Edward Saunders (entomologist) facts for kids
Edward Saunders (born March 22, 1848 – died February 6, 1910) was an English scientist who studied insects. He was known as an entomologist. He focused on different types of insects, including beetles (called Coleoptera), true bugs (called Hemiptera), and bees, wasps, and ants (called Hymenoptera). He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), which is a special honor for top scientists.
His Life and Work
Edward Saunders was born in Wandsworth, England, on March 22, 1848. He was the youngest of seven children. His father, William Wilson Saunders, was also very interested in nature. He even helped pay for collecting trips for famous naturalists like Alfred Russel Wallace.
Edward went to school in Reigate. Like his family, he loved studying nature. He later joined his father's business at Lloyds Bank. But in his free time, he studied insects. When he was only sixteen, he published his first paper called Coleoptera at Lowestoft. It appeared in the first issue of the Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine. He later became an editor for this magazine.
Important Research
In 1871, Edward Saunders published a very important book called Catalogus Buprestidarum. This book listed and described many types of jewel beetles (a family of beetles called Buprestidae). To make sure his book was accurate, he traveled across Europe. He visited major museums and carefully checked the original insect specimens. This was the only time he traveled abroad in his life.
Saunders was a member of several important scientific groups. These included the Entomological Society, the Linnean Society, and the Royal Society. Being a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) is a very high honor for scientists.
Edward Saunders lived in different places like Reigate, Wandsworth, and Bromley. In 1887, he settled in Woking. In 1872, he married Mary Agnes Brown. They had twelve children, and eight of them lived longer than him. He passed away in Bognor on February 6, 1910, and was buried in Brookwood Cemetery.
His Books
Edward Saunders wrote several important books and scientific papers about insects. Here are some of his main books:
- 1871 Catalogus Buprestidarum synonymicus et systematicus (This book was about jewel beetles).
- 1892 The Hemiptera Heteroptera of the British Islands (This book was about true bugs found in the British Isles).
- 1896 The Hymenoptera Aculeata of the British Isles (This book was about bees, wasps, and ants found in the British Isles).
