Diptera Collection

The collection is particularly strong in crane flies (Limoniidae and Tipulidae, coll. of C.P. Alexander), mosquitoes (Culicidae, collections of J.N. Belkin, J.P. Duret, L.E. Rozeboom, SEL dipterist A. Stone, WRBU dipterists), biting midges (Ceratopogonidae, SEL dipterist W.W. Wirth), and gall midges (Cecidomyiidae, SEL dipterist R.J. Gagné).

The crane-fly collection is unsurpassed by any in the world and includes the C.P. Alexander Collection, probably the greatest private collection of flies ever made. More than 11,000 of the 14,000 known species of crane flies are represented in this collection by type specimens, 8,000 of which are holotypes.

The Culicidae collection has long supported world class mosquito research. In the early 1900's pioneering work was done on the collection and culminated in a four volume publication of The Mosquitoes of North and Central America and the West Indies (1912–17) now available on the Biodiversity Heritage Library. The collection was built into the finest in the world by the Walter Reed Biosystematic Unit (WRBU), of the United States Department of Defense, and its predecessors.

In 1964 the Smithsonian contracted with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command to study the mosquitoes of Southeast Asia. This was continued until 1974 when a new contract was initiated for the Medical Entomology Project. The Mosquito Collection counts more than 760,000 pinned adult specimens, 350,000 slides, and includes some 1,500 primary type specimens.

The brachycerous Diptera are best represented by four families: soldier flies (Stratiomyidae), bee flies (Bombyliidae), assassin flies or robber flies (Asilidae), and dance flies (Empididae). The R. H. Painter Collection of Nearctic bee flies is particularly rich in material from the south-western U.S.A. and Mexico. The S. W. Bromley Collection of assassin flies along with that of A. E. Pritchard makes the USNM holdings of these predaceous flies outstanding. A. L. Melander was  a world specialist on Empididae and his collection brought to the USNM one of the most extensive collections of these flies in existence. The long career of N. E. Woodley working on Stratiomyidae developed this collection to one of the best. The collection of flower flies or hover flies (Syrphidae) is also among the largest and most diverse in the world due largely to the efforts of F. C. Thompson.

Of the cyclorrhaphous Diptera, the acalyptrate families are all well represented. Due to the strong and continuing interest of the USDA SEL in fruit flies (Tephritidae), eye gnats (Chloropidae), snail-killing flies (Sciomyzidae), and leaf-mining flies (Agromyzidae), the USNM holdings of these flies are extensive. The shore flies (Ephydridae) and surf flies (Canacidae) also deserve particular note for the strong cosmopolitan collections built by W. W. Wirth, G.C. Steyskal, and W. N. Mathis. The collection of flower flies (Syrphidae) is also among the largest and most diverse in the world due largely to the efforts of F. C. Thompson.

Holdings of Tachinidae, Sarcophagidae, and Calliphoridae stand out among the calyptrate flies, although most of the families of this group are well represented. Many leading New World specialists on tachinid flies have worked with and left their collections to the USNM. This series of specialists began with D. W. Coquillett, who first monographed the Nearctic tachinids in 1897, and continued with C. H. T. Townsend, J. M. Aldrich, C. W. Sabrosky and now with N. E. Woodley. Many other tachinid workers have augmented the collection by adding their types to it. The USDA SEL purchase of the N. Baranov Collection in 1960 added much tachinid and sarcophagid material from the Old World. Thus the USNM collection of Tachinidae is unusually valuable. The collections of Sarcophagidae and Calliphoridae are also exemplary due to the contributions of such specialists as J. M. Aldrich, D. G. Hall, H. W. Allen, and H. de Souza Lopes.

The number of scientific positions associated with the USNM Diptera collection has declined over the years from a high of 10 scientists in the 1970’s and 1980’s to the current four.

Below is a listing of dipterists employed by the Smithsonian Institution, the USDA Systematic Entomology Lab, the USDA National Identification Service, and the Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (DOD) at the USNM.  In bold italics are the current dipterists on staff.

