Invertebrate Zoology

The Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History is devoted to the study and curation of its Entomology Collection (Insects and other Arthropods) and its Malacology Collection (Mollusca), as well as the conservation of the habitats where these organisms occur.

Insects comprise the largest group of animals on earth with approximately 1.3 million species described. Many more species await naming and study. Current work by Tom Pucci and Hans Clebsch in our lab focuses on the documentation of new species of wasps (particularly tiny parasitic families such as Braconidae and Diapriidae) from around the world.

We have a solid understanding of the biology of only a minority (estimated 10%) of the species on earth. Much of our understanding is restricted to species of economic, medical, and veterinary concern. Our lab’s work strives to increase our understanding of the basic biology of a number of families of insects, including the fly families Sciomyzidae, Ephydridae, Diastatidae, and Uliidae (snail-killing, shore, diastatid, and picture-winged flies, respectively) and the wasp families Braconidae, Encyrtidae, and Pompilidae (parasitic, encyrtid, and spider wasps, respectively).

Other departmental foci include the identification of invertebrates of medical concern, the biology of disease vectors, and forensic entomology. See the results of our 2007 study, Bugs and Bear Blog, on the use of insect succession during black bear poaching cases.

The Department of Invertebrate Zoology offers programs giving an opportunity for first-hand experience in the discipline. Undergraduate students interested in a paid summer internship in this discipline are encouraged to investigate the Kirtlandia Research Internship Program program, and interested graduate students may examine advanced degree opportunities within the Department of Invertebrate Zoology.