Constantin Wesmael
Encyclopedia
Constantin Wesmael was a Belgian entomologist, born on 4 October 1798 in Brussels
. He died on 26 October 1872 near to Sint-Joost-ten-Node, close to Brussels
.
in Charleroi
before teaching sciences at the Athenaeum of Brussels. He was, next a professor of zoology
at the school of veterinary surgeon and agriculture
. He specialized in Ichneumonidae
.
, Wesmael gave his Braconidae
to Mr. Haliday
, without knowing however that this Irish scientist would be later established in Italy
, and that after his death his collection would pass via Edward Perceval Wright
to Dublin Museum. However in the copy of the biography of Wesmael by Selys, Dr. Jacobs noted next to the sentence written by Selys (p. 235) (He gave his Braconides to Mr. Haliday), this note:: Error! they were found by me...
Both statements are true and Wesmael’s Braconidae are divided between the National Museum of Ireland
and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
. Some are also in La Specola
Museum in Florence
having been given by Haliday to Camillo Rondani
.
Hesitating about his decision to give his collection of Ichneumonidae to the British Museum of Natural History
he finally entrusted it to Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He died on 26 October 1872 near to Sint-Joost-ten-Node, close to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
Life
Of modest origin, he was granted a bursary to study law. He taught, initially, humanitiesHumanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
in Charleroi
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
before teaching sciences at the Athenaeum of Brussels. He was, next a professor of zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
at the school of veterinary surgeon and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. He specialized in Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae is a family within the insect order Hymenoptera. Insects in this family are commonly called ichneumon wasps. Less exact terms are ichneumon flies , or scorpion wasps due to the extreme lengthening and curving of the abdomen...
.
Works
- Monographie des Braconides de Belgique 252p.+ 70p. + 166 p. - 4 pl. (1 hand coloured) 1835-1838. A very rare work. http://www.insects.demon.co.uk/etudeshym/Wesmael-english.html
- Remarques critiques sur diverses espèces d'Ichneumons de la coll. GravenhorstJohann Ludwig Christian GravenhorstJohann Ludwig Christian Carl Gravenhorst , sometimes Jean Louis Charles or Carl, was a German entomologist, herpetologist and zoologist.- Life:...
99 p. 1859
- Tentamen dispositionis methodicae Ichneumonum Belgii 4to - 238 p. - with 1 lithographed plate 1844.
External links
Collection
According to a note made by Baron de Sélys LongchampsEdmond de Sélys Longchamps
Baron Michel Edmond de Sélys Longchamps was a Belgian liberal politician and scientist.Selys-Longchamps was regarded as the world's greatest authority on dragonflies and damselflies. His wealth and influence enabled him to amass one of the finest collections of neuropteroid insects and to describe...
, Wesmael gave his Braconidae
Braconidae
Braconidae is a family of parasitoid wasps and one of the richest families of insects. Between 50,000 and 150,000 species exist worldwide. The species are grouped into about 45 subfamilies and 1,000 genera, some important ones being: Ademon, Aphanta, Asobara, Bracon hebetor, Cenocoelius, Chaenusa,...
to Mr. Haliday
Alexander Henry Haliday
Alexander Henry Haliday, also known as Enrico Alessandro Haliday and Alexis Heinrich Haliday sometimes Halliday , was an Irish entomologist. He is primarily known for his work on Hymenoptera, Diptera and Thysanoptera, but Haliday worked on all insect orders and on many aspects of entomology.Haliday...
, without knowing however that this Irish scientist would be later established in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and that after his death his collection would pass via Edward Perceval Wright
Edward Perceval Wright
Edward Percival Wright was an Irish ophthalmic surgeon, botanist and zoologist.-Family, education and career:He was the eldest son of barrister, Edward Wright and Charlott Wright. Edward was educated by a private tutor, and was taught natural history by George James Allman. From 1852 he studied at...
to Dublin Museum. However in the copy of the biography of Wesmael by Selys, Dr. Jacobs noted next to the sentence written by Selys (p. 235) (He gave his Braconides to Mr. Haliday), this note:: Error! they were found by me...
Both statements are true and Wesmael’s Braconidae are divided between the National Museum of Ireland
National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland is the national museum in Ireland. It has three branches in Dublin and one in County Mayo, with a strong emphasis on Irish art, culture and natural history.-Archaeology:...
and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is a museum in the Belgian capital of Brussels dedicated to natural history. Its most important pieces are 30 fossilized Iguanodon skeletons, which were discovered in 1878 in Bernissart. The dinosaur hall of the museum is the world's largest museum...
. Some are also in La Specola
La Specola
Museum of Zoology and Natural History, best known as La Specola, is a museum in Florence, central Italy, located next to the Pitti Palace. The name "Specola" means observatory, a reference to the astronomical observatory founded there in 1790...
Museum in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
having been given by Haliday to Camillo Rondani
Camillo Róndani
Camillo Róndani was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera.-Early years:When Camillo Róndani was born in Parma the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon having crowned himself King of Italy...
.
Hesitating about his decision to give his collection of Ichneumonidae to the British Museum of Natural History
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
he finally entrusted it to Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is a museum in the Belgian capital of Brussels dedicated to natural history. Its most important pieces are 30 fossilized Iguanodon skeletons, which were discovered in 1878 in Bernissart. The dinosaur hall of the museum is the world's largest museum...
.