The museum was established in 1999, and the samples collected are mainly related to the national project "Iran Insect Logs and Rangelands" or other research projects. So far, more than 30,000 samples from different insect orders collected from the forest and rangelands of the country are being maintained at the museum, some of which have been identified by both domestic and foreign researchers.
The goals:
The main objective of the establishment of the arthropod museum of natural resources of the country is the recognition of biodiversity in the forest and rangeland areas of the country in order to support the use of insects and identify pest infestations for use in related projects and promote the level of knowledge and information and provide research fields in Natural science. The Museum of Endangered Natural Resources of the country aims at collecting, identifying and ecological and biological studies on various arthropods, and attempts to identify species in order to preserve and maintain useful species and identify pest species. The Arthropod Museum of Natural Resources is the first comprehensive and educational museum and is one of the richest museums in the country due to the diversity and complexity of examples of forests and pastures that can serve as a reference museum in the natural resources of the country. In recent years, the museum has been instrumental in contributing to natural resource research.
In Iran, a reference collection has not yet been established in relation to forest and pasture arthropods. The museum is capable of cooperating with similar institutions abroad and by maintaining rare and valuable samples in the reference collection and the exact naming of specimens, it has a special place in global knowledge and has a share in this field. Given the fact that in making this collection of no efforts as short as possible, we can venture to say that the museum in terms of variety of samples and comprehensiveness in the field of natural resources and its special educational and scientific attention at various levels of education, in Iran is unique and has certain characteristics. Therefore, the optimal and desirable protection and protection of this national wealth and the natural resource of the country should always be considered by the relevant authorities.
Among other goals, the establishment of a communication platform and more and more effective partners of the museum, with other museums of research centers both at home and abroad about scientific exchanges and sample exchanges, holding several student workshops for students to learn about pests and pathogens In the forests and pastures of the country and other sources of information, facilitating the use of the expertise of the scientific staff of universities and research institutes, expanding communication with various scholars around the world, and scientific trips and publication of articles in common among other goals of this section.
The Programs:
The collection, identification, collection and distribution of insect fauna with scientific, economic, environmental, educational, executive, management and social functions in the national and international dimensions are as follows:
- Scientific-research functions
Insect collecting samples are scientific documents that are used to identify, identify, compile and compile insect fauna monographs based on vegetation, insect taxon, geographical area (provincial, national and international), ecological area. In addition, ecological information such as host plants, geographic distribution, time of their presence in nature can be extracted from the labels of these specimens. In many countries, the vast majority of insect fauna have been identified and the insect phallus series has been published in the form of a collection of books. Despite the ancient history of insecticides in Iran and despite the fact that the country has experienced and expert entomologists, there has not yet been a coherent effort in the database of insects in the country. Therefore, it is imperative that the insect collection of the country be prepared as a national document.
- Educational work
Insect specimens in display galleries play an important role in the educational programs of students and visitors interested in these exhibitions. Visiting an interested and talented person may open the door to him and turn him into an interested specialist. Insect samples that are kept in scientific collections are valuable scientific resources that can be used to conduct research projects of domestic and international researchers and graduate students. These collections can also be effective in educating the learners of nature schools, from different sections of the population and with the participation of the popular groups, in promoting the knowledge of natural resources and in the direction of sustainable development of the country.
- International functions and scientific exchanges
Insect specimens in the collections of insects are the most important biological materials and taxonomic resources. A time taxonomist can report a new species from a region or describe for the first time the world of science that is well-known for all the species described in Taxonomy and also has access to the relevant collection. In cases where sample species are not available, they will complete their surveys by borrowing samples from the museums who have these samples or by direct reference to these museums. Therefore, designing, completing and equipping collections should be considered as an instrument for the exchange of samples and international cooperation.
- Social functions
Museums represent the history, culture and experiences of a country that a nation is always proud of. Natural history museums also indicate the age and length of time scientists and biologists have worked to identify and formulate the living components of their country. If in a historical monument of culture and art and nationally convinced ideological beliefs it will be presented to the site and proud of it, it will be exhibited at a museum of natural history of the history of the natural sciences of that country. Therefore, from this perspective, construction, completion It is inevitable that the provision of museums and collections of science is indispensable. Creating employment for graduates of this field is due to the functions of creating collections and scientific museums of insects.
- Economic functions
Given the fact that the identification of insects is a specialist and requires a great deal of time, the experts of each taxon, a collectible of known examples, create the taxon for their scientific activities. International museums, with the help of individuals specializing in insect taxa, have virtually collectibles of different species. Such museums offer themselves as reference and reference for the identification and validation of insect specimens and request to identify or approve samples from other regions or countries. Therefore, the construction, completion of museums and insect collections, and the use of specialist forces in each insect taxon, in addition to raising the country as a scientific pole at the regional and international levels, can be a source of income for the institution, and Country. Receiving samples from other countries will also add to the richness of the samples in the museum.