Smithsonian Institution

• John M. Aldrich (lived 1866–1934, active 1919–1934)
• Wayne N. Mathis (1945–, 1976–2011, emeritus)
• Torsten Dikow (1975–, 2012–present)

USDA Systematic Entomology Lab

• Charles H. T. Townsend (lived 1863–1944, active 1911–1919)
• John R. Malloch (1875–1963, 1912–1913)
• Raymond C. Shannon (1894–1945, 1912–1916)
• Charles T. Greene (1879–1958, 1919–1949)
• David G. Hall (1903–1986, 1935–1945)
• Alan Stone (1904–1999, 1931–1971)
• Curtis W. Sabrosky (1910–1997, 1946–1980)
• Willis W. Wirth (1916–1994, 1949–1984)
• Richard H. Foote (1918–2002, 1953–1983)
• Lloyd V. Knutson (1934–2017, 1968–1973)
• George C. Steyskal (1909–1996, 1962–1979)
• Raymond J. Gagné (1935–, 1965–1996, research associate)
• F. Christian Thompson (1944–2021, 1974–2008)
• Norman E. Woodley (1954–, 1983–2016)
• Allen L. Norrbom (1957–, 1985–present)

USDA National Identification Service

• Jung-Woog Kim (1968–, 2017–present)

Walter Reed Biosystematic Unit

• Yiau-Min Huang (lived 1938–, 1967–1989)
• Richard Wilkerson (1946–, 1985–2010)
• Ralph Harbach (????–, 1980–1992)
• Bruce Harrison (????–, 1972–1988)
• Sunthorn Sirivanakarn (????–????, 1968–1982)
• Yvonne-Marie Linton (????–, 2011–present)
• El Peyton (????–1999, 1967–1999)
• Leopold (Pollie) Rueda (1953–, 1996–2015)

Several large acquisitions or purchases have greatly expanded coverage and added a considerable number of specimens.  These include:

• the C.P. Alexander Collection crane fly collection (Limoniidae and Tipulidae), probably the greatest private collection of flies ever made. More than 11,000 of the 14,000 known species of crane flies are represented in this collection by type specimens, 8,000 of which are holotypes.  The donation of 1,600,000 specimens was made in 1981.
• P.H. Arnaud, Jr.: 700,000, tachinid flies, donated in 2000;
• A.L. Melander: a world specialist on Empididae, his collection brought to the USNM one of the most extensive collections of these flies in existence. (250,000 specimens, donated in 1961); 
• J.N. Belkin: 200,000 mosquitoes (Culicidae) donated in 1980;
• S.W. Bromley: 35,000 assassin flies (Asilidae) donated in 1955;
• A.E. Pritchard: 27,000 assassin flies donated in 1962);
• J.P. Duret: 14,000 mosquitoes (Culicidae) donated in 1990), and
• L.E. Rozeboom: 12,000 mosquitoes (Culicidae) donated in 1998.

In addition, many leading New World specialists have worked with and left their collections to the USNM, adding considerably to the department's inventory. Highlights here include:

• tachinid flies (Tachinidae) collected by specialists D.W. Coquillett, C.H.T. Townsend, C.W. Sabrosky, and N.E. Woodley, all USDA dipterists;
• flower flies (Syrphidae) collected by SEL dipterist F.C. Thompson;
• fruit flies (Tephritidae) collected by SEL dipterist A.L Norrbom;
• assassin flies (Asilidae) collected by Smithsonian dipterist T. Dikow;
• snail-killing flies (Sciomyzidae) collected by SEL dipterist G.C. Steyskal;
• surf flies and shore flies (Canacidae and Ephydridae) collected by SEL dipterist W.W. Wirth, and Smithsonian dipterist W.N. Mathis;
• gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) collected by SEL dipterist R.J. Gagné;
• mosquitoes (Culicidae) collected by WRBU dipterist A. Stone.

The study of North American Diptera is generally considered to have started with the arrival in 1865 of Carl Robert Osten Sacken, a Russian diplomat. The Smithsonian Institution played a prominent part in this early development by publishing the first 4 parts of a monograph of the North American Diptera (the only one published) as well as the first 3 catalogs of the fauna. When Osten Sacken returned to Europe, he gave his superb Diptera collection to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, Massachusetts. His departure left a void that was not filled until years later when personnel of the Division of Entomology, USDA, began their investigations of Diptera.

