Jean-Jacques Kieffer
Encyclopedia
Jean-Jacques Kieffer was a French
naturalist
and entomologist who specialised in the study of parasitic insects. Educated as a priest, Kieffer taught natural science
in Bitche
, Lorraine
while working on the description and classification of insects. His work and publications later became a predominant source of description and classification for entomologists in the early 20th century, in particular with regard to parasitoid wasps, midge
s and mosquito
s.
Kieffer received an honorary Doctor honoris causa degree from the University of Strasbourg
in 1904.
which contains his types
of the Hymenoptera families Proctotrupidae, Platygasteridae, Ceraphronidae
, Diapriidae
, Scelionidae
, Bethylidae, Dryinidae
and Embolemidae. Some other material is held by the Lycée Technique et Lycée Professionnel Henri Nominé in Sarreguemines
.
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 who specialised in the study of parasitic insects. Educated as a priest, Kieffer taught natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
in Bitche
Bitche
Bitche is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is known for its large citadel. The surrounding territory is known as le Pays de Bitche in French and Bitscherland in German.-Geography:...
, Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
while working on the description and classification of insects. His work and publications later became a predominant source of description and classification for entomologists in the early 20th century, in particular with regard to parasitoid wasps, midge
Midge
A midge is a very small, two-winged flying insect. "Midge" may also refer to:-Real:* Midge Costanza , American politician* Mildred Gillars , aka "Midge", American broadcaster of Nazi propaganda during World War II...
s and mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
s.
Kieffer received an honorary Doctor honoris causa degree from the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
in 1904.
Selected publications
- Beschreibung neuer Proctotrypiden und Evaniiden. Arkiv for Zoologi 1: 525-562. 1904
- Hymenoptera. Fam. Scelionidae. Addenda et corrigenda. Genera Insectorum 80: 61-112. 1910
- Hymenoptera, Proctotrupoidea. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 15: 45-80. 1912
- Proctotrupidae, Cynipidae et Evaniidae. Voyage de Ch. Alluaud et R. Jeannel en Afrique Orientale (1911–1912). Résultats scientifiques. Hyménoptères 1: 1-35. 1913
- Proctotrypidae (3e partie). Pages 305-448 in André, E. Species des Hyménoptères d'Europe et d'Algérie. Vol. 11. 1914
- Neue Scelioniden aus den Philippinen-Inseln. Brotéria 14: 58-187. 1916
- Diapriidae. Das Tierreich. Vol. 44. Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin. 1916 627 pp.
- Scelionidae. Das Tierreich. Vol. 48. Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin. 1926 885pp.
Collection
Kieffer did not possess a collection. Instead he worked on museum material especially on that of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelleMuséum national d'histoire naturelle
The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle is the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.- History :The museum was formally founded on 10 June 1793, during the French Revolution...
which contains his types
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of the Hymenoptera families Proctotrupidae, Platygasteridae, Ceraphronidae
Ceraphronidae
Ceraphronidae is a small Hymenopteran family with 14 genera and some 360 known species, though a great many species are still undescribed. It is a poorly known group as a whole, though most are believed to be parasitoids , and a few hyperparasitoids...
, Diapriidae
Diapriidae
Diapriidae is a family of insects belonging to the order Hymenoptera. These tiny wasps are typically parasitoids on the larvae and pupae of a wide range of insects, especially flies; a few are hyperparasitoids...
, Scelionidae
Scelionidae
The Hymenopteran family Scelionidae is a very large cosmopolitan group of exclusively parasitoid wasps, mostly small , often black, often highly sculptured, with elbowed antennae that have an 9- or 10-segmented flagellum...
, Bethylidae, Dryinidae
Dryinidae
Dryinidae is a family of hymenopteran insects with about 1,400 described species found worldwide. These are solitary wasps whose larvae are parasitoids on other insects. The only known hosts are Hemiptera, especially leafhoppers....
and Embolemidae. Some other material is held by the Lycée Technique et Lycée Professionnel Henri Nominé in Sarreguemines
Sarreguemines
Sarreguemines is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the seat of an arrondissement.-Geography:...
.
Honours
A number of insect genera and species have ben named for him, e.g.- Kiefferia, a genus of Gall midgesCecidomyiinaeThe Cecidomyiinae are a subfamily of flies often called gall midges or gall gnats.-Systematics:Cecidomyiinae - supertribes, tribes, and genera:*SupertribeAsphondyliidi...
- Kiefferulus, a genus of ChironomidsChironomidaeChironomidae are a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae...
- Kiefferomyia, a genus of biting midgesCeratopogonidaeCeratopogonidae, or biting midges , are a family of small flies in the order Diptera...
(now included in Kieffer's own genus SchizoheleaCeratopogoniniCeratopogonini is a tribe of biting midges....
)
External links
- Internet Archive Free download of Kieffer, J.J. 1916. Diapriidae. Das Tierreich. Eine Zusammenstellung und Kennzeichnung der rezenten Tierformen. Vol. 44.. Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin, 627 pp.
- Internet Archive Free download of Kieffer, J.J.A. 1914. Hymenoptera. Serphidae (= Proctotrupidae) et Calliceratidae (= Ceraphronidae). Das Tierreich. Eine Zusammenstellung und Kennzeichnung der rezenten Tierformen. R. Friedlander und Sohn, Berlin. Vol. 42: xvii + 254 pp.