Explore the Collection

The largest order of insects, comprising over 400,000 described species. Beetles occupy nearly every terrestrial and freshwater habitat on Earth. Collectors prize them for their extraordinary diversity of form, color, and size — from the jewel-like Buprestidae to the formidable Dynastinae.

Among the most beloved of all insect orders, Lepidoptera captivate collectors with their scaled wings and remarkable life cycles. The order encompasses roughly 180,000 species, ranging from the microscopic Nepticulidae to the spectacular Atlas Moth with its 30cm wingspan.

Hymenoptera includes some of the most ecologically significant insects on the planet. With over 150,000 described species, this order encompasses the social bees and wasps, the solitary hunters, and the parasitoids that regulate insect populations worldwide. The aculeate wasps are a particular focus of GICA members.

Diptera — the true flies — are defined by their single pair of functional wings, the hindwings reduced to club-shaped halteres. With over 160,000 species, they are among the most ecologically diverse orders, serving as pollinators, decomposers, and predators. Collectors are drawn to the spectacular Asilidae and the metallic Dolichopodidae.

Ancient and elegant, Odonata are among the oldest winged insects, with a fossil record stretching back 325 million years. Their aerial agility and iridescent wings make them favorites among collectors and photographers alike. Approximately 6,000 species are known, found near freshwater habitats on every continent except Antarctica.

Orthoptera are the singers of the insect world, producing their characteristic stridulations through specialized structures on their wings or legs. The order includes roughly 25,000 species of grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and their relatives. Many species display remarkable camouflage, mimicking leaves, bark, and even flowers.