Entomology conducts research, research training and graduate education on the world’s insects-their global diversity, evolution, geography, genomics, morphology, conservation, ecology and behavior. These studies are grounded in research collections of almost 5 million specimens and their associated data. Major research areas in Entomology are chrysomelid beetles, water beetles, bees, and fossil insects.

Historical Background

During most of its history, and certainly during the last 50 years, the entomological collections housed at Entomology at the University of Kansas have been among the most active and important of the university-based collections in the Midwestern United States. It has been a major repository for insect specimens from the Midwest and more recently from Mexico and tropical America with comparative material of world-wide scope and in areas of research specialization. Its role in providing research material to the world-wide community of systematists and as a focal point for major systematic research and graduate training in systematics have made it one of the most active and productive in the United States. Recent improvements in physical facilities, research and collection management equipment and staffing have allowed substantial improvement of program and collections.

 

Old Snow Hall (pre-1930's).  Partly occupied in the Fall of 1886 by Zoology, Entomology, and Physiology.

In 1870 Professor Francis Huntington Snow established the insect collection formerly known as the Snow Entomological Museum. The museum antedates by 31 years the organization of a Department of Entomology, separate from Zoology, in 1901.

A notable aspect of development of the Snow Museum and Department of Entomology has been the long association between them of most members of the faculty. Snow was curator of the entomology collection in addition to his various academic duties until 1901. Care of the Museum was the assumed by Prof. Samual J. Hunter, who headed the Department for 23 years (until 1924). Hunter was succeeded by Prof. Herbert H. Hungerford, a world-renowned authority on aquatic Hemiptera, who directed the museum for 25 years (1924–1949) and was at the same time Chairman of the Department of Entomology.

Prof. Charles D. Michener, world authority on the behavior, systematics and general biology of bees, followed Hungerford in the administration of the department and the museum. In 1970, Michener was given the title of Director of the entomology museum, and the position was formally separated from Chairmanship of the Department of Entomology. Prof. George W. Byers, a specialist in crane flies and Mecoptera, succeeded Michener as Director of the museum in 1983. James S. Ashe, a specialist on the systematics and evolution of staphylinid beetles, replaced Byers as Director of the museum upon Byer’s retirement in 1988. The position of Director of the museum ceased to exist in 1994 when the entomology museum became a division of what is now the KU Biodiversity Institute, and the head of the unit became the Curator-in-Charge.  Ashe acted as Curator-in-Charge from 1994 until 2005, with a break in 2002–2003 while he was on sabbatical in Australia.  Michael S. Engel has held the position of Curator-in-Charge from 2002–2003 and from 2005 to the present day. 

Each Director/Chief Curator had faculty colleagues who contributed to the research, curatorial and service functions of the division. These have included Samuel W. Williston (1890–1902), P. B. Lawson (1919–1934), Raymond H. Beamer (1914–1954), Kathleen Doering (1922–1965), Joseph Camin (1958–1979), Peter Ashlock (1968–1988), Robert Beer (1950–1988), Robert W. Brooks (Collection Manager, 1988–2002), Byron Alexander (Curator, 1990–1996), Michael S. Engel (Curator, 2000–present), Zachary H. Falin (Collection Manager, 2003–present), Jennifer C. Thomas (Assistant Collection Manager, 2006–present), Caroline S. Chaboo (Assistant Curator, 2008–present), and Andrew E. Z. Short (Assistant Curator, 2009–present).The value of collections of the Division of Entomology and their need for constant maintenance make continuity of curatorial care imperative. To provide stable fiscal support for this care, and to make the division independent from the fluctuations inherent in the instructional branch of the University, the Snow Museum budget was transferred in 1970 from the Office of Academic Affairs to the Office of Research, Graduate Studies and Public Service. This change was calculated to provide for continuous care of the collection by sheltering it from enrollment-related budgetary fluctuations and changing interests and emphases among faculty members in the Department of Entomology. In addition, the Curatorial Staff was historically employed on a 12-month basis (until 1999 when they were switched to 11-month appointments) rather than the 9-month academic year, to provide for maintenance needs, the on-going business of loan transactions, year-end budgetary matters, and similar activities, although such appointments ceased after 2002, with those appointed prior to this time grandfathered in the older system. The Collection Management staff has been, and continues to be, supported on 12-month appointments. In fiscal year 1994, the Snow Entomological Museum merged administratively with the KU Natural History Museum, the McGregor Herbarium, and the Museum of Invertebrate Paleontology to form the expanded KU Natural History Museum, now included under the larger administrative umbrella of the KU Biodiversity Institute. At that time, the Snow Entomological Museum formally became the Division of Entomology of the Biodiversity Institute.