Ragusa collection

It's one of the most important Sicilian entomological collections. The collection was set up by the entomologist Enrico Ragusa (Palermo 1849-1924) between the 19th and 20th centuries, who managed to form five sections during his activity:

    Sicilian Lepidoptera;
    Hemiptera;
    European Lepidoptera;
    European beetles;
    Sicilian beetles.

Of these, only the last three are kept in this museum to which they were donated in 1995 by the Experimental Institute of Agrumiculture of Acireale. The Hemiptera collection is kept in the "Agricultural Entomology Laboratory" of the Higher School of Citrus Growing in Portici; while the Sicilian Lepidoptera collection is kept at the British Museum in London.

The collections, arranged according to a systematic criterion, are kept in 3 ancient entomological cabinets with glass doors.

The European Lepidoptera collection includes about 5,800 specimens preserved inside 88 handcrafted entomological wooden boxes measuring 30x40x6.5 cm.

The European Coleoptera collection includes about 8,500 specimens preserved in 43 entomological boxes measuring 29x36x6 cm, and was set up thanks to the entomological exchanges that Ragusa had with other Italian and foreign entomologists.

The Sicilian Coleoptera collection includes more than 18,000 specimens of Sicilian beetles among which there are numerous types or specimens of typical series and includes 68 handcrafted wooden entomological boxes measuring 30x40x6.5 cm and 21 handcrafted wooden entomological boxes measuring 29 x 36 x 6 cm.

The collections, recently restored by Dr. Marcello Arnone, are now in a good state of conservation both in regards to the animals and ther supports (entomological tags and pins) and there are no attacks of mold or harmful insects.