The Museum houses one of the largest collections of Hymenoptera in the world, with over 3 million pinned specimens.
Rich in type specimens, the collection includes historical material from the 19th and 20th centuries, such as that of Charles Darwin and Henry Walter Bates, Amazonian explorer and collector.
The collection is actively growing with recent collecting efforts focused on supporting current research projects.
Recent collections have included:
Find out how Hymenoptera specimens are preserved.
Learn more about the Museum's significant British collections of Hymenoptera. The collections include those of William Kirby, the founder of entomology.
The Museum holds a number of important and diverse collections from around the world.
Find out how to access the Hymenoptera collections and who to contact.
A detailed list of the number of different Hymenoptera species in the Museum's collection.