John Richard Vockeroth (2 May 1928 - 16 November 2012) was a Canadian

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 ...

from Broderick, Saskatchewan. Vockeroth graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1948 with a B.A., followed in 1949 by a M.A. He got a

D. Phil. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is a ...

in 1954 at Oxford University with a thesis on

Scathophagidae The Scathophagidae are a small family of Muscoidea which are often known as dung flies, although this name is not appropriate except for a few species of the genus ''Scathophaga'' which do indeed pass their larval stages in animal dung. The nam ...

. Vockeroth was known for his vast knowledge of

Diptera Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced ...

, especially on Mycetophilidae, Dolichopodidae, Syrphidae,

, and Muscidae. Overall he first described one family, 42 genera and 130 species of Diptera. He published 120 academic publications on 27 families of flies. In 1997, Vockeroth received the entomological C. P. Alexander award, recognizing him as a leading North American dipterist.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vockeroth, John Richard 1928 births 2012 deaths Dipterists Canadian entomologists Scientists from Saskatchewan