Museum Witt

The Museum Witt Munich (MWM) is a department of the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology. The former independent museum was located in Munich, Germany, and had the world's leading collection of certain moths. The museum was closed in 2023. The entire collection was handed over to the Bavarian State Collection.

Collection

The museum was established in 1980 by Thomas J. Witt. His well-known family founded Witt Weiden, one of Germany's oldest mail-order houses.

Since 2000, the museum has been part of the Zoologische Staatssammlung München (The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology) in Munich. The collection consists of about ten million specimens from all over the world. It is the largest collection of certain moths in the world. The Museum Witt has a collection of three to three and a half million butterflies, and the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology additional seven million butterflies. A crew of scientists work at the museum and it has an impressive library.

Thomas J. Witt was awarded with the Ritter-von-Spix-Medal in 2001. He also received an honorary doctorate from LMU Munich in 2013.

Publications Ivinskis P. & Witt T.J. Moths and Hawkmoths of Lithuania. Thöny H. & Witt T. 2019. Entomologische Bibliographie von Dr. h.c. Georg Warnecke (28. April 1883 - 20. September 1962). Entomofauna. 40. Grehan J.R. & Mielke C.G.C. & Ignatyev N. & De Groof B. & Austin K. & Witt T.J. 2019. Three new species of Endoclita C. &. R. Felder, 1874 from northern Laos and Thailand (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae). Entomofauna. 40. Ignatev N. & Przybylowicz L. & Witt T. 2019. A review of the genus Mecistorhabdia Kiriakoff, 1953 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Artciinae, Syntomini, Thyretina) with description of a new species from Central African Republic, Africa. Zootaxa. Witt T. 2019. Beitrag in Zwier, J.H.H.: Aganainae of the World. A Documentation and a guide to their identification. Proceedings of the Museum Witt. 8: 1-281. Yakovlev R.V. & Sinev S.Yu. & Naydenov A.E. & Penco F.C. & Witt T. 2019. Redescription of the genus Allocryptobia Viette, 1951 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae). Shilap. De Freina J. & Witt T.J. 2018. Beschreibung von drei neu entdeckten Amata FABRICIUS, 1807-Arten von Kalimatan, Borneo, Indonesien (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Arctiinae, Syntomini). Entomofauna. 39(2): 863-880. Grehan J.R. & Witt T. & Ignatev N. 2018. New Species of Aenetus from Sumatra, Indonesia (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) representing a 5,000 km biogeographic disjunction. Entomofauna. 39(2): 849-862. Poltavsky A. & Kravchenko V.D. & Traore M.M. & Traore S.F. & Gergely P. & Witt T.J. & Sulak H. & Junnila A. & Revay E. & Doumbia S. & Beier J. & Müller G. 2018. The Pyraloidea (Lepidoptera) fauna of the woody savannah belt in Mali, West Africa. Zootaxa. 4457(1): 39ff. Speidel W. & Hausmann A. & Witt T. 2018. Revision of the erythrophleps species-group of the genus Eospilarctia Koda, 1988 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) . Entomofauna. 39(2): 817-835. Yakovlev R.V. & Sokolova G.G. & Witt T.J. 2018. Cecryphalini Yakovlev et Witt, trib. n. — new tribe of Carpenter-Moths (Lepidoptera: Cossidae: Zeuzerinae). Russian Entomol.J.. 27(4): 415-424. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T.J. 2018. Redescription of the genus Alophonotus Schoorl, 1990 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) based on the morphology of male and female genitalia. Shilap. 46(184): 647-652. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T.J. 2018. Redescription of the little known Genus Eburgemellus Schoorl, 1990 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) . Far Eastern Entomologist. 364: 1-5. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T.J. 2018. Redescription and Catalogue of little known Genus Pseudozeuzera Schoorl, 1990 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae). Russian Entomological Journal. 27(3): 289-292. Brechlin R. & Witt T. 2017. Automeris maximae n. sp., eine neue Saturniide (Lepidoptera) aus Kolumbien. Entomo Satsphingia. 10(1): 18-21. Hofmann A. & Spalding A. & Tarmann G. & Witt T.(eds.) 2017. Gerry Tremewan (1931 – 2016). The adventurous life of a Cornish entomologist. Entomofauna Supplement. 