Keith Arthur John Wise

Keith Arthur John Wise (1 June 1926 – 31 March 2012), often referred to as K. A. J. Wise, was a New Zealand entomologist. Originally employed at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wise began working with the Bishop Museum in the early 1960s, coordinating field programmes for United States visits to Antarctica and Subantarctic islands. This work led Wise to identify and describe large numbers of novel species, including many species of springtail. In 1965, Wise became the first Curator of Entomology at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, where he was integral in creating the first entomology section within the natural history gallery.

Early life

Wise was born on 1 June 1926 in Wellington. As his father Victor John Wise worked in insurance, Wise moved around the country often, living in Whangarei, Invercargill and
Oamaru, attending Whangarei Boys' High School, Southland Boys' High School and Waitaki Boys' High School. While living in Invercargill, Wise joined the Jellicoe Sea Scouts, which was led by Geoffrey Orbell, who would later be known for rediscovering the takahē in 1948. Orbell often took the boys sailing on his yacht to Foveaux Strait, which led to Wise developing a passion for both sailing and nature.

In 1945, Wise joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force for eight months, completing a course in meteorology. After the end of World War II, Wise began working at a fire insurance office in Invercargill due to the advice of his father. He later transferring to the Auckland office, but was unsatisfied, feeling that insurance was not a good fit for him.

Career

In 1945, Wise joined the Auckland Shell Club, and the following year malacologist Baden Powell gave a recommendation to the Auckland Museum Institute for Wise to join. In 1948, Wise began working at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in Mount Albert, working as an entomology technician in the Plant Diseases Division of DSIR under entomologist Don Spiller. Originally a temporary job looking at the effects of borer beetles, Wise was permanently employed by DSIR in early 1949.

From February 1954, Wise began working as an associate entomologist at Auckland War Memorial Museum, after being invited by museum entomologist Graham Turbott to provide cover while he was an eight months of leave. Wise worked this job concurrently with his work as DSIR, working weekends and evenings. Wise became an Associate Entomologist in 1957 while still employed at DSIR, when Turbott resigned to become the Director of the Canterbury Museum.

In late 1960, Wise took leave from the DSIR to work with the Bishop Museum, performing field research in Antarctica over the 1960–1961 Antarctic summer. In October 1961 he resigned from the DSIR and the Auckland War Memorial Museum in order to take up a full-time position at the Bishop Museum, coordinating field programmes from Christchurch for the United States Antarctic Research Programme. Wise took part in numerous trips to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands such as the Auckland Islands and Campbell Island, primarily focusing on springtails, and spend time operating a long-range high altitude trap for insects on United States Navy aircraft across the Pacific Ocean.

In 1965, Wise was appointed the first Curator of Entomology at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. He opened up the entomology department to visitors in order to inspire the public to collect insects, and led the development and opening of the insect section of the natural history gallery of Auckland War Memorial Museum, which opened in 1969.

Wise carried out 15 field trips in 1966 and 1967, including a visit to Whakaari / White Island in December 1966, and an expedition to the Auckland Islands. Wise's visit to Whakaari / White Island led to him creating a systemic list of all known species present on the island. In 1969, Wise took part in the Cook Bicentenary Expedition, focusing on the biodiversity of Rarotonga, Tonga and the Cook Islands. Wise was a part of the Royal Society of New Zealand South Pacific Expedition in 1977, which documented the biodiversity of the Lau Islands of Fiji.

From 1972 to 1990, Wise was the third most senior staff member at the museum, leading him to be the acting Assistant Director on many occasions. From 1969 to 1990, Wise was heavily involved with museum-related publications, including the '' Records of the Auckland Institute & Museum'', the '' Bulletin of the Auckland Institute and Museum'' and the museum's annual review. Wise published extensively on entomology-related topics, including works on caddis flies, lacewings, tiger beetles and monarch butterflies. In 1987 Wise co-edited a third edition of ''Powell's Native Animals of New Zealand'', alongside Brian Gill, Walter Cernohorsky and Brett Stephenson.

Wise retired in 1990 as a museum curator, but continued to work as a research associate of the museum. Wise died in 2012, while working on a monograph documenting the lacewings and alder flies of New Zealand.

Recognition and legacy

Wise became an Associate Emeritus of the Auckland War Memorial Museum in 1999, which recognised his commitment to scientific research and scholarship. Wise was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London.

Wise Peak in Antarctica was named after Wise. Four taxa have been named in Wise's honour: the Antarctic prostig mites ''Coccorhagidia keithi'' and '' Eupodes wisei'' (the latter of which Wise discovered), the intertidal beetle ''Hyphalus wisei'', and the endemic New Zealand moth genus ''Wiseana''.

After his death, his son Martin Wise organised ''Antarctica 1961'', a photography exhibition held at Point Chevalier which showcased 36 of Wise's photographs of Antarctica.

Personal life

Wise married Rosemary Musgrave in 1951, with whom he had four children. Wise's wife and children would often help Wise collect insects, and assisted his work at the museum.

Taxa identified by Wise

*'' Acanthomurus rivalis''
*'' Alloecentrella''
*'' Alloecentrella magnicornis''
* '' Confluens''
*'' Costachorema notopterum''
*''Cryptopygus campbellensis''
*''Cryptopygus cisantarcticus''
*'' Cryptopygus terranovus'' (originally ''Gressittacantha terranova'')
*'' Diplectrona bulla''
*'' Ecnomina zealandica''
*''Edpercivalia harrisoni''
*'' Friesea litoralis'' (originally ''Colonavis litoralis'')
*'' Friesea tilbrooki''
*'' Hydrobiosis falcis''
*'' Neobiosella''
*'' Neobiosella irrorata''
*'' Oeconesus lobatus''
*'' Olinga fumosa''
*'' Oxyethira ahipara''
*'' Oxyethira waipoua''
*'' Parakatianna salmoni'' (originally ''Longkingia salmoni'')
*'' Porphyrosela hardenbergiella'' (originally ''Lithocolletis hardenbergiella'')
*'' Pseudoeconesus bistirpis''
*'' Pseudosorensia atlantica'' (originally ''Sorensia atlantica'', later ''Isotoma (Pseudosorensia) atlantica'')
*'' Psilochorema embersoni''
*'' Pycnocentrodes aeris''
*'' Tiphobiosis kuscheli''
*'' Tullbergia mediantarctica''
*'' Tullbergia templei''
*''Zelandanura''
*'' Zelandanura bituberculata''

Selected bibliography

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References

Bibliography

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wise, Keith Arthur John

1926 births
2012 deaths
Bishop Museum
People educated at Southland Boys' High School
People educated at Waitaki Boys' High School
People educated at Whangarei Boys' High School
New Zealand entomologists
People associated with the Auckland War Memorial Museum
People associated with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand)
Scientists from Wellington City