Maxwell V L Barclay

FRES Fres ( el, Φρες) is a village and former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Apokoronas, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an ...

is a British entomologist, and Curator and Collections Manager of Coleoptera and Hemiptera at the

Natural History Museum A natural history museum or museum of natural history is a scientific institution with natural history collections that include current and historical records of animals, plants, fungi, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, climatology, and more. ...

in London. He is a Fellow of the

Royal Entomological Society The Royal Entomological Society is devoted to the study of insects. Its aims are to disseminate information about insects and improving communication between entomologists. The society was founded in 1833 as the Entomological Society of Londo ...

, and a member of the editorial board of

The Coleopterist ''The Coleopterist'' is a UK-based journal for specialists in coleopterology (the study of beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-c ...

journal. He has been described as ‘one of Britain’s leading entomologists’.

Career

Barclay is one of the four virtual ‘Scientist Guides’ of the

’s new Darwin Centre and was among the group that showed the building to

Prince William William, Prince of Wales, (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982) is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and his first wife Diana, Princess of Wales. Born in London, William was educa ...

at its 2009 opening. He is a frequent public speaker and media spokesman for entomology and for the Museum, most notably appearing in three of the six episodes of the 2010 BBC Series ''Museum of Life'' presented by Jimmy Doherty. He believes that public speaking is important 'to enthuse the next generation of scientists and naturalists, and to legitimise what we do in the eyes of the public'. In 2016 he gave the Royal Entomological Society's Verrall Lecture speaking on 'Collections: the last great frontiers of exploration'. In 2008 he was involved in the identification of a species of bug new to Britain in the Museum’s garden. Barclay is best known for his work on beetles ( Coleoptera), and is author of scientific papers and co-editor of a text book on the subject. He worked as a volunteer in the Department of Entomology for several years before being offered the post of Curator in 2001. The collection of the

that he manages includes more than 20,000 drawers of beetles, including specimens collected by Joseph Banks,

Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended ...

and Alfred Russel Wallace. He has travelled extensively in search of specimens, including to Bolivia,

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

and

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

, and has discovered new species.

Recognition

94 beetle species have been named in his honour by fellow scientists, including:

Carabidae Ground beetles are a large, cosmopolitan family of beetles, the Carabidae, with more than 40,000 species worldwide, around 2,000 of which are found in North America and 2,700 in Europe. As of 2015, it is one of the 10 most species-rich animal fami ...

* ''Goniotropis barclayi'' Deuve, 2005 * ''Platynus barclayi'' Schmidt, 2009 * ''Orictites barclayi'' Balkenohl, 2017 * ''Brachinus barclayi'' Hrdlička, 2019

Hydrophilidae Hydrophilidae, also known colloquially as water scavenger beetles, is a family of beetles. Aquatic hydrophilids are notable for their long maxillary palps, which are longer than their antennae. Several of the former subfamilies of Hydrophilidae ...

* ''Berosus barclayi'' Ponomarenko & Soriano, 2019 (Upper Eocene fossil)

Ptiliidae Ptiliidae is a family of very tiny beetles with a cosmopolitan distribution. This family contains the smallest of all beetles, with a length when fully grown of . The weight is approximately 0.4 milligrams. They are colloquially called feat ...

* ''Acrotrichis barclayi'' Darby, 2014 Staphylinidae * ''Naddia barclayi'' Rougemont, 2016 * ''Asimos barclayi'' Chatzimanolis, 2023

Scarabaeidae The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 30,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family has undergone significant change in recent years. Several sub ...

* ''Ixorida'' (''Pseudomecinonota'') ''barclayi'' Legrand, 2008 * ''Gynaecoserica barclayi'' Ahrens, 2009 * ''Clinterocera barclayi'' Legrand & Chew, 2010 * ''Copris'' (''Sinocopris'') ''barclayi'' Ochi, 2010 * ''Protaetia'' (''Macroprotaetia'') ''maxwelli'' Jakl, 2011 * ''Madecorphnus barclayi'' Frolov, 2012 * ''Onthophagus maxwellianus'' Moretto, 2013 * ''Mesomerodon barclayi'' Seidel, Jameson & Stone, 2017 * ''Wernoryctes barclayi'' Takano, 2020

Cantharidae The soldier beetles (Cantharidae) are relatively soft-bodied, straight-sided beetles. They are cosmopolitan in distribution. One of the first described species has a color pattern reminiscent of the red coats of early British soldiers, hence the ...

* ''Themus'' (''Haplothemus'') ''barclayi'' Svihla, 2006

Heteroceridae Heteroceridae, the variegated mud-loving beetles, are a widespread and relatively common family of beetles found on every continent except for Antarctica. Around two hundred and fifty species of heterocerids are known to occur worldwide. They a ...

* ''Tropicus'' ''maxwelli'' Skalicky, 2010

Limnichidae Limnichidae, commonly called minute marsh-loving beetles, is a family of beetles belonging to Byrrhoidea. There are at least 30 genera and 350 described species in Limnichidae. They are found worldwide, with the greatest diversity in tropical regi ...

