Jan Karel Bechyně (19 September 1920 – 9 March 1973) was a Czech

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 ...

and a leading authority on leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae). He was the son of photographer and nephew of architect .

Career

Bechyně studied at the University of Prague, graduating in 1948 with a thesis titled "Příspěvek k poznání filogenese a zoogeography rodu ''Tymarcha'' Latr" (on the phylogeny and zoogeography of the genus ''Tymarcha'' Latr). He emigrated from the Czech Republic (then

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

) in 1948 and never subsequently returned. He worked in natural history museums in Munich and at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Brussels before moving to Los Angeles and later South America, where he researched in Brazil, San Salvador, and Peru before gaining a professorial post at the University of Maracay in Venezuela. Bechyně was the first to propose combating the Colorado potato beetle with pests in Europe. His wife, Bohumila Špringlová, shared his interest in entomology and continued to represent Jan at entomological conferences after his death. Beetle '' Clinidium bechyneorum'' is named for Jan and B. Bechyne, noting that their "fine series of ''Clinidium'' have made the Rhysodine fauna of Venezuela the best known of any South American country."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bechyne, Jan 1920 births 1973 deaths Czechoslovak zoologists Czech entomologists Coleopterists People from Přibyslav