterfly collection benefited from a generous donation from Mr. August Schmitt of Long Island. His collection was especially rich in Papilionidae from southeast Asia. The complements the strengths of the Forbes' material, which is primarily Neotropical and focuses on Heliconiidae, Ithomidae, Nymphalidae, and Pieridae.

The Roy Latham collection represents insects from Long Island, particularly Lepidoptera. It is one of the finest collections of its kind in the state. It was amassed from 1900 to 1968. Other collections include those of Bolton K. Smith (70 drawers; Nearctic + exotic); Ellsworth (56 dr., mostly exotic); A.M. Shapiro (70 drawers; Nearctic + exotic); Ellsworth (56 dr., mostly exotic); A.M. Shapiro (151 dr.; esp. Nearctic and British); E.P. MacDonald (5 dr., Italy); L.R. Rupert (150+ dr., including eastern N. Amer. moths); J. Matthysse (7 dr., exotic); A. Blanchard (12 dr., Texas); Biezanko (71 dr., Brazil); L.E. Pena (17 dr., Chile); T. Dickel (Florida and Colorado).