Mike, Otto Lugger was born in 1844 (see http://www.jstor.org/stable/1628640). If you click on the index number at O. Lugger in the record, you will find the same. I guess this 1824 is a typo. It cannot be 1924 since Lugger died in 1901. Possibly 1874. Lugger was German and likely wrote Central European sevens with a dash through the middle. I get my sevens sometimes read as twos by my (US) volunteers. Cheers Frank Dr. Frank-T. Krell Curator of Entomology Commissioner, International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature Chair, ICZN ZooBank Committee Department of Zoology Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Boulevard Denver, CO 80205-5798 USA [log in to unmask] Phone: (+1) (303) 370-8244 Fax: (+1) (303) 331-6492 http://www.dmns.org/science/museum-scientists/frank-krell lab page: http://www.dmns.org/krell-lab ________________________________________ From: Entomological Collections Network Listserve [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael A. Ivie [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 8:19 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: oldest specimen in a US collection? I know this thread died a while ago, but I just stumbled on to this 1824 specimen at The Ohio State University http://hol.osu.edu/spmInfo.html?id=OSUC%20320219 Mike On 4/30/2014 2:01 PM, Gelhaus,Jon wrote: All The Titian Peale Butterfly and Moth Collection here at the Academy of Natural Sciences collection has specimens from the late 1820's and includes a butterfly type described by Say in 1828. Since Peale illustrated this specimen for Say's American Entomology we have to assume the specimen was collected sometime before 1828. All of these specimens and data are viewable and searchable online, so feel free to use this resource for students. http://clade.ansp.org/entomology/collections/peale/peale.php?mode=specimen&box=1A&cork=12 The illustration of this specimen is available here: http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-64fb-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 We are just finishing a species inventory of the Academy's entomology collection. We are now exceeding 106,000 species, about 10% of the described insects. At once a magnificent collection – 106,000 species!, and at the same time certainly not enough with only 10% of described insect species referenced. This species inventory database can be searched through the link below. It also links with the Peale Collection and our Type Collection databases. Yes – we have not been at this endeavor very long trying to understand our nation's insect biodiversity. Best wishes Jon Gelhaus Jon K. Gelhaus, Ph.D. Professor, Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Sciences Curator of Entomology The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA, USA 19103-1195 215-299-1141<tel:215-299-1141>; 215-299-1079<tel:215-299-1079> FAX j<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Search the Entomology Collection at: http://symbiont.ansp.org/entomology/ web:http://www.drexel.edu/bees/contact/facultyDirectory/Gelhaus/<http://clade.acnatsci.org/gelhaus> Mongolian Aquatic Insect Survey: http://clade.acnatsci.org/mongolia Research Associate, Smithsonian Institution [http://LISTSERV.UNL.EDU/archives/images/b-lpowered.gif]<http://www.lsoft.com/products/listserv-powered.asp> -- __________________________________________________ Michael A. Ivie, Ph.D., F.R.E.S. Montana Entomology Collection Marsh Labs, Room 50 1911 West Lincoln Street NW corner of Lincoln and S.19th Montana State University Bozeman, MT 59717 USA (406) 994-4610 (voice) (406) 994-6029 (FAX) [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>