The hoverfly collection (Diptera, Syrphidae) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) at Calavi (Benin)
Citation
Goergen G, Mboma P, Jordaens K (2020). The hoverfly collection (Diptera, Syrphidae) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) at Calavi (Benin). Version 1.1. Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/v4vmuv accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-12.Description
Dataset comprises historical records from circa 1970 to 2019, focusing on Togo, Benin and Nigeria but with some additional material from further countries in tropical Africa. The biodiversity centre of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Benin (IITA) houses together with the IFAN museum at Dakar, Senegal one of the largest collection of insects in West Africa. The geographic scope of the collection is mainly Benin, Nigeria and Togo with additional material from various countries in tropical Africa. It constitutes the largest non-plant biodiversity repository within all research centers of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The IITA insect collection includes to date more than 370,000 specimens and belongs to the few actives of its kind in the subregion. Roughly 6,000 species from 335 insect families have been identified from the sampled material, of which the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera build the most biodiverse orders with 2300 and 1200 identified species, respectively. On-going research on Diptera focusses mainly on Tephritidae but also on pollinating flies in the framework of a collaborative project (Pollinator Information Network for Two-Winged Insects (PINDIP)) (link to: https://www.pindip.org/) involving several Africa based taxonomic institutions and lead by the Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.Sampling Description
Study Extent
Dataset comprises historical records from circa 1970 to 2019, focusing on Togo, Benin and Nigeria but with some additional material from further countries in tropical Africa.Sampling
Historical collection records, including various methods such as malaise traps, hand collecting etc.Quality Control
Historical specimens have been re-identified where possible.Method steps
- 1.Data cleaning. 2.Taxon names were compared to the GBIF data using the species matching tool.
Taxonomic Coverages
The collection covers the family Syrphidae.
-
Syrphidaerank: family
Geographic Coverages
Africa
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
Georg Goergenoriginator
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
Cotonou
08BP0932 Tri Postal
BJ
email: g.goergen@cgiar.org
Pierre Mboma
originator
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
Cotonou
08BP0932 Tri Postal
BJ
email: mbomapierre@yahoo.fr
Kurt Jordaens
originator
Africa Museum
Leuvensesteenweg 11-13
Tervuren
3080
BE
email: kurt.jordaens@africamuseum.be
Kurt Jordaens
metadata author
Africa Museum
BE
email: kurt.jordaens@africamuseum.be
André Heughebaert
user
email: aheugheb@ulb.ac.be
Kurt Jordaens
administrative point of contact
Africa Museum
Leuvensesteenweg 11-13
Tervuren
3080
BE
email: kurt.jordaens@africamuseum.be