Insects in the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural

Abstract

This article is an essay on the origin, development and perspectives of Entomology in the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Santiago de Chile. Diverse subjects are approached through a chronological revision, such as the creation of the National Collection of Types of Insects and its incidence in the devel-opment of the discipline in Chile. The discussion also approaches the historic disjunction in creating new exhibitions in the detriment of the extension of the patrimonial collections, cyclically present in times of crisis after the big natural disasters, such as the last earthquake of 2010.