Introduction
The development and maintenance of this virtual collection are part of the research activities carried out at Landcare Research (Auckland, New Zealand) that aim to inventory and document New Zealand's Hemiptera, and to deliver the resulting biodiversity information to the widest range of end-users in the most effective way.
This electronic publication provides virtual access to the primary type specimens of Hemiptera, excluding Sternorrhycha (scale insects, aphids and allies), described from New Zealand as of 2004 (Heteroptera) and 2010 (Auchenorrhyncha).
Current coverage includes 327 Heteroptera and Auchenorrhyncha taxa (or 65% of native New Zealand species) for which primary types and primary type labels have been deposited in New Zealand museums and collections (see list below).
The primary type images presented here have been published by Larivière & Larochelle (2004: Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera): catalogue. Fauna of New Zealand 50: 330 p.; 191 primary types) and by Larivière, Fletcher & Larochelle (2010: Auchenorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera) catalogue. Fauna of New Zealand 63: 232 p.; 136 primary types).
| AMNZ | Auckland Institute and War Memorial Museum, Auckland |
| CMNZ | Canterbury Museum, Christchurch |
| MONZ | Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington |
| NZAC | New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, Auckland |
For each family valid species names (italics) are listed alphabetically followed by original combinations (plain text) when appropriate. Digital images of type specimens and images of associated labels are provided. Scale bars are 1 mm in length unless indicated otherwise.
A bibliography of papers containing the original descriptions of all taxa represented in the virtual collection, is also provided.
The publication of this type of information, electronically or through paper-based publications, fulfils recommendation 72G (4) of the International Code on Zoological Nomenclature, which states: 'Every institution in which name-bearing types are deposited should publish lists of name-bearing types in its possession or custody'.
The Curators of New Zealand museums and collections are to be commended for their efforts to fulfil this important recommendation as they have themselves written or otherwise encouraged such publications (see Papers on types from New Zealand). These papers generally cover all Hemiptera groups as well as other insect orders. They also include references to original descriptions and, sometimes, more detailed information about type localities.
In 2002, the lauch of the present virtual collection represented the first New Zealand attempt to provide online interactive access to type specimens of insects. It has been prepared with the needs of specialists and non-specialists in mind. Very few identification tools are currently available from the literature, and it is thought that the digital images of type specimens presented here may assist identification, at least at the generic level.