Sections

Part of the work I do at the Natural History Museum involves the preparation for construction of taxonomic database on Coreidae, a family of ‘true bugs’ (Hemiptera) known colloquially as squash bugs or leaf-footed bugs. One aim of the database is to include photographs of as many important museum (type) specimens as possible, allowing researchers to view the specimens without having to travel to the museum or request to have the specimens sent through the post.

The Swedish Natural History Museum, Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, holds a number of these type specimens. As I was already going to be in Stockholm, my supervisor and I thought it would be good to visit the museum.

The entrance to the Swedish Natural History Museum, Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet.

The curators in the entomology department were very welcoming and helpful, answering many questions and allowing me to study some of their Hemiptera. Hopefully I will get to visit for longer this summer and photograph more of their specimens.

One of the photographed Coreidae, Bostrostethus annulipes © Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet

I have taken a short break in Stockholm so my updates will be a little irregular, hence the lack of an update on Saturday. Today I have access to a more reasonably priced internet connection, ~£2/24 hours, instead of ~£15/24 hours!

I will be visiting the Naturhistoriska riksmuseet (Stockholm Natural History Museum) tomorrow and will try and write some insect-related goodness.

For now you will have to enjoy a view of the city.

View of Södermalm, Stockholm