20: 1-215. Vakovlev R. & Witt T. 2017. Four new species of Azygophleps Hampson, 1892 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Africa . Zootaxa. Witt T. & Nazarov V. 2017. Role of the entomological collections while studying the relationship of plants fertilizers. . Proceedings of International Academic and Research Conference "Actual problems Botany and Conservation", devoted to the 150th anniversary since the birth of professor G.F. Morozov (Simferopol, 28–30 November 2017) / edit. S.F. Kotov. – Simferopol: IT "ARIAL". 261-265. Yakovlev R.V. & Penco F.C. & Witt T.J. 2017. Five new species of the genus Schreiteriana Fletcher et Nye, 1982 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) from Peru and Colombia (South America). Russian Entomol. J.. 26(4): 339-342. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T.J. 2017. Four new species of Azygophleps Hampson, 1892 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Africa. Zootaxa. 4303(3): 437-444. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T.J. 2017. Meharia Chrétien, 1915 - new genus in Zimbabwean Fauna (Lepidoptera: Cossidae). Shilap Revta. lepid.. 45(180): 589-591. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt Th.J. 2017. Eight new species of genus Camellocossus Yakovlev, 2011 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) from North and East Africa. Russian Entomol. J.. 26(2): 151-159. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt Th.J. 2017. Redescription of the Genus Paralophonotus Schoorl, 1990 based on the morphology of male genitalia (Lepidoptera: Cossidae). Shilap Revta. lepid.. 45(180): 665-668. Yakovlev R. & Witt T-J- 2017. Four new species of Azygophleps Hampson, 1892 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) from Africa . Zootaxa. Yakovlev R. & Witt T. 2017. World catalogue of the genus Cossulus Staudinger, 1887 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) with description of Cossulus irtlachi sp. nov. from Kyrgyzstan. . Zootaxa. 4311(1): 62-80. Dubatolov V.V. & Zolotuhin V.V. & Witt T.J. 2016. Review of Lithosia Fabricius, 1798 and Conilepia Hampson, 1900 (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae). Zootaxa. 4107(2): 175-196. Kravchenko V.D. & Ronkay L. & Mooser J. & Speidel W. & Revay E.E. & Witt T. & Müller G.C. 2016. An annotated checklist of the Noctuoidea of Jordan with remarks on ecology, phenology and zoogeography. Part VI. Noctuidae: Acontiinae, Acronictinae, Bagisarinae, Bryophilinae, Condicinae, Dilobinae, Eriopinae, Eustrotiinae, Heliothinae, Metoponiinae, Plusiinae, and Psaphidinae. Israel Journal of Entomology. 46: 1-10. Penco F.C. & Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T.J. 2016. Taxonomic notes on the genera Brypoctia Schoorl, 1990 and Schreiteriana Fletcher & Nye, 1982 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae). Zootaxa. 4205(3): 297-300. Sulak H. & Naumann S. & Witt T. 2016. A new species of Ceridia Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae, Smerinthini) from Ethiopia . Entomofauna. 37(7): 137-148. Trofimova T. & Shovkoon D. & Witt T. 2016. A revision of the genus Calliteara Butler, 1881(Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Lymantriinae). Proc. Mus. Witt. 3: 1-292. Weigert L. & Witt T. 2016. Zu Verbreitung, Variabilität und Lebensraum von Gonerda perornata Moore, 1879 (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae) . Entomofauna. 37(38): 581-596. Witt T. & Beket U. & Yakovlev R.V. 2016. New data on the distribution of Cossidae (Lepidoptera) in Mongolia. Nota Lepidopterologica. 39(1): 21-25. Yakovlev R.V. & Penco F.C. & Witt T.J. 2016. Redescription of genus Psychonopctua Grote, 1865 (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae). Biological Bulletin of Bogdan Chmelnltskly Melitopol State Pedagical University. 6(3): 46-50. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T.J. 2016. Politzariella fountainei - New Cossidae (Lepidoptera) Species from Congo. Biological Bulletin of Bogdan Chmelnltskly Melitopol State Pedagical University. 6(3): 154-156. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T. 2016. Two new species of Afroarabiella Yakovlev, 2008 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) from Sudan and Ethiopia. European Journal of Taxonomy. 240: 1-8. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T. 2016. A world catalogue of Aholcocerus Yakovlev, 2006 (Lepidoptera, Cossisae) with description of a new species from Indonesia. Zootaxa. 