Constantin Wesmael (4 October 1798, in Brussels – 26 October 1872, near to Saint-Josse-ten-Noode) was a Belgian

entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...

Life

Of modest origin, he was granted a bursary to study law. He taught, initially, humanities in

Charleroi Charleroi ( , , ; wa, Tchålerwè ) is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. By 1 January 2008, the total population of Charleroi was 201,593.

before teaching sciences at the Athenaeum of Brussels. He was, next a professor of zoology at the school of veterinary surgeon and agriculture. He specialized in Ichneumonidae.

Collection

According to a note made by Baron de Sélys Longchamps, Wesmael gave his Braconidae to Mr. Haliday, without knowing however that this Irish scientist would be later established in Italy, and that after his death his collection would pass via Edward Perceval Wright to Dublin Museum. However, in the copy of the biography of Wesmael by Selys, Dr. Jacobs noted next to the sentence written by Selys (p. 235) (He gave his Braconides to Mr. Haliday), this note:: Error! they were found by me... Both statements are true and Wesmael's Braconidae are divided between the

National Museum of Ireland The National Museum of Ireland ( ga, Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann) is Ireland's leading museum institution, with a strong emphasis on national and some international archaeology, Irish history, Irish art, culture, and natural history. It has thre ...

and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Some are also in La Specola Museum in Florence having been given by Haliday to

Camillo Rondani Camillo Rondani (21 November 1808 – 17 September 1879) was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera. Early life, family and education Camillo Rondani was born in Parma when the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon ...

. Hesitating about his decision to give his collection of Ichneumonidae to the British Museum of Natural History he finally entrusted it to Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

Works

*''Monographie des Braconides de Belgique'' 252p.+ 70p. + 166 p. - 4 pl. (1 hand coloured) 1835–1838. A very rare work

*''Remarques critiques sur diverses espèces d'Ichneumons de la coll. Johann Ludwig Christian Gravenhorst, Gravenhorst'' 99 p. 1859 * ''Tentamen dispositionis methodicae Ichneumonum Belgii'' 4to - 238 p. - with 1 lithographed plate 1844.

References

* Alain Pauly (2001). Bibliographie des Hyménoptères de Belgique précédée de notices biographiques (1827-2000). Première partie, ''Notes faunistiques de Gembloux'', 44 : 37–84.

External links

Account of Belgian Entomologists with portrait and account of Wesmael
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wesmael, Constantin Belgian entomologists 1798 births 1872 deaths Scientists from Brussels 19th-century Belgian zoologists