* ''Phalacrichus'' ''max'' Ribera & Hernando, 2001

Throscidae Throscidae is a family of elateroid beetles found worldwide (except New Zealand) with around 150 species in 5 extant genera. The larvae are soil-dwelling, siphoning fluid from mycorrhizae attached to trees. The adults are short-lived, with the ...

* ''Trixagus barclayi'' Kirejtshuk, 2019 (Upper Eocene fossil)

Eucnemidae Eucnemidae, or false click beetles, are a family of elateroid beetles including about 1700 species distributed worldwide. Description Closely related to the family Elateridae, specimens of Eucnemidae can reach a length of . Bodies are slight ...

* ''Bioxylus'' ''barclayi'' Otto, 2016

Elateridae Elateridae or click beetles (or "typical click beetles" to distinguish them from the related families Cerophytidae and Eucnemidae, which are also capable of clicking) are a family of beetles. Other names include elaters, snapping beetles, sp ...

* ''Athous'' ''barclayi'' Platia, 2010

Ptinidae Ptinidae is a family of beetles in the superfamily Bostrichoidea. There are at least 220 genera and 2,200 described species in Ptinidae worldwide. The family includes spider beetles and deathwatch beetles. The Ptinidae family species are hard ...

* ''Clada'' ''barclayi'' Zahradník & Trýzna, 2018

Dermestidae Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are over 1,100 species described. Dermestids have ...

* ''Orphinus barclayi'' Hava & Matsumoto, 2021 * ''Anthrenus'' ''barclayi'' Háva, 2019 * ''Thaumaglossa'' ''barclayi'' Kadej and Háva, 2015

Scirtidae Scirtidae is a Taxonomic rank, family of beetles (Coleoptera). These beetles are commonly referred to as marsh beetles, as the larvae are typically associated with stagnant water, but can be found in flowing water. Adults prefer decomposing plan ...

* ''Scirtes maxi'' Yoshitomi & Ruta, 2010 * ''Cyphon barclayi'' Yoshitomi, 2012

Psephenidae Water-penny beetles are a family (the Psephenidae) of 272 species (in 35 genera) of aquatic beetles found on all continents except Antarctica, in both tropical and temperate areas. The young, which live in water, resemble tiny pennies. The larv ...

* ''Falsodrupeus barclayi'' Lee, 2011 * ''Homoeogenus barclayi'' Lee, 2016 Buprestidae * ''Endelus barclayi'' Kalashian, 2011 * ''Aphanisticus barclayi'' Kalashian & Kubáň, 2014 * ''Sphenoptera barclayi'' Kalashian, 2017

Lycidae The Lycidae are a family in the beetle order Coleoptera, members of which are commonly called net-winged beetles. These beetles are cosmopolitan, being found in Nearctic, Palearctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Australian ecoregions ...

* ''Sulabanus barclayi'' Dvorak & Bocak, 2007 * ''Alyculus barclayi'' Palata & Bocak, 2012 Coccinellidae * ''Serratibia barclayi'' Gordon, Canepari & Hanley, 2013 Helotidae * ''Neohelota barclayi'' Lee, 2015

Nitidulidae The sap beetles, also known as Nitidulidae, are a family (biology), family of beetles. They are small (2–6 mm) ovoid, usually dull-coloured beetles, with knobbed antenna (biology), antennae. Some have red or yellow spots or bands. They fe ...

* ''Pocadius barclayi'' Cline, 2005 Latridiidae * ''Cartodere barclayi'' Rücker, 2012 Aderidae * ''Zarcosia barclayi'' Gompel, 2020

Anthicidae The Anthicidae are a family of beetles that resemble ants. They are sometimes called ant-like flower beetles or ant-like beetles. The family comprises over 3,500 species in about 100 genera. Description Their heads constrict just in front of ...

* ''Tomoderus barclayi'' Telnov, 2005 * ''Macratria maxbarclayi'' Telnov, 2011 Ischaliidae * ''Ischalia barclayi'' Young, 2011

Tenebrionidae Darkling beetle is the common name for members of the beetle family Tenebrionidae. The number of species in the Tenebrionidae is estimated at more than 20,000 and the family is cosmopolitan in distribution. Taxonomy ''Tenebrio'' is the Latin g ...

* ''Eurychora barclayi'' Ferrer, 2003 * ''Amarygmus barclayi'' Bremer, 2004 * ''Pseudopodhomala barclayi'' Medvedev, 2004 * ''Ulomina barclayi'' Grimm, 2004 * ''Enicmosoma barclayi'' Ferrer, 2005 * ''Tauroceras barclayi'' Ferrer, Soldati & Delatour, 2005 * ''Chariotheca barclayi'' Masumoto 2006 * ''Goniadera barclayi'' Ferrer, 2007 * ''Pseudonautes barclayi'' Ando, 2007 * ''Laena barclayi'' Schawaller, 2009 * ''Othryoneus barclayi'' Ferrer, 2010 * ''Phylan barclayi'' Ferrer, 2010 * ''Hexarhopalus'' (''Leprocaulus'') ''barclayi'' Purchart, 2010 * ''Phymatosoma barclayi'' Masumoto & Akita, 2010 * ''Blaps barclayi'' Martínez-Fernández & Ferrer, 2012 * ''Rhyzodina barclayi'' Ferrer, 2015 * ''Stenochinus barclayi'' Masumoto & Akita, 2019 * ''Toktokkus barclayi'' Kamiński & Gearner, 2020

Oedemeridae The family Oedemeridae is a cosmopolitan group of beetles commonly known as false blister beetles, though some recent authors have coined the name pollen-feeding beetles. There are some 100 genera and 1,500 species in the family, mostly associate ...

* ''Nacerdes (Xanthochroa) apicipennis barclayi'' Svihla, 2011

Cerambycidae The longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), also known as long-horned or longicorns, are a large family of beetles, with over 35,000 species described. Most species are characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than ...

* ''Trypogeus barclayi'' Vives, 2007 * ''Melanesiandra barclayi'' Santos-Silva, 2011 * ''Acutandra barclayi'' Bouyer, Drumont & Santos-Silva, 2012 * ''Colobeutrypanus barclayi'' Monné & Monné, 2012 * ''Clytellus barclayi'' Miroshnikov, 2014 * ''Oncideres barclayi'' Nearns & Tavakilian, 2015 * ''Parandra barclayi'' Santos-Silva, 2015 * ''Triammatus barclayi'' Jiroux, 2016 * ''Saphanodes barclayi'' Adlbauer, 2016 * ''Elydnus barclayi'' Miroshnikov, 2017 * ''Lophobothea barclayi'' Monné M.A., Monné M.L. & Botero, 2017 * ''Dymasius barclayi'' Miroshnikov, 2018 * ''Polyzonus barclayi'' Skale, 2018 Chrysomelidae * ''Cyrtonota maxhowardi'' Sekerka, 2011 (named for Max and his colleague Howard Mendel) * ''Dercetina barclayi'' Lee & Bezdek, 2013 * ''Charaea maxbarclayi'' Bezdek & Lee, 2014 * ''Diabrotica barclayi'' Derunkov, Prado, Tishechkin & Konstantinov, 2015 * ''Doryscus barclayi'' Lee, 2017

Anthribidae Anthribidae is a family of beetles also known as fungus weevils. The antennae are not elbowed, may occasionally be longer than the body and thread-like, and can be the longest of any members of Curculionoidea. As in the Nemonychidae, the labrum ...

* ''Pseudobasidissus barclayi'' Tryzna & Banar, 2014 * ''Gymnognathus barclayi'' Perger & Guerra, 2016

Rhynchitidae The tooth-nosed snout weevils, Rhynchitidae, are small beetles (1.5 to 6.5 mm) that are usually found in vegetation. They usually use buds, fruits, or seeds for oviposition. The tooth-nosed snout weevils receive this name due to the teeth on ...

* ''Rubroinvolvulus barclayi'' Legalov, 2009

Brentidae Brentidae is a cosmopolitan family of primarily xylophagous beetles also known as straight-snouted weevils. The concept of this family has been recently expanded with the inclusion of three groups formerly placed in the Curculionidae; the subfa ...

* ''Stereodermus barclayi'' Mantilleri, 2004 * ''Perapion barclayi'' Alonso-Zarazaga, 2011 orrected 2013 from mistyped ''barkleyi'' Curculionidae * ''Maxwelleus'' Meregalli, 2022 * ''Barclayanthus'' Borovec & Skuhrovec, 2019 * ''Eudraces barclayi'' Borovec & Nakladal, 2018 * ''Heisonyx barclayi'' Borovec, Colonelli & Osella, 2009 * ''Larinus barclayi'' Gültekin & Lyal, 2016 * ''Pachycerus barclayi'' Meregalli, 2009 * ''Sphincticraerus barclayi'' Košťál, 2019 * ''Titilayo barclayi'' Cristovao & Lyal, 2018 * ''Tychius barclayi'' Caldara, 2011 as well as the wasp ''Platygaster barclayi'' Buhl, 2011, the fulgorid bug ''Polydictya barclayi'' Constant, 2016 and the fossil cockroach ''Mesoblatta maxi'' Hinkelman, 2020.

Personal life

Barclay is married with children. As a teenager he worked as a volunteer at the

Durrell Wildlife Park Jersey Zoo (formerly Durrell Wildlife Park) is a zoological park established in 1959 on the island of Jersey in the English Channel by naturalist and writer Gerald Durrell (1925–1995). It is operated by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. ...

and he cites

Gerald Durrell Gerald Malcolm Durrell, (7 January 1925 – 30 January 1995) was a British naturalist, writer, zookeeper, conservationist, and television presenter. He founded the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Jersey Zoo on the Channel Island o ...

as a significant influence.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barclay, Maxwell V.L. Living people British entomologists Fellows of the Royal Entomological Society English coleopterists Employees of the Natural History Museum, London Year of birth missing (living people)