One also needs time and an above average camera to do all this. Access to good literature helps too as does training in entomology.

But the prerequisite, *access* to a *good* collection isn't necessarily an easy thing to achieve. The world's collections are not all filled with large series of correctly determined material. Even the famed EGRC "only" has about 85% of the U.S. Cryptocephalus spp. (!)

I was a photographer before I was an entomologist (something I came to rather later in life) so perhaps this is a particularly good fit for me.

Having said all that, the world's insect collections are gathering dust. They get very few visitors these days, whether amateur or expert. Often, there's sophisticated camera equipment (and a high speed internet connection) idled nearby. Even the most modest collection out there surly has sp. not yet on BugGuide.

Perhaps my effort will induce others to take up the cause... Let us hope. Thanks as always, Mike

PS: These images came out well in part as Cryptocephalus are generally colorful and I was able to use point mounted specimens in all cases. Pin mounted specimens don't photograph quite as well from above...

has been able to add many new species to Bugguide, I am one of the few but proud that still considers collections extremely valuable, of course especially for something like this site.

Lets keep up the good work!

and biodiversity/biogeography studies will simply die out