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Invertebrata Collection

"Invertebrata: A Fascinating World of Wonders" Step into the mesmerizing realm of invertebrates, where an array of extraordinary creatures awaits

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Ornithoptera alexandrae, Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfly

Ornithoptera alexandrae, Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfly
A mounted specimen of Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfly from Papua New Guinea. Male specimen measuring 188 mm across wingtips. See 14964 for the female which is larger

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Giant octopus

Giant octopus
Plate 26 from Histoire naturelle des Mollusques by Count Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon, 1805

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Entomology Specimens

Entomology Specimens
A specimen tray from the Natural History Museums Entomology Department showing the diversity of insects in terms of shape, size and colours

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Chrysina limbata, silver chafer beetle

Chrysina limbata, silver chafer beetle
Silver chafer beetle specimen. The beetles have a base pigment covered by several colourless microscopically thin layers called laminae

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Beetles

Beetles
Double page spread of pencil and watercolour illustrations and sketches of beetles by Henry Walter Bates

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Morpho cypris, blue morpho butterfly

Morpho cypris, blue morpho butterfly
Butterfly from Central America. South America. Specimen on display at the Natural History Museum at Tring, part of the Natural History Museum, London

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Phoebis sennae, cloudless sulphur butterfly

Phoebis sennae, cloudless sulphur butterfly
Photograph of a mounted specimen of cloudless sulphur. Male. Species occurs on the Galapagos Islands

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Xanthopan morganii praedicta, sphinx moth

Xanthopan morganii praedicta, sphinx moth
Darwins sphinx moth, found in Madagascar. The species as a whole is known as Morgans sphinx

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Plate 17 from Libellulinae Europaeae by de Charpentier

Plate 17 from Libellulinae Europaeae by de Charpentier
Illustration of dragonflies. Plate 17 from Libellulinae Europaeae illustrated and described by Toussint de Charpentier, 1840

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Extinct marine reptiles

Extinct marine reptiles
Sheet 1 of a series of posters called Extinct Animals by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins c. 1862. This collection of marine reptiles lived during the Jurassic period between 200

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Asteroceras, fossil ammonite

Asteroceras, fossil ammonite
A 16 cm diameter specimen of the Jurassic ammonite Asteroceras from the Lower Jurassic of Dorset, England

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Ophrys apifera, bee orchid

Ophrys apifera, bee orchid
Watercolour by Arthur Harry Church, 17 June 1913

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Ocypus olens, devils coach horse beetle model

Ocypus olens, devils coach horse beetle model
A large scale model of the devils coach horse beetle (Ocypus olens). A beetle that is commonly found beneath logs. Held within the Natural History Museum, London

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Schistosoma spp. blood flukes

Schistosoma spp. blood flukes
Blood flukes mating. These parasites are found in man and other mammals. Snails are the intermediate hosts

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Mosquito in Dominican amber

Mosquito in Dominican amber
A mosquito in trapped and preserved in Dominican amber. Lower Miocene about 20 million years old. Image from Amber The Natural Time Capsule. Figure 90

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Cladognathus sp. stag beetle

Cladognathus sp. stag beetle
A specimen of a large stag beetle from Asia. Stag beetles belong to the family (Lucanidae). Only male stag beetles have horns or antlers

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: H. W. Bates illustrated notebooks

H. W. Bates illustrated notebooks
Plate 7 from a notebook of Henry W. Bates (1825-92) relating to the insect fauna of the Amazon Valley or DRW, 1851-1854

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Cimex lectularius, bed bug

Cimex lectularius, bed bug
Scanning electron microscope image of a bed bug (x 17). The sucking mouthparts enable the feeding bedbugs to pierce the hosts tissues and siphon out a blood meal

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Longhorn beetle

Longhorn beetle

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Schistocerca gregaria, desert locust

Schistocerca gregaria, desert locust
A desert locust perching on a branch. Locusts sometimes swarm to form groups of up to 80 million and can migrate over large distances

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Heteropoda venatoria, huntsman spider

Heteropoda venatoria, huntsman spider
This a large brown spider with a flattened body structure and a leg span of between 7 and 12 cm. These spiders hunt at night, and mainly prey upon cockroaches

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Octopus

Octopus
Watercolour 401 by the Port Jackson Painter, from the Watling Collection

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Pharmacophagus antenor, giant swallowtail

Pharmacophagus antenor, giant swallowtail
Giant swallowtail butterfly and the common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae). Plate 15 from Insects of India by Edward Donovan (1768-1837)

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Entomological specimens of Lepidoptera

Entomological specimens of Lepidoptera
Unidentified photograph of mounted specimens of butterflies and moths

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Janthina violacea, violet snail

Janthina violacea, violet snail
Watercolour 398 by Thomas Watling, entitled Boala, from the Watling Collection

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Sabatia bartramii, savannah pink & Eacles imperialis, imperi

Sabatia bartramii, savannah pink & Eacles imperialis, imperi
Drawing 11 (Ewan 38) from the Botanical and zoological drawings (1756-1788) by William Bartram. Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Butterflies from the Amazon by H. W. Bates

Butterflies from the Amazon by H. W. Bates
A page (p 144) from a notebook of Henry W. Bates relating to the insect fauna of the Amazon Valley or DRW, 1851-1854

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Leaf-cutter ants carrying pieces of leaf

Leaf-cutter ants carrying pieces of leaf
Leaf-cutter ants transporting neatly extracted pieces of leaf. These ants derive from the rainforests of Central and South America

