The Arachnida and Myriapoda Collection comprises approximately 250,000 specimens, of which 5,110 are types. This is one of the largest and historically most significant collection of its kind in Europe.

The collection is home to 20,600 ethanol jars, 7,400 dry specimens and 27,300 microscope slides. There are also smaller collections of sea spiders (Pantopoda) and horseshoe crabs (Xiphosura), as well as the stem-group arthropods, tongue worms (Pentastomida), velvet worms (Onychophora) and water bears (Tardigrada).

The geographical focus lies in Germany, Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. There are also important collections from Brazil, Australia, Indonesia and Japan, as well as collections from the former German colonies Namibia, Togo, Tanzania and Papua-New Guinea.