National Forest Insect Collection (NFIC) at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun is a unique and largest collection of forest insect specimens of Indian sub-continent. The collection has pride of holding about 3,00,000 pinned specimens (20,126 authentically identified species represented under 23 orders, 121 super-families, 281 families and 5589 genera).The oldest specimen in the collection dates back to the year 1858 i.e., Hospitalitermes monoceros (Isoptera: Termitidae). The insect specimens of NFIC preserved in 3140 showcases stored in 157 wooden cabinets holding reference and type materials, and about 1500 boxes with duplicate collections. There are also about 5,000 slides in the collection. Many insects have been obtained in exchange with other institutions in India and abroad. The collection mainly comprises of forest insects of injurious nature. Researchers from India and abroad regularly visit NFIC to study and refer insect specimens. Insects being the most diverse group of organisms pose a challenge before the stakeholders for their correct taxonomic identification and an authenticated insect collection thus is the most important reference point for such studies.
