Abstract

A new system of storing adult Odonata (damselfly and dragonfly) specimens is described and compared to existing storage systems. The major design innovation is the use of tongue and groove (“zipper lock”) resealable polyethylene envelopes manufactured to fit the standard index card and specimen arrangement currently used in major collections. Other design improvements include low-cost, adhesive-free specimen trays and glass-top drawers built to fit in standard-dimension Cornell insect cabinets. Comparisons of materials and designs with other available systems are presented and discussed. Finally, examples are presented of this new system's applicability to other collections such as Lepidoptera and Archeology.