Entomological Collection

An essential working tool, comprising approximately 60,000 specimens of butterflies, beetles, hymenoptera, cave insects, and tropical insects.

The Entomological Collection of the University of Sassari was established with the creation of the Faculty of Agriculture in 1946-50 and developed around a core of material from the University of Bologna (the original director Prof. Antonio Servadei's institution). It was later enriched to house around 60,000 specimens.

The collections were initially linked to the research of the Faculty of Agriculture, particularly the study of species harmful to agriculture. Among the entomologists who worked in Sassari, notable figures include Minos Martelli, Giorgio Fiori, Romolo Prota, and Antonello Crovetti. The collection features extensive sections on butterflies (the most substantial part of the collection), beetles, hymenoptera, cave insects, and those from North Africa.

For entomologists, the collection is an essential tool for work. It is indispensable for the accurate identification of species (the number of insects is enormous and constitutes at least three-quarters of all animal species), as well as serving as a formidable database on the biodiversity of a region and its changes over time.

The preparation and preservation of entomological materials require time and expertise. In recent years, while traditional methods remain valid, the "structure" of entomological collections is undergoing rapid transformations thanks to the development of digital images and molecular technologies.