China Agricultural University Digital Museum

China Agricultural University Digital Museum

Insect Specimen Collection at China Agricultural University Digital Museum

The current insect specimen collection at China Agricultural University has developed from the original collections of the agricultural colleges of Tsinghua University and Peking University, boasting a history of nearly a century.

Over the years, especially in the past 50 years, through the tireless efforts of several generations of entomologists such as Academician Liu Chongle, Professor Zhou Ming??, Professor Lu Jinnren, Professor Yang Jikun, and Mr. Li Fasheng, the total number of specimens has reached over 800,000, covering 32 orders and more than 550 families; the collection spans over 20 countries, with the oldest specimens being over 120 years old. Teaching insect specimens purchased from Japan during the period of the Imperial University of Peking (1911–1926) are still well preserved in the museum. Currently, there are over 4,000 type specimens and about 30,000 identified specimens, accounting for approximately one quarter to one third of the known insect species in China. The collection is particularly rich in groups such as Neuroptera, Strepsiptera, Mantodea, Psocoptera, Diptera, the Psylloidea of Homoptera, and Reduviidae of Hemiptera.

The over 4,000 cultural entomology specimens meticulously collected by Professor Yang Jikun over decades are priceless treasures, standing out uniquely.

In 1993, after visiting the Insect Specimen Collection, former Minister of Agriculture Professor He Kang gladly inscribed the words: “The essence of scholarship, a national treasure.”

These specimens not only effectively support the smooth progress of teaching but also provide high-quality research materials for our faculty and entomological taxonomists both domestically and internationally. In 2002, with the care and support of Vice Mayor Lin Wenyi of Beijing, Professor Qu Zhenyuan, Party Secretary of China Agricultural University, Professor Chen Zhangliang, President of the university, and others, the construction of the specimen collection received funding from the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the National Ministry of Education’s Digital Museum Project, and the 211 Project, gradually modernizing the preservation and management of the specimens.

Soil Specimen Collection at China Agricultural University Digital Museum

The Soil Specimen Collection at China Agricultural University was formed after two nationwide soil surveys conducted after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Systematic specimen collection and organization were carried out for zonal and non-zonal soil types across China from south to north and east to west. During this process, soil specimens were also gifted by sister institutions and international scholars. Thus, the current soil specimen hall has been gradually accumulated through the efforts of several generations of soil scientists and domestic exchanges. It currently houses nearly 200 physical soil profile specimens, covering the major soil types in China; over 300 important soil-forming rock and mineral specimens; 30 soil thin-section micro-specimens; and several soil structure and new formation specimens. Due to the inconvenience of collecting and transporting soil specimens, more data accumulated during soil surveys consists of color photographs. There are over 800 soil profile photos and over 2,500 various landscape photos. These specimens and materials form the foundation for establishing a digital soil museum.