The teaching materials are represented by two inseparable components: a reference collection, and a booklet. The reference collection includes specimens of the most important or the most invasive species, and participants are welcome to keep it. There is no comparable ready-made source of specimens carefully selected to represent the most dangerous or regulated species. Even most major entomological museums do not hold all these species. The tool should be useful for anyone in academia or government who is charged with distinguishing native from invasive bark beetles, or regulated pests from harmless beetles, and thus protecting forests, orchards and tree related industries.

The booklet contains information about the species in the Collection, and will be given to participants at the Academy.