Beetlemania as collection of thousands is gifted to Lincoln University

Dunedin man John Nunn is having to give up his collection because of ill health.

John Nunn, an entomologist by hobby, has spent the past 50 years collecting beetles.

Mr Nunn’s travelled the world purchasing, swapping and searching for some of the rarest beetles - he even has species named after him.

Recently, he suffered a stroke and decided he can no longer look after his collection.

Instead, he’s gifted all of the NZ species to Lincoln University’s entomology unit for research.

Lincoln’s entomology research centre is one of the largest of its kind in the country with an estimated quarter of a million specimens.

Lincoln University’s John Marris says the addition is invaluable and they are hugely grateful.

“It’s a bit of a treat really...a bit like an entomological lucky dip you never know what you'll see in the next box and wow there are some specimens,” he said.

John Nunn says he’s not sad having to part ways as he knows they’re going somewhere safe and will be well looked after.

“It’ll make a good memoriam for me too,” he said.

The foreign species have been gifted to LandCare New Zealand for their research.
 

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