ASUIC specimen transactions

Our specimens are available for study

The Insect Collection actively seeks to increase the value and use of our specimens through reliable loans to inter-/national researchers in the biological disciplines. Scientists who wish to request a loan should contact the collection manager, Dr. Sangmi Lee. We have a generous two-year loan policy in place, with flexible options for extension and partial retention of specimens where justified (see details below).

To assess whether ASUIC can offer you valuable research specimens, please refer to:

1. An early 1990s' species-level ledger is available as a searchable PDF (size ~ 16 MB). Please notice, however, that this ledger is outdated in many ways: completeness, taxonomic names, specimen locations, etc. It is merely the most taxonomically comprehensive resource that we can share on-line. For our non-digitized holdings, it remains useful.
2. Our specimen-level holdings are accessible through the virtual SCAN portal. To retrieve of complete digitized holdings, select "Search: Search Collections" from the top menu, then ASUHIC and "Higher Taxonomy: Arthropoda". Images are viewable here.
3. Contact Dr. Sangmi Lee for specific transaction requests, including inquiries about insufficiently identified and recently acquired specimens. We will work together to set up a loan and transfer specimens to enable your research.

Specimen loan policy 

1. Material Safeguarding: The borrower agrees to take all necessary precautions to safeguard the material entrusted to his/her care. Proper handling, usage, and storage must be exercised to avoid loss or damage. The borrower will bear any costs arising from loss or damage while the material is in the borrower's custody.
2. Loan Period: Loan periods are typically for two years. Extensions may be granted upon written request from borrower.
3. Return of Material: The borrower agrees to return the material by the specific due date or submit a written request for an extension before the due date. The ASU Insect Collection (ASUIC) will review extension requests and either grant approval or require the material's return. All loans are subject to recall at any time.
4. Responsibility for Loaned Material: Responsibility for the loaned material rests jointly with the individual acknowledging the loan and his/her affiliated institution. This responsibility cannot be reassigned, nor can the material be transferred to another individual or institution without prior written approval of the ASUIC. If the borrower relocates to another institution, the original loan must first be closed, and a new loan agreement established under the new institution's name and address.
5. Loan Requests: Loans are not issued directly to students or associates. They are typically requested by the advisor and made to permanent curatorial staff who supervise the students or associates. The supervising staff member will be full responsibility for the loaned material as outlined in these conditions.
6. History of Loss or Mishandling: Borrowers with a history of lost or mishandled specimens may be denied further access to the collection. 
7. Discretion of the Curator/Manager: Loans are granted at the discretion of the curator/manager and evaluated based on merit and feasibility. Curators/managers reserve the right to deny loans.
8. Deposition of Type Specimens: Arrangements for the deposition of type specimens derived from ASUIC material must be approved in advance by ASUIC staff.
9. Destructive Sampling and Dissections: Borrowers must obtain prior approval from ASUIC staff before conducting dissections or destructive sampling of any specimens (e.g., DNA/RNA extraction). DNA data derived from ASUIC specimens must be deposited in GenBank or equivalent public database, with accession numbers provided to the responsible curator/manager. Publications should include voucher/sample numbers and GenBank accession numbers, citing ASUIC as the source. Unused material from DNA analyses must be returned. Dissected parts should be preserved in permanent mounts or plastic microvials containing glycerin, attached to the specimen pin, and returned with the associated specimen. Genitalia of specimens stored in ethanol should be preserved in alcohol-filled microvials and secured with cotton to avoid damage.
10. Return and Packaging of Loaned Material: The borrower is responsible for returning the material to ASUIC in packing designed to ensure maximum protection to the material, depending on the method of transportation. The borrower must cover all transportation costs, assume liability for loss or damage during transit, and comply with all applicable shipping regulations.
11. Publication Reprints: Reprints of publication(s) based on study of loaned material should be sent to ASUIC Staff upon availability.