William L. Nutting Termite Collection

William L. Nutting Termite Collection

The William L. Nutting Termite Collection is housed in 80 jars, comprising the most significant collection of Sonoran Desert termites in Arizona, and includes specimens from North America and abroad. Bill Nutting was a faculty member of the University of Arizona’s Department of Entomology from 1955-1986. Originally hired to work on khapra beetle infestations occurring in Phoenix, his research program began to focus more extensively on termite ecology and behavior, including utilizing the Santa Rita Experimental Range located south of Tucson for termite foraging studies. Nutting continued to work on termite biology & biogeography throughout the rest of his career.