- Environmental function
The collection and equipping of the collection and museum of insects requires the continuous collection of the field in different ecological regions of the country. If these collections are intelligent and based on statistical methods and data are recorded and analyzed in a precise scientific way, then it is possible to calculate the variability and richness indexes and compare the studied ecosystems, and the process Sustainability or degradation of ecosystems. These evaluations are more effective if they are more reliable and have more environmental indicators at the surface of the species and are not limited at the level of the family, the family and the biomass. Therefore, the existence of insect collectibles can be useful in identifying samples that are designed to determine environmental indicators.
Each ecosystem has its own fauna and herbal flora. Destruction of ecosystems in addition to the destruction and extinction of plant species will also lead to the extinction of animal species. In studies aimed at collecting, identifying and completing insect collecting samples, identified quantitative and qualitative quantitative and qualitative monitoring of the ecosystem population from its insect population, endangered species and information needed to find Provides appropriate protection strategies for those types.
- Executive functions and management
7-1- A timely notice of new pests to the country
Every year, we are witnessing the emergence of new and emerging pests of the country that were already considered as foreign quarantine pests. The continuous collection and identification of insect fauna and the conservation of specimens in the museum will provide researchers and research and executive practitioners with the ability to match samples collected earlier this year, and if new samples are discovered Inform the country of the arrival of new pests and, with a timely warning, prevent relevant organizations from spreading it to other places at risk. Therefore, along with the measures to complete and equip the insect collection, continuous collection and continuous monitoring of insects, especially in the border areas, should be continued.
- Function in Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
The first principle in plant pest management is the recognition of the animal fauna associated with it. The experts and experts working in insect museums identify and designate the scientific name of insect samples from pest management projects, provide access to the global information network and the information set under the insect species name below. Therefore, for the sustainable control of pests in crop or natural ecosystems, the formation of a scientific collection of insect phrases on any crop or gardens, as well as forest cover and pasture is one of the priorities.
- Functionality in climate change and global warming
Animal science collections and herbarium herbs contain valuable information that will be useful and effective for assessing the impact of climate change and warming the earth's aggressors. The information contained in the specimen label, in accordance with new perceptions in nature, allows identification of endangered species, the movement of insect species and the emergence of pests in the new region. Therefore, the sample data should be written as accurately as possible in terms of history, host plant and geographic coordinates of the collection site. Plotting a map for any insect is another feature that can be drawn from this information.
Structure:
The design of the insect fauna of forests and rangelands began in 1993 and ended in 2003, the abbreviation of which is as follows. Explain that the final report of the project is accessible through the Research Intelligence Center. The aim of this project is to recognize the biodiversity of animal reproductive organs in the country in order to protect and protect rare and rare species of insects.
In the Arthropod museum, species that are described for the first time in the world of science, such as Thrips aryubarzani (Thy .: Thripidae), or for the first time are reported from the country, such as Rhabdomiris striatellus striatellus (Hem .: Miridae).
In the implementation of this project, which was carried out in 22 provinces, visiting arthropods with appropriate methods was carried out at the level of forests and rains, where the vegetation was less damaged and grazed. The samples were killed using potassium cyanide or ethyl acetate and transferred to the laboratories in the Natural Resources and Animal Research Centers of the Provinces of the project for further steps. Insects were subjected to taxonomic studies after preparation, coding and recording of relevant information. Some specimens were identified in the provinces to family level and sometimes sex, and then from each insect, three samples were sent to the Museum of Arthropods of Forests and Rangelands at the Karaj Alborz Research Complex. To identify insects, books and scientific resources and identification keys and cooperation of relevant experts were used both inside and outside the country.
By the end of the second phase of the project (2003), in addition to the establishment of provincial collections, over 27,000 samples of cod insects were kept at the Museum of Arthropods in the Department of Forestry and Rangeland Research Support and Protection. The museum, established in 2000, is considered to be the main site for forest and pasture conservation in Iran. The highest number of samples belonged to Lepidoptera (31%) and Coleoptera (28%). Identification of samples of some insect orders such as Heteroptera and Orthoptera and some of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Thysanoptera is carried out and is ongoing for others. From the Heteroptera order of more than 150 species, from the Coleoptera order of the families Cerambycidae 78 species and Scarabaeidae 28 species and from the Diptera family of the families Syrphidae 34 species, Tephritidae 11 species, Ephydridae 1 species, Lauxaniidae 2 species, Sciomyzidae 4 species and Ulidiidae 2 species Ultimate identification And verification is named. Of the Orthoptera order, 75 species and the genus Hymenoptera of the Apoidae family are 16. In the Lepidoptera Order, the day-trips have a total of 5 families and 100 species, and 22 families of night flying butterflies have been segregated into 18 families. Thysanoptera has been identified as 53 species. In addition, unidentified specimens belonging to the Heteroptera, Coleoptera (Scarabaeidae family) and Diptera (Syrphidae family) have been sent abroad for identification or confirmation of the name. So far, more than 39,000 samples from different insect tracts collected from the country's forests and rangelands have been preserved in this museum, many of which have been identified by domestic and foreign researchers, and have been published so that some species for the world Science and Von Iran have been new.
The highest numbers of specimens collected belong to the Coleoptera order with 19500 and then the Lepidoptera order with 7500 specimens.