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The entomology division of the Department of National Museums maintains a collection of over 95000 dry mounted insect specimens in storage cabinets and over 5000 wet preserved insect specimens in alcohol.
The dry mounted collection includes Lepidopterans (butterflies & moths),
Coleopterans (beetles), Dipterans (mosquitoes & flies), Homopterans (leafhoppers &
Planthoppers), Orthopterans ( grasshoppers,locusts& crickets), Dermapterans
(earwigs),Neuroptera (antlions),Odonata (dragonflies & damselflies).The wet
preserved collection consists of Hymenopterans(ants, bees & wasps), Hemipterans (
plant bugs), Isopterans(termites) and several spider species found in Sri Lanka. These
insects were collected from throughout the Island covering all the ecosystems.
Museum gallery on insects in natural history Museum in Colombo, comprising all type of common insect species in Sri Lanka, which representing economically and ecologically important groups.
The collaborative project with the Smithsonian institution, Washington.D.C., U.S.A. (1969-1981) on insect fauna of Sri Lanka is one of the major projects and the collection of this project was also deposited in the division.
This division has done very important research on biological controlling of coconut leaf
miner beetle Promocithica cumingi in 1972 and it helped to save the coconut plantation of
Sri Lanka. As a national service in 1992 this division involved to identify the Rover
beetle which caused the disease" Peaderus Dermatites" on medical staff & patients in a
suburban hospitals.
The Entomology section provided attract full exhibits for the mobile museum, school science museums in different districts and periodical temporary exhibitions. We have catered a large number of local and foreign researchers, scholars, students of universities, schools and officers from other various institutions by providing information, identification of the specimens, assisting on their projects and educating by means of lectures and exhibitions since early nineties.
The staff of the Entomology division will provide support and direction for identification of insects and other subject related matters on request. |
The Botany Section of the Department of National Museums keeps a collection of
botanical specimens comprise of over 1500 dried plant material and a small wet
preserved collection.
The dried plant collection or the herbarium collection includes angiosperms (flowering
plants),gymnosperms, pteridophytes (ferns), bryophytes(mosses and liverworts)and
several fungi species found in Sri Lanka. Plants were collected from natural forest i.e.
lowland rain forests ,mountain forests, dry mixed evergreen forests etc. covering
majority of the existing natural ecosystems. Priority has given to endemic , rare and
endangered species during collection. Collected specimens were properly documented
,conserved and mounted on herbarium sheets. All herbarium sheets were labeled with
necessary details of respective plant. The herbarium collection is arranged systematically
making specimens available for research and consultation. Detailed database is
preparing for this collection including digital images.
The Botany section holds an extremely important collection of 2903 accurate, botanical
illustrations drawn by Harmanis de Aliwis and his descendents, which are available only
for the use of researchers.
Research activities are carried out in the field of Botany giving priority to the plant
taxonomy.
Museum galleries on applied botany and natural eco systems are maintained and
periodically updated by the Botany section. Two temporary exhibitions are available
here on Poisonous Plants and Mangrove Plants. These can be obtained for educational
purposes by a prior approval of the Director/Museums.
The staff of the Botany section will provide support and guidance for preparation of
herbarium collection and other subject related matters on request.
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