Adam Giede Böving (July 31, 1869 – March 16, 1957) was a Danish-American entomologist and

zoologist Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the structure, embryology, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. Zoology is one ...

. He was a specialist in the study of the larvae of the order

Coleoptera Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...

and the author of a series of descriptions on their early stages of development.

Biography

Adam Böving was born at

Sæby Sæby () is a town and seaport located on the east coast of the historical region of Vendsyssel on the North Jutlandic Island in northern Denmark. The town is located in Frederikshavn municipality in Region Nordjylland. It has a population of 8,9 ...

in Vendsyssel,

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

. He was the eldest child of Niels Orten Mathias Bøving (1838-1923) and Louise Augustine Ottilia (Gjede) Bøving (1838-99. His father was a school headmaster and later church vicar. After matriculation from

Aalborg University Aalborg University (AAU) is an international public university with campuses in Aalborg, Esbjerg, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1974, the university awards bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and PhD degrees in a wide variety of subje ...

, he continued his studies of

zoology Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the anatomy, structure, embryology, Biological classification, classification, Ethology, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinction, extinct, and ...

at the

University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen (, KU) is a public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in Scandinavia, after Uppsala University. ...

where he earned his Ph.D. in 1888. From 1902 to 1903 he worked as assistant curator of

entomology Entomology (from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (''éntomon''), meaning "insect", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study") is the branch of zoology that focuses on insects. Those who study entomology are known as entomologists. In ...

in the

University of Copenhagen Zoological Museum The Copenhagen Zoological Museum ( Danish: ''Zoologisk Museum'') was a separate zoological museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is now a part of the Natural History Museum of Denmark, which is affiliated with the University of Copenhagen. The separa ...

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

. He immigrated to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

in 1913 to become a member of the Bureau of Entomology, a division of

United States Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an executive department of the United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and producti ...

(USDA). While working there he became a specialist in the

larvae A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect developmental biology, development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typical ...

. From 1939 he was a research associate of the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

, and retired from USDA in 1945. He wrote and illustrated a number of books principally describing early stages of Coleoptera development. He became an honorary member of the

Entomological Society of America The Entomological Society of America (ESA) was founded in 1889 and today has more than 7,000 members, including educators, extension personnel, consultants, students, researchers, and scientists from agricultural departments, health agencies, ...

in 1939 and a member of the Academy of Sciences in 1948. He was president 1923-24 of the

Entomological Society of Washington The Entomological Society of Washington was organized on February 29, 1884 at a meeting called by three entomologists employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Charles Valentine Riley, Eugene Amandus Schwarz, and Leland Ossian Howard, in Ri ...

and from 1924 to 1932 served as vice president of the Washington Academy of Science.

Selected works

*''Natural History of the Larvae of Donaciinae'' (1910) *''Coleoptera Papers'' (1913) *''Larvae of North American Beetles of the Family Cleridae '' (1920) with A. B. Champlain *''Biology of Embaphion Muricatum'' (1921) with Joseph Sanford Wade *''The Pacific Flathead Borer'' (1929) with H. E. Burke *''Beetle Larvae of the Subfamily Galerucinae'' (1929) *''An Illustrated Synopsis of the Principal Larval Forms of the Order Coleoptera'' (1931) with Frank C. Craighead, Sr.

References

External links

''Adam Giede Boving Papers, 1908-1945'' (Smithsonian Institution Archives)
Danish entomologists 1869 births 1957 deaths Coleopterists Smithsonian Institution people Danish emigrants to the United States American entomologists People from Sæby {{Smithsonian-stub