Arthropod Collection
(WCCA)
Overview
The WCCA (Western Carolina University Collection of Arthropods) is home to over 80,000 arthropod specimens, sorted and identified to variable levels. WCCA was founded by arachnologist Emeritus Prof. Fred Coyle back in the 1960s., and taken over by Emeritus Prof. Kefyn Catley, also an arachnologist, in the 1990s. As such, WCCA has a modest, mostly regionally relevant collection of arachnids. The collection is currently curated by Prof. Silveira, who has held the role since 2019. Since then, the collection representation and focus has shifted to insects, especially beetles, with an emphasis on fireflies.
Facilities
The collection keeps most of its recent holdings in 95% Ethanol, while most insects collected prior to 2010 are pinned triangle- or card-mounted. The collection has two imaging systems and three dissecting scopes, and enough room to host interested visitors.
Digitization
WCCA is currently working to digitize the collection, according to students’ research needs and interests.
Emeritus Dr. Fred Coyle sorting through his historical holdings, including samples from his collecting trips to Mexico (obtained during his undergraduate years) and Africa (photo credit: Luiz Silveira).
Access Digitized Records?
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Link to Species List?
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