Our entomology program is largely focused on regional biodiversity. Our collection is primarily regional in representation and a major focus of current research is to develop a comprehensive collection of local insects, as well as a database containing information on their local distributions and seasonal activity patterns. The insect fauna of the Santa Barbara region, as true for California in general, is rich and surprisingly poorly known. Collecting by Dr. Caterino and his staff has already turned up numerous species of insects not previously known from our area.

We are interested in promoting appreciation and understanding of local insects and are always available for public inquiries. Identifications may take a few days, and are not always possible, but if a good specimen or high quality photograph can be provided, we can usually offer some information.

Please explore the links at left relating to entomology at the museum. The most significant efforts at present focus on documenting the diversity of beetles in California. There are nearly 10,000 species of beetles in the state, with new species turning up regularly.