Terrestrial Zoology

Entomology III – Lepidoptera and Trichoptera

The Entomology III team conducts research into the evolution, speciation, ecological adaptation and distribution of caddisflies, moths and butterflies. We are looking to answer questions about the development of populations and species and what influence global change has on these processes. The extensive collections of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) with 1.2 million specimens and Trichoptera (caddisflies) with over 20,000 series and specimens form the basis for morphological and genetic studies. There are also extensive library holdings (especially reprints and monographs, some books and journals) in the section’s working library. In addition, we develop and maintain online resources for the identification and documentation of insects, e.g. Trichoptera Africana, Trichoptera Scandinavica or the portal Insekten Hessen.

The research work is assigned to the Senckenberg research areas Biodiversity, Systematics and Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment and Biodiversity and Climate.

History

The entomological section was founded in 1822 by Frankfurt citizens interested in entomology under the chairmanship of Carl von Heyden (1793-1866). It was looked after by volunteer section members until the first paid (part-time) curator position was created in 1919, which was filled by the world-famous lepidopterist Adalbert Seitz (1869-1938). After his death, the coleopterist (beetle researcher) Elli Franz (1896-1983) became the first full-time head of the Entomology Section in 1938. The new section, founded in 1969, was initially headed by Dr. Heinz G. Schroeder (1969-1995), from 1995-2021 Dr. Wolfgang A. Nässig headed the section. Since his retirement, Prof. Dr. Steffen Pauls has headed the section, initially on an interim basis and full-time since 2024.

Similar topics

Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut Frankfurt Außenansicht

Adrian Giacomelli

Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum

Frankfurt am Main is the headquarters location of Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research (SGN). It is the home of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, which also comprises the research stations Weimar, Gelnhausen, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Messel Pit.”

Sven Tränkner

Research

The Entomology III team conducts research into the evolution, speciation, ecological adaptation and distribution of caddisflies, moths and butterflies.

Sven Tränkner, SGN

Collection

The collection of the Entomology III section focuses on Lepidoptera or butterflies, as well as Trichoptera (caddisflies) and Odonata (dragonflies). The collection includes dried insects, alcohol specimens, extensive cryosections and microscopic specimens.

Freestock

Team

Prof. Dr. Steffen U. Pauls is the Head of the Section Entomology III.

Steve Halama

Terrestrial Zoology

Peter Jäger

Arachnology

The arachnology section is founded on a long-standing tradition of the Senckenberg museum. Research of the arachnology section falls into the area "Biodiversity and Systematics".

Entomology I

Our research program lies at the interface of integrative taxonomic-systematics, ecological biogeography, and bioinformatic modeling, with a particular focus on probing macroecology and macroevolutionary questions. Particular emphasis is placed on unveiling evolutionary processes shaping the evolution of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae), a superfamily of over 40,000 species.

SGN

Entomology II

The collections of Entomology II comprise the Hymenoptera and “Insecta Varia” (apterygote orders, Polyneoptera, Psocodea, Hemiptera, Neuropterida, Siphonaptera, and Mecoptera).

Brandon

Ornithology

The research focus of the ornithological section lies on the higher-level phylogeny and early evolution of birds.

SGN

Herpetology

Our research activities focus on the study of the Neotropical herpetofauna (Central and South America). Currently, faunistic and zoogeographic studies are undertaken in the following countries: Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Bolivia. Our studies are taxonomic, zoogeographic, and phylogenetic in nature.

Steven Kamenar

Hessische Naturwaldreservate – Zoological research in strict forest reserves in Hesse (Germany)

Since the Year of Nature Conservation in 1970 the setup of strict forest reserves throughout Germany was intensified, to gain a spectrum of reserves, which allow an undisturbed development of forest communities and their investigation.