Theodore Pergande facts for kids
Theodore Pergande (born December 28, 1840 – died March 23, 1916) was a scientist who studied insects, known as an entomologist. He was born in Germany but became famous in America for his amazing skills in raising insects and studying them closely. He made careful observations of tiny insects like aphids and thrips. He also collected and studied many types of ants found in North America. Some of these ants were even named after him!
Contents
Theodore Pergande's Life Story
Early Life and Moving to America
Theodore Pergande was born in Germany in 1840. When he was around 20 years old, he decided to move to the United States. This was at the very start of the American Civil War. Theodore joined the Union Army, which was the northern side fighting in the war. Before moving, he had worked as a mechanic in a gun factory in a city called Stettin.
Becoming an Insect Expert
After the Civil War ended, Theodore lived in St. Louis, Missouri. He married a German woman there and continued to work in a company that made guns. However, his true passion was collecting insects during his free time on weekends.
One day, while he was out collecting insects, he met another scientist named Otto Lugger. Mr. Lugger was very impressed with Theodore's skills and recommended him to a famous entomologist named C.V. Riley. At that time, C.V. Riley was the state entomologist in Missouri.
Working with the U.S. Government
When C.V. Riley moved to work for the U.S. Department of Entomology, he brought Theodore Pergande along with him. Theodore became a very important part of the team. He was in charge of raising insects, which means he would help them grow from eggs to adults in a controlled environment. This allowed scientists to study their life cycles very closely.
Theodore was known for his careful work. He described many new species of insects, meaning he was the first to officially identify and name them. He was also excellent at preparing and mounting insect specimens so they could be studied and kept in collections. He was one of the oldest members of the Entomological Society of Washington. Theodore was part of a group of influential entomologists who had come from Germany, including scientists like Eugene Amandus Schwarz and Albert Koebele.
