In early 2024, MJ Paulsen, curator of the University of Nebraska State Museum’s entomology collection, received a call from Michael Ritterbrown in Wyoming. Ritterbrown was looking for a place to donate his late mother Nova Young’s natural history collection. The collection included ninety drawers of scarab beetles gathered by her husband, Ron Young. Paulsen accepted the donation and noted the value of amateur collectors in building museum collections.
The Youngs’ beetle collection is now part of the museum’s new exhibit, ‘Goliaths,’ on the third floor of Morrill Hall. The exhibit displays over 1,000 beetle specimens, including flower chafers and scarabs. Many of the beetles have bright colors and large horns. The exhibit also features digital and hands-on activities for visitors.
Flower chafers, which include about 4,000 species worldwide, are highlighted for their variety. Although they may look fierce, they are harmless to humans and act as pollinators. In some Asian countries, people keep these beetles as pets…