Eugène Le Moult
Encyclopedia
Eugène Le Moult was a French
naturalist
and entomologist.
He lived, for a long time, in Guyana
where his father worked. Le Moult specialised in Lepidoptera
. He was one of the most important insect dealer of his time. In addition, he was a renowned specialist of Morpho butterflies, and wrote — in association with Pierre Réal
— the first revision of the taxon: Les Morpho d'Amérique du Sud et Centrale, Paris 1962-1963. This two volume work with 20 plates in colour and 62 in black and white was until recently the classic monograph on the butterfly subfamily Morphinae
. 75 species
are placed in eight subgenera
, and the work generated 409 new names and made 750 names available as subspecific
and varietal names. This is far more than most Morpho specialists accept and the motivation may have been commercial (Le Moult published his own work). It is, however, a meticulous species-level classification, describes dozens of subgeneric taxa, illustrates the adults and male genitalia for all species, and gives an account of type specimens.
He also ensures the publication of journals Miscellanea Entomologica
(founded by Eugène Barthe
(1862–1945) and continued by Sciences Nat
) and Novitates entomologicae
from 1931 to 1946. But above all he will publish a French edition of the work of Adalbert Seitz (1860–1938) under the title Les Macrolépidoptères du Globe in 16 volumes and 4 supplements.
Brüssels. Buprestidae, Bostrichidae
, ex parte Cerambycidae, Curculionidae
, Dynastidae, Elateridae Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft, Hamburg :de:Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft parts in the Zoological Museum of the University of Hamburg.African material in Royal Central African Museum
, Tervuren.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
and entomologist.
He lived, for a long time, in Guyana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
where his father worked. Le Moult specialised in Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
. He was one of the most important insect dealer of his time. In addition, he was a renowned specialist of Morpho butterflies, and wrote — in association with Pierre Réal
Pierre Réal
Pierre Réal was a French entomologist.He specialised in Lepidoptera.He was a professor at the Faculty of Besançon. - Works :...
— the first revision of the taxon: Les Morpho d'Amérique du Sud et Centrale, Paris 1962-1963. This two volume work with 20 plates in colour and 62 in black and white was until recently the classic monograph on the butterfly subfamily Morphinae
Morphinae
Morphinae is a subfamily of Nymphalidae butterflies that includes the morphos, the owl butterflies and related lineages. It is either considered a sister group of the Satyrinae, or disassembled and included therein.- Systematics :...
. 75 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are placed in eight subgenera
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
, and the work generated 409 new names and made 750 names available as subspecific
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
and varietal names. This is far more than most Morpho specialists accept and the motivation may have been commercial (Le Moult published his own work). It is, however, a meticulous species-level classification, describes dozens of subgeneric taxa, illustrates the adults and male genitalia for all species, and gives an account of type specimens.
He also ensures the publication of journals Miscellanea Entomologica
Miscellanea Entomologica
Miscellanea Entomologica was a French entomological scientific journal. It was originally published by Eugène Barthe and established in 1892.- Beginning :...
(founded by Eugène Barthe
Eugène Barthe
Eugène Barthe was a French entomologist. While living in Vienne , he created the journal . In 1918, he moved into his father's house in Castanet-Tolosan , where a street was later named in his honour. As well as editing the journal, he also wrote several books which act as supplements to the journal...
(1862–1945) and continued by Sciences Nat
Sciences Nat
Sciences Nat was the academic publisher specialising in entomology of the Societé Sciences Nat. The society was established in 1971 and based in the rue de la Mare in Paris. Three years later it moved to the rue des Alouettes and later to Venette near Compiègne...
) and Novitates entomologicae
Novitates entomologicae
Novitates entomologicae was a French entomological journal. It was published by Le Moult and established in 1931.- Production :The size of the publication was very large : 25 x 33 cm, recalling something like the publications of Émile Deyrolle....
from 1931 to 1946. But above all he will publish a French edition of the work of Adalbert Seitz (1860–1938) under the title Les Macrolépidoptères du Globe in 16 volumes and 4 supplements.
Works
Partial list- Etudes sur les PreponaPreponaPrepona is a genus of Neotropical charaxine butterflies in the family Nymphalidae. They are strong fliers in tropical forests where they feed on fermenting fruits and animal dung. The underside of the wings is pale greyish or brownish, while the upperside is dark with distinct iridescent blue...
: lépidoptères rhopalocères américains E. Le Moult, Paris : Novitates entomologicaeNovitates entomologicaeNovitates entomologicae was a French entomological journal. It was published by Le Moult and established in 1931.- Production :The size of the publication was very large : 25 x 33 cm, recalling something like the publications of Émile Deyrolle....
, 1932-1933. - Révision du genre Helicopis (Erycinidae) E. Le Moult, Paris : Novitates entomologicaeNovitates entomologicaeNovitates entomologicae was a French entomological journal. It was published by Le Moult and established in 1931.- Production :The size of the publication was very large : 25 x 33 cm, recalling something like the publications of Émile Deyrolle....
, 1939. - Revision de la classification des Apaturinae de l'ancien monde : suivie d'une monographie de plusieurs genres E. Le Moult, Paris : Editions scientifiques du Cabinet entomologique E. Le Moult. 1950-.
- with P. RéalPierre RéalPierre Réal was a French entomologist.He specialised in Lepidoptera.He was a professor at the Faculty of Besançon. - Works :...
Les Morpho d'Amérique du Sud et Centrale. E. Le Moult, Paris : Editions scientifiques du Cabinet entomologique E. Le Moult. 1962-1963.
Collections
World Cerambycidae Royal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesRoyal 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...
Brüssels. Buprestidae, Bostrichidae
Bostrichidae
The Bostrichidae are a family of beetles with more than 700 described species. They are commonly called auger beetles, false powderpost beetles or horned powderpost beetles. The head of most auger beetles cannot be seen from above, as it is downwardly directed and hidden by the thorax...
, ex parte Cerambycidae, Curculionidae
Curculionidae
Curculionidae is the family of the "true" weevils . It was formerly recognized in 1998 as the largest of any animal family, with over 40,000 species described worldwide at that time...
, Dynastidae, Elateridae Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft, Hamburg :de:Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft parts in the Zoological Museum of the University of Hamburg.African material in Royal Central African Museum
Royal Museum for Central Africa
The Royal Museum for Central Africa is an ethnographical and natural history museum in Tervuren, just outside Brussels, Belgium. It was first built to show off King Leopold II's Congo Free State for the 1897 World Exhibition. It focuses mainly on Congo, Belgium's former colony...
, Tervuren.
External links
- Natuurdata In Dutch but portrait and Morpho collection photographs.