About Us
About Us
The Central Victorian Regional Insect Collection was established around 1970 by biology students from La Trobe University in Bendigo and totals around 20,000 specimens.
The majority of specimens were sampled during environmental
assessment projects throughout central Victoria with many specimens
being new and undescribed to science. Due to redevelopment and planned
demolition of the Applied Science buildings in 2021, this unique and
valuable collection was due to be discarded. Its scientific value was
far too great to allow this to occur. Fortunately, this unique
collection was saved and relocated to its new location and is currently
undergoing curation and development.
What makes the C.V.R.I.C
Collection so valuable is that it now represents the only specific
collection of the entomological fauna for the region in existance. The
only other collection that existed was the former Insectarium of
Victoria Collection which was sadly lost due to neglect by its new
owners.
In order to catalogue and database the C.V.R.I.C collection, and to utilize its full potential in future climatic change studies, all specimens are being digitized and cataloged. Once completed, the C.V.R.I.C Collections will help make a positive contribution in addressing climate change and monitoring species decline as well as making a major contribution towards the understanding and conservation of the insect fauna of the entire central Victorian region.