4305(1): 93-96. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T. & Beket U. 2016. New data on the distribution of Cossidae (Lepidoptera) in Mongolia. Nota lepid. 39(1): 21-25. Yakovlev R. & Witt & T. 2016. A world catalogue of Phragmataecia (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), with a new species from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Zootaxa. 4085(4): 589-600. Kravchenko V.D. & Mooser J. & Ronkay L. & Revay E.E. & Speidel W. & Witt T. & Müller G.C. 2015. An annotated checklist of the Noctuoidea of Jordan with remarks on ecology, phenology and zoogeography. Part V: Noctuinae (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). SHILAP (Revista de Lepidopterología). 43(172): 517-523. Kravchenko V.D. & Revay E.E. & Mooser J. & Ronkay L. & Witt T. & Speidel W. & Müller G.C. 2015. An annotated checklist of the Noctuoidea of Jordan with remarks on ecology, phenology and zoogeography. Part III: Xyleninae. SHILAP (Revista de Lepidopterología). 43(170): 181-188. Kravchenko V.D. & Speidel W. & Witt T. & Revay E.E. & Mooser J. & Ronkay L. & Müller G.C. 2015. An annotated checklist of the Noctuoidea of Jordan with remarks on ecology, phenology and zoogeography. Part IV: Hadeninae (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). SHILAP (Revista de Lepidopterología). 43(171): 341-347. Schintlmeister A. & Witt T. 2015. The Notodontidae of South-Africa including Swaziland and Lesotho (Lepidoptera). Proc. Mus. Witt . 2: 1-288. Speidel W. & Hausmann A. & Müller C.G. & Kravchenko V.D. & Mooser J. & Witt T.J. & Khallaayoune K. & Prosser S. & Hebert P.D.N. 2015. Taxonomy 2.0: Next Generation-Sequencing of old type specimens supports the description of two new species of the Lasiocampa decolorata group from Morocco (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae). Zootaxa. 3999(3): 401–412. Witt T. & Kravchenko V.D. & Speidel W. & Mooser J. & Revay E.E. & Müller G.C. 2015. An annotated checklist of the Noctuoidea of Jordan with remarks on ecology, phenology and zoogeography. Part II: Cuculliinae & Oncocnemidinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Shilap. 43(169): 41-47. Witt T. & Kravchenko V.D. & Speidel W. & Mooser J. & Revay E.E. & Müller G.C. 2015. An annotated checklist of the Noctuoidea of Jordan with remarks on ecology, phenology and zoogeography. Part I: Erebidae & Euteliidae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Shilap. 43(169): 5-14. Yakovlev R.V. & Poltavsky A.N. & Ilyina E.V. & Shchurov V.I. & Witt & T. 2015. Cossidae (Lepidoptera) of the Russian Caucasus with the description of a new species. Zootaxa. 4044(2): 270-288. Yakovlev R.V. & Witt T. 2015. Meharia ganslmeieri sp. nov. – a new Cossidae species from Zambia (Lepidoptera). Zootaxa. 4032(3): 319-321. Yakovlev R. & Pljustch I.G. & Skrylnik Y. & Pak O. & Witt T. 2015. The Cossidae (Lepidoptera) of Afghanistan with description of three new species and special notes on the fauna of Bande-Amir National Park. Zootaxa. 3990(1): 41–72. Yakovlev R. & Witt T. 2015. Orientozeuzera martinii sp. nov., a new species of Carpenter-Moths (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) from Borneo. Zootaxa. 3990(1): 138–140. Yakovlev R. & Witt T. 2015. Azygophleps brehmi Yakovlev & Witt sp. nov. – a new Carpenter-Moth (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) from Ethiopia. Russian Entomological Journal. 25(1): 71-73. Greifenstein T. & Thöny H. & Witt T. & Speidel W. 2014. Eine Neue Art der Gattung Brachyglene HERRICH-SCHÄFFER, 1855 aus Brasilien (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae).17.Beitrag zur Heteroceren-Fauna Brasiliens. Entomofauna. 35(25): 541-552. Hofmann A. & Tarmann G.M. & Witt T.J. 2014. Erinnerungen an Karl-Heinz Wiegel (8.2.1918 - 4 July 2003). NachrBl. bayer. Ent. 63(3/4): 74-89. Schintlmeister A. & Witt T. 2014. Nephodonta cognata sp. n., eine übersehene Notodontide aus Taiwan (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae). Entomofauna. 35(23): 525-532. Witt T. & Schintlmeister A. 2014. Eine neue Lymantride aus Sulawesi, Belinda zoe gen. n. et sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). Entomofauna. 35(24): 533-540. Schintlmeister A. & Witt T.J. 2013. Polymona schellhorni sp nov., a new lymantrid moth from Jordania (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). Zootaxa. 3745(2): 296-298.