Beetle Collection Boosts Museum Research

By Scout Nelson

A large beetle collection of donations has helped inspire the creation of the new Goliaths exhibit at the University of Nebraska State Museum. The story began in early 2024, when curator MJ Paulsen received a phone call from Michael Ritterbrown, who was sorting through his late mother’s belongings in Wyoming. Unsure what to do with her natural history collection, he reached out to the museum for guidance.

The collection had originally belonged to Nova Young, an accomplished amateur botanist. Her husband, Ron Young, had spent years collecting scarab beetles, resulting in an impressive set of ninety drawers of specimens. When Paulsen heard this, he immediately recognized the collection’s value. He explained that passionate amateur collectors play an essential role in building museum collections and preserving biodiversity records.

The Young family’s donation helped make possible the museum’s new exhibit, Goliaths, which highlights the world’s largest beetles along with related scarabs and flower chafers. Located on the third floor of Morrill Hall, the exhibit features more than 1,000 colorful specimens, including many with dramatic horns. Interactive digital tools and hands-on elements allow visitors to explore insect diversity in an engaging way.

Flower chafers include more than 4,000 species found worldwide. Although they may look fierce, they are harmless to people and often serve as important pollinators. In some countries, they are even kept as household pets.

Paulsen noted that collections like this are extremely valuable for student studying entomology. These specimens help researchers understand evolutionary history, biodiversity patterns, and conservation needs. Morrill Hall has long been a leader in scarab research, and the exhibit represents only a small portion of the museum’s extensive insect collection.

Additional support for the Goliaths exhibit comes from Alex and Christi Reifschneider, as well as sponsors Latta and Perry Branch, Mark and Diann Sorensen, and the UNL Department of Entomology. This project and others are highlighted in the Research at Nebraska 2024–2025 Report.

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