Curatorial status and quantitative evaluation of an entomological collection: planthoppers (Hemiptera, Fulgoroidea) of the Museo de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to evaluate quantitatively the degree of completeness of information associated with an entomological collection stored in an institutional repository. Design/methodology/approach – The General Collection (non-nomenclatural type specimens) of the superfamily Fulgoroidea, or planthoppers, of the Museo de La Plata was analyzed on a per-individual basis. Data were extracted from labels attached to insect pins and recorded in spreadsheets. Curatorial indexes [geographic representativeness (GR), taxonomic identification (TI), data completeness (DC), biological associations (Ba) and historical record (HR)] were computed for all families represented in the collection. Findings – A total of 16 families integrate the planthopper collection, encompassing 3,417 individuals from 99 species. The family Meenoplidae is first recorded for the Neotropical region. The GR allowed to identify the provinces of Argentina that deserve a more intense search for planthopper species. TI had an overall value of 65% for the species level, a moderate but acceptable degree given the diversity inherent to the collection. Delphacidae was the group with the highest coverage, mainly because this family includes important vectors of plant pathogens. Around 78% of the Fulgoroidea held in entomological boxes have information contained on labels, thus reflecting the extent of associated knowledge about family, genus, species, country, province, locality, date, collector and recorded host plants for the group. It was observed a low value of the index showing BAs of insects, constituting a major shortfall of the General Collection. Curves of HRs evidenced an enrichment of individuals in some families during the past two decades, which can be attributed to an increase in field samples needed to fulfill the goals of research projects developed in Argentina. Originality/value – Very few evaluations of insect repositories were performed using numerical data gathered from per-individual records. Researchers interested in the “health” of the Museo de La Plata collection can have a complete depiction of its qualitative and quantitative strengths and weaknesses. The method, in turn, allows for comparisons to be made with other collections.