Acari
No. of slides and jars: 32.400
No. of species: 3627
Types: 1012
The mite collection at LIB is extensive and comprises more than 3600 species of which 1012 are represented by type material. It covers the full breadth of mite diversity and was established after World War II by the former curator of the department, Gisela Rack. It is one of the largest mite collections in Europe and for some groups, such as marine mites, one of the largest in the world. Many renowned acarologists have contributed to this collection and donated material in their groups of interest, such as Max Sellnick und Heinrich Viets. Some groups are currently being revised by acarologists within Germany and overseas, and new material is frequently added to this collection. In contrast to spiders and scorpions that are stored in ethanol, the mite collection primarily consists of microscope slides on which the specimens are mounted for permanent storage. Overall, this collection is a unique resource for systematic biologists but also quarantine, veterinarians and customs that have an interest in medically or economically important mites. This collection is frequently consulted by specialists and industry.
To the catalogues:
- Weidner, H., 1959: Die Entomologischen Sammlungen des Zoologischen Staatsinstituts und Zoologischen Museums Hamburg, I. Teil, Pararthropoda und Chelicerata I. - Mitt. hamb. zool. Mus. Inst., 57: 89-142. [ PDF ]
- Rack, G., 1960: Die Entomologischen Sammlungen des Zoologischen Staatsinstituts und Zoologischen Museums Hamburg, I. Teil (Nachtrag). Acarina. - Mitt. hamb. zool. Mus. Inst., 58: 47-55. [ PDF ]
- Rack, G., 1971: Die Entomologischen Sammlungen des Zoologischen Instituts und Zoologischen Museums Hamburg, I. und II. Teil (Nachtrag), Pararthropoda und Chelicerata. Mitt. hamb. zool. Mus. Inst., 67: 109-133. [ PDF ]