Mr Alessandro Giusti

Mr Alessandro Giusti

Department: Life Sciences
Division: LS Insects Division
Group: Insects, Lepidoptera
Specialisms: Curation of Insect Collections, Lepidoptera in the families Sphingidae, Limacodidae & Lasiocampidae.
I am a curator in the Insects Division and I am responsible for the curation of parts of the Lepidoptera collections.

My current projects are:

- Re-curation of the Sphingidae (Hawkmoths) collection (in collaboration with Dr Ian Kitching).

- Re-curation of the Lasiocampidae (Eggars, Lappets, etc.) collection.

- Re-curation of the Limacodidae (Slug moths) collection.

This last task is virtually completed and we now have 263 accession size drawers with fully labelled and databased Limacodidae, covering a total of about 1550 species.

Other tasks I am involved with are:

identifying, transferring and labelling specimens, recording them into our database, answering queries made to our section about certain species of Lepidoptera. I also look after visitors who come to our Museum from other institutions to study a particular group of Lepidoptera. Sometimes I supervise students who are here on work experience, volunteers who offer invaluable help. Occasionally I go out on fieldwork to collect new specimens and to conferences and workshops to share knowledge and learn new work procedures.
  • BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences of the University of Florence, Italy
  • Diploma in Agricultural Sciences, ISTITUTO TECNICO AGRARIO STATALE. LEOPOLDO II DI LORENA., Grosseto, Italy
  • Course in Taxonomy and Biology of Parasitic Hymenoptera, Imperial College, Silwood Park, United Kingdom

Highlighted publications

  • GARNER BH, GIUSTI A, KERLEY MD (2011) Conservation of Insect Specimens Affected by Verdigris. NatSCA News, : 50 - 59.