Updates on Data Mobilization in the KU Entomology Collection

What this was about

Samanta Orellana reported on the KU Snow Entomological Museum Collection. It holds over five million specimens, of which about 1.4 million (about 28%) have been digitised over two decades, making it the largest insect specimen dataset in the US. In 2025 it migrated from a local Specify 6 to online Specify 7 after updating field and multimedia mappings. Benefits include wider user access, inline data entry across tables, a taxon tree that several users can edit at once, and multi-file media with controlled creator metadata. Data and images are packaged as a Darwin Core archive on a nightly-updated RSS feed that feeds the Specify portal, GBIF and multiple Symbiota portals, and supports a new BID project for Central American data.

Why it matters. Continuous, automated publishing of both specimen data and images from the CMS removes a major bottleneck for large entomology collections and widens use by students and international partners.

In the room

• KU SEMC holds over five million specimens; about 1.4 million (~28%) have been digitised in about two decades, still the largest insect specimen dataset in the US.
• Specify 6 was due to be decommissioned, so the collection migrated to online Specify 7 in 2025 after updating mappings, including multimedia fields.
• Specify 7 allows access from outside the building, adding related records from the data entry form, multiple browser tabs, and simultaneous taxon-tree editing.
• Multiple media files can be attached with controlled vocabulary and creator information, so image authors are credited.
• A Darwin Core archive with data and images is exposed on an RSS feed with nightly updates, feeding the Specify portal and keeping the GBIF dataset current.
• Data are also mobilised to several Symbiota portals, where students build resources such as interactive checklists and type-specimen pages.
• A new BID project will mobilise Central American species data to GBIF.

Notable moments