Thread subject: Diptera.info :: software for collection

Posted by RasmusKeis on 21-01-2020 21:52
#1

How do you catalog your private collection? Spreadsheet? Database? Or..??
And what does it include?
I record lots of sightings on internet databases, but would like a private one just for my collection (or part of it at least).

Posted by Xylosoma on 27-01-2020 17:11
#2

Hej Rasmus,
I always avoided to spend time in a digital catalogue of my collection. I decided to build up my collection systematically in insect boxes by family, tribe, or genus, and each species in a unit box, sometimes additional separated by genus. My main collection consists of 300 drawers with unit boxes and works well as catalogue while the remaining boxes are less organised, or still empty in most cases.
In the case I need any kind of species list from my collection I pick up some basic data from internet to modify them. In your case and for the fauna of Denmark I would start at https://www.allearter-databasen.dk/. For e.g. Dolichopodidae you will get an Excel file of 215 species based on Grichanov (2009). This should be a good start for your own catalogue. You should find the same for Sweden at www.artportalen.se. Unfortunately, there is no corresponding websites for Germany or Europe leading to comparable results. There are so many useless names lists without any additional information.
Regards
Xylo


Posted by RasmusKeis on 27-01-2020 20:53
#3

Thanks for your input, Xylo

The main purpose is to make use of collection data, like what species have I found on a given locality, what time of year have I collected etc.

You are absolutely right, that if my only purpose was to organize by species, there is no need for digital catalogue, but to cross reference data it must be useful.

Cheers, Rasmus