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Discosphaera tubifera, coccolithophore

Discosphaera tubifera, coccolithophore
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showing the unicellular planktonic algae Discosphaera tubifera from the North Atlantic surrounded by a sphere of calcite plates - coccoliths

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Beetle illustrations

Beetle illustrations
Double page spread of pencil and watercolour illustrations of beetles by Henry Walter Bates

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Coloured sketches of insects

Coloured sketches of insects on Page 35 from Bates notebook 1. Bates was a renowned Victorian entomologist

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Nematode worm

Nematode worm
This nematode worm specimen has an unsegmented, cylindrical body and is also known as a roundworm

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Dragonflies and damselflies

Dragonflies and damselflies from Collection of Drawings by Dutch Artists, 17th-19th centuries. Held in the Entomology Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Gromphadorhina portentosa, hissing cockroach

Gromphadorhina portentosa, hissing cockroach
A pair of hissing cockroaches also known as the Madagascan hissing cockroach. This species of roach is chocolate brown with no wings

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Entomological specimens of Lepidoptera

Entomological specimens of Lepidoptera
Unidentified photograph of mounted specimens of butterflies and moths

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Simulium damnosum, Simulian blackfly

Simulium damnosum, Simulian blackfly
Scanning electron microscope image of the head showing the compound eye (x 130). The fly is a vector of a parasite which causes River Blindness. Coloured artifically by computer

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Flea illustration

Flea illustration
Page 201 from Micrographia or some Physiological description of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses (1665) by Robert Hooke

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Snail teeth

Snail teeth

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Ornithoptera alexandrae, Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfl

Ornithoptera alexandrae, Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfl
Digital image of the upperside of a mounted specimen of a Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfly from the family Papilionidae

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Partial fossil remains of the giant millepede, Arthropleura

Partial fossil remains of the giant millepede, Arthropleura
Measuring 7.1 cm long, this Carboniferous fossil represents only part of a leg of the giant millepede Arthropleura

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: 20th Century Art: Weevil (Rhopalomesites tardyi), 1998 by Ma

20th Century Art: Weevil (Rhopalomesites tardyi), 1998 by Ma
Watercolour. Russell is an example of a scientist turned artist. Trained initially as an entomologist his combined love of beetles and art resulted in a series of exceptional drawings of weevils

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Morpho rhetenor, blue morpho butterfly

Morpho rhetenor, blue morpho butterfly
Illustrative plate of a blue morpho butterfly from Insects of China by Edward Donovan (1768-1837)

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Sir Joseph Banks herbarium and library at Soho Square

Sir Joseph Banks herbarium and library at Soho Square
Sir Joseph Banks herbarium and part library in his house at 32 Soho Square, London. It remained there until 1827 when it was moved to the British Museum at Montagu House

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Eurypterus, a fossil eurypterid

Eurypterus, a fossil eurypterid
The paddles used for swimming are very conspicuous in the Silurian eurypterid Eurypterus from New York State. This individual measures 12 cm in length

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Pieridae sp. clouded yellow butterflies

Pieridae sp. clouded yellow butterflies
Original drawing for a plate in A field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Europe. Artwork by Brian Hargreaves. This picture must not be used without permission from Brian Hargreaves

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Scolopendra gigantea, giant centipede

Scolopendra gigantea, giant centipede
A giant centipede which was brought into the Museums Insect Identification service after being found in a living room in London. The specimen is venomous and not native to the UK

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Dressed Fleas

Dressed Fleas
Dressed fleas on display at the Natural History Museum in Tring

Background imageInvertebrata Collection: Sarcoptes scabiei, scabies mite

Sarcoptes scabiei, scabies mite
Scanning electron microscope image of an itch or scabies mite, a parasite that infests a wide variety of mammalian hosts including humans



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"Invertebrata: A Fascinating World of Wonders" Step into the mesmerizing realm of invertebrates, where an array of extraordinary creatures awaits. From the resplendent Ornithoptera alexandrae, also known as Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterfly, to the captivating Chrysina limbata silver chafer beetle, this diverse group never fails to amaze. Delve into the world of entomology specimens and witness their intricate beauty up close. Marvel at the delicate wingspan of a cloudless sulphur butterfly, Phoebis sennae, or explore Plate 17 from Libellulinae Europaeae by de Charpentier and discover a stunning variety of European dragonflies. Venture beneath the waves and encounter an ancient giant - the magnificent octopus. Its intelligence and adaptability are awe-inspiring as it gracefully navigates its watery domain. Travel back in time through fossil records and uncover extinct marine reptiles that once ruled prehistoric oceans. Admire Asteroceras, a fossil ammonite with its perfectly preserved spiral shell that tells tales from millions of years ago. Nature's artistry takes center stage with Ophrys apifera, commonly known as bee orchid. This remarkable flower mimics bees so convincingly that it attracts pollinators effortlessly. Witness nature's coevolutionary dance between Xanthopan morganii praedicta sphinx moth and Angraecum sesquipedale orchid – their symbiotic relationship is nothing short of astonishing. Meet Ocypus olens, better known as devil's coach horse beetle model; its fierce appearance belies its role in maintaining ecological balance by devouring decaying matter. Observe leaf-cutter ants diligently carrying pieces of foliage several times their size – these tiny architects demonstrate incredible teamwork while building their elaborate underground colonies. Invertebrata encompasses a vast tapestry of life, each thread woven with intricate adaptations and captivating stories.