The USDA provided the nucleus of the USNM fly collections; in 1885 it purchased the initial Diptera collection, the Burgess Collection, and in 1886 employed the first dipterist, Samuel Wendell Williston, to study these collections. When Williston later left his collection of Syrphidae to the USNM, the first Diptera type specimens came into the collection.

As USDA programs expanded, D. W. Coquillett (1856-1911) took charge of the Diptera investigations and was made a Smithsonian Honorary Custodian. Since Coquillett (who donated his valuable collection of western Diptera through the USDA in 1894), there has been a continuous succession of USDA dipterists who have brought not only their expertise to the USNM but also their libraries and collections: C. H. T. Townsend, (1911-19), R. C. Shannon (1912-16), J. R. Malloch (1912-13), C. T. Greene (1919-49), D. G. Hall (1935-45), A. Stone (1931-71) and W. W. Wirth who is especially notable for collecting and donating some 150,000 specimens.

The first and only dipterist employed by the Smithsonian Institution was John Merton Aldrich, who had been previously employed by the USDA. When Aldrich was appointed by the Smithsonian in 1919, he was truly the master of the North American Diptera fauna, having written a catalog of it (1905). As such, his eminence made the USNM the center for studies on New World Diptera. In 1923 Aldrich turned over his insect collection and card catalog file to the museum; his great library and author cards did not join his other collections until 1953 when they came with the Melander library and collection. J. R. Malloch, another prominent dipterist, was associated with the USNM mainly through his employment with the Biological Survey of the USDA (1921-38). The Smithsonian purchased his personal collection. His library later came as part of the Melander collection.

Raymond Corbett Shannon (1894-1945) was associated with the USDA Bureau of Entomology at the start of his career, but spent most of his life with the Rockefeller Foundation in many parts of the world. However, he never forgot his earlier ties with the Museum and left most of his library and collection to the Smithsonian. Shannon's collection is particularly noteworthy, being especially rich in Neotropical and Chilean material. Shannon and F. W. Edwards of the British Museum (Natural History) made a joint expedition to Patagonia and southern Chile in 1926, which resulted in a monograph of the flies of that region.

The most important general Diptera collections in the USNM are those turned over by the USDA and its scientists: those by J. M. Aldrich and R. C. Shannon, and those purchased from John R. Malloch(1875-1963) and Axel L. Melander. With the exception of Melander, all these dipterists were associated with the USNM as noted above. 

Axel Leonard Melander (1878-1962) was a general dipterist and a specialist on Empididae. His collection and library were acquired for the USNM jointly by the Smithsonian, USDA, and the National Institutes of Health. The collection contained numerous types and about a quarter of a million specimens; and the Melander Diptera library, which incorporated that of Aldrich, was one of the finest in existence.

Among the nematocerous Diptera, 4 groups are particularly well represented at the USNM; the crane flies, mosquitoes, biting midges, and gall midges. The crane fly collection is unsurpassed by any in the world, as the Smithsonian acquired the Charles P. Alexander Collection: probably the greatest private collection of flies ever made. More than 11,000 of the 14,000 known species of crane flies are represented by types (including some 8,000+ holotypes). Since 1965 the gall midge (Cecidomyiidae) collection has been significantly improved with the addition of new material from all parts of the world, including examples of plant damage. 

The Ephraim Porter Felt Collection, containing types of about 1,000 species, is on indefinite loan to the Systematic Entomology Laboratory from the New York State Museum in Albany.

Willis W. Wirth (1916-1994) built the collection of biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) from an insignificant one to the largest in the world, now containing more than a quarter of a million slides. There is also much reared associated material. The ceratopogonid collection's coverage is world-wide, with strong representation for the New World and the Oriental and Australian regions.

