Bernard Skinner (1939 – 7 February 2017) was an English

lepidopterist Lepidopterology ()) is a branch of entomology concerning the scientific study of moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies. Someone who studies in this field is a lepidopterist or, archaically, an aurelian. Origins Post-Renaissance, t ...

known for the Skinner moth trap and ''

The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles ''The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles (Macrolepidoptera)'' by Bernard Skinner is a single volume identification guide to the macromoths of Britain and Ireland published by Viking Books, often referred by moth recorders ...

''. The book made it easier to identify moths and the portable light trap made it easier to catch moths, thus encouraging the recording of moths as a hobby.

Personal life

Early life

Following the death of his mother, when he was three years old, Bernard was brought up by two aunts in

West Norwood West Norwood is a largely residential area of south London within the London Borough of Lambeth, located 5.4 miles (8.7 km) south south-east of Charing Cross. The centre of West Norwood sits in a bowl surrounded by hillsides on its east, ...

, London. His father, Frank, lived nearby. His first school was

St Joseph's College, Upper Norwood St Joseph's College is a boys' secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located in the Upper Norwood area of the London Borough of Croydon, England. The school is a single sex educational establishment for boys up to the age of 16 a ...

, and with a friend Terry Dillon, they visited nearby bombsites to find butterflies. Later they cycled to

Streatham Streatham ( ) is a district in south London, England. Centred south of Charing Cross, it lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth. Streatham was in Surrey ...

and

Mitcham Common Mitcham Common is 182 hectares (460 acres) of common land situated in south London. It is predominantly in the London borough of Merton, with parts straddling the borders of Croydon and Sutton. It is designated a Site of Metropolita ...

s and to

Selsdon Selsdon is an area in South-East London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon, in the ceremonial county of Greater London. Prior to 1965 it was in the historic county of Surrey. It is located south of Coombe and Addiscombe, west o ...

Bird Sanctuary. A life-long interest in moths started with the publication of Ford's ''The Observer's Book of the Larger British Moths''.

Skinner trap

Terry Dilllon and Bernard designed a wooden portable light-trap, built by a local carpenter, with Bernard dealing with the electrics. The trap later became known as the skinner trap.

Publications

The ''Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles'' revolutionised moth recording in Britain. In collaboration with David Wilson, who took the photographs for the 42 colour plates, the book provided up to date species accounts for each macro-moth found in Britain and Ireland in the last one hundred years. The layout of the book made it easier to identify moths, and was largely responsible for the increase in moth recording. It was first published in 1984, with revised editions in 1998 and 2009.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skinner, Bernard 2017 deaths Entomological writers English lepidopterists People from Upper Norwood