It is estimated that there are about 590,000 pinned and identified insects, about 50,000 awaiting identification, and a nearly equal number of insect larvae, spiders, snails and other invertebrates. The insect collection itself is referred to as the Carl Parsons collection in honor of a previous professor and curator (1948-1955) who worked on insect identifications and later willed his Vermont collection to the museum after his death in 1973. The collection is open to all investigators for study and is also used for loans and exchange purposes. The collection mainly emphasizes Vermont material but also has a more general, world-wide representation.