About Insects Incorporated
The most comprehensive, manually-annotated cultural entomology database in the world.
How to Use the Database
On the home page, type words in the search box and click the "Search" button. You can refine your search using Boolean search symbols:
Search Examples
+silk -"silk-screen"Objects with "silk" but not "silk-screen"butterfly paintingObjects containing both words"beetle jewelry"Exact phrase match
Use the filters on the left sidebar to narrow results by category, insect order, or country of origin.
What is Cultural Entomology?
"Cultural entomology studies the reasons, beliefs, and symbolism behind the inclusion of insects within all facets of the humanities."
"Cultural entomology is the branch of investigation that addresses the influence of insects (and other terrestrial Arthropoda, including arachnids, myriapods, etc.) in literature, language, music, the arts, interpretive history, religion, and recreation."
Humans have included insects in art for millennia, either symbolically, literally, or physically (insect products or bodies as art media). The practice of incorporating insects in art is one of our primary cultural entomology interests.
About the Project
Barrett Klein is an Associate Professor of Entomology and Animal Behavior at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. He heads the Pupating Lab, which is building this searchable database of cultural entomology from Barrett Klein's personal collection, from visitor submissions, and from numerous repositories on the Internet.
Insects Incorporated is accepting submissions with the goal of establishing the most comprehensive, manually-annotated cultural entomology database in the world. We anticipate that it will be a valuable resource for research and for education at all levels, and that it will also be of general interest to a wide audience on the internet.
Acknowledgments
Arno Klein, identical twin and champion for the wee, digital hexapod, made this website possible.
UWL students contributing to the site: Cody Babcock, Abigail Reinke, Natalie Renier, Rebecca Schnabel, Keaton Unrein, Danielle VanBrabant, and Breanna Vey.
Help Expand the Database
You can contribute well-annotated examples of cultural entomology to help build this valuable resource for researchers and enthusiasts worldwide.
Contribute to the Database