Credit: MNHNL
On Monday 26 January 2026, the Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History (MNHNL) announced the acquisition of the entomological collection of Francis Matt, from Hultehouse in Moselle, France.
Described as “exceptional” and “prestigious” by the MNHNL, the collection consists of 172 entomological boxes containing more than 46,000 specimens, including 43,000 beetles, representing more than 2,500 species.
The MNHNL said the acquisition, completed with the assistance of the heirs of Francis Matt, represented a step forward for the development of Luxembourg’s national collections and for scientific research in Western Europe.
According to the MNHNL, this collection covers all beetle families present in Luxembourg, with a richness and abundance of species that “far exceeds what the national collections previously held”. It provides a comprehensive overview of Luxembourg’s beetle fauna in its natural biogeographical context, extending to eastern France and across the country, with several exotic genera adding to its scientific and comparative value.
The MNHNL highlighted that the collection includes “rare, very rare or extremely localised species”, as well as entire sub-families or families, that the MNHNL collections previously lacked or were represented by only a single specimen, often collected before the First World War.
The collection also includes a substantial number of small-sized species that older collections often neglected. These include taxa that researchers now find difficult to locate or that have become extinct in Luxembourg. It also includes 29 hybrid specimens of the genus Carabus.
The acquisition also includes a database listing the number of beetle species and specimens in the collection. The MNHNL said the collection’s scale, taxonomic range and number of series give it scientific and heritage significance allowing it to serve as a reference collection for national museums in central Europe.