The mosquitoes (Culcidae) have received considerable interest from the early 1900's when Leland O. Howard (1857-1950) served as Honorary Curator. Pioneering work done on the collection by Howard, Harrison G. Dyar (1866-1929), and Frederick Knab (1865-1918) (all USDA employees), culminated in the publication of "The Mosquitoes of North and Central America and the West Indies," 4 volumes (1912-17). However, it was not until 1931 that a USDA dipterist, Alan Stone (1904-1999), was able to devote a significant portion of his time to this family. Largely through his efforts, the USNM became known as a center for mosquito studies throughout the world.

Aside from the early Dyar and C. S. Ludlow collections which were present when Stone arrived, significant collections were received from R. C. Shannon, W. V. King, H. Hoogstraal, K. L. Knight, J. L. Laffoon, L. E. Rozeboom, and D. C. and E. B. Thurman during the 40 years that Stone curated the Culicidae collection.

In 1964, under the auspices of a Smithsonian contract with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, a definitive study was begun on the mosquitoes of Southeast Asia. This was continued until 1974 when a new contract was initiated for the Medical Entomology Project. From 1964 to date, these 2 projects have accessioned more than 250,000 specimens and have described 100 new species of mosquitoes. When this material is formally accessioned by the USNM, the combined holdings will total more than 300,000 specimens with 1,200 primary types. 

The brachycerous Diptera are best represented by 3 families: The Bombyliidae, Asilidae, and Empididae. The USDA purchased the Reginald H. Painter Collection of Bombyliidae and placed it in the USNM. Painter (1901-1968) was a specialist on these flies and amassed an excellent collection of Nearctic bee flies which is particularly rich in material from the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.

The USDA also purchased the Stanley W. Bromley (1899-1954) Collection of robber flies for the USNM. This collection along with that of Arthur E. Pritchard (1915-1965) makes the USNM holdings of these predaceous flies outstanding.

Of the cyclorrhaphous Diptera, the acalyptrate families are all well represented. Much significant acalyptrate material was acquired with the collections of A. H. Sturtevant, G. C. Steyskal, and A. L. Melander.

The strong and continuing interest of the USDA in fruit flies (Tephritidae), as represented by the work of A. Stone, R. H. Foote, G. C. Steyskal and Allen Norrbom, has made the USNM holding of these flies one of the finest.

The Sciomyzidae, snail-killing flies, are likewise well represented. USDA work on the biology and taxonomy of Sciomyzidae and their application to biological control, has greatly expanded the collection's representation. The Ephydridae of shore flies, also deserve particular note for the strong cosmopolitan collection built by W. W. Wirth and expanded by Wayne N. Mathis. 

Holdings of Tachinidae, Sarcophagidae, and Calliphoridae stand out among the calyptrate flies, although most of the families of this group are well represented. Most of the leading New World specialists on tachinid flies have worked with and left their collections to the USNM. This series of specialists began with D. W. Coquillett, who first monographed the Nearctic tachinids in 1897, and continued with C. H. T. Townsend, J. M. Aldrich, C. W. Sabrosky and now with N. E. Woodley. Many other tachinid workers have augmented the collection by adding their types to it. The USDA purchase of the N. Baranov Collection in 1960 added much tachinid and sarcophagid material from the Old World. Thus the USNM collection of Tachinidae is unusually valuable. The collections of Sarcophagidae and Calliphoridae are also exemplary due to the contributions of such specialists as J. M. Aldrich, D. G. Hall, H. W. Allen, and H. de Souza Lopes. 

• Torsten Dikow: DikowT@si.edu
  Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

• Allen Norrbom: Allen.Norrbom@usda.gov
  USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

• Jung-Woog Kim: Jung.W.Kim@usda.gov

• Yvonne-Marie Linton: LintonY@si.edu
  Mosquitoes and other biting flies (Walter Reed Biosystematic Unit)

The following families are part of the Off-site Collection Enhancement Program and are not housed at the NMNH:

• Bombyliidae and Mythicomyiidae at B.P.Bishop Museum (Neal Evenhuis),
• Pipunculidae at the Canadian National Collection (Jeff Skevington), and
• Celyphidae, Chamaemyiidae, and Lauxaniidae at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (Steve Gaimari).

If you are interested in specimens of these taxa, please contact the appropriate dipterist listed above.

List of Diptera Families and Associated Contact Person