Historic Entomology Online

The Special Collections has a substantial collection of historic entomology literature, books and wall charts on insects, plant - insect relations, bees and beekeeping from the end of the 15th century till the end of the 20th century. Part of it was donated by the Society for Promotion of Beekeeping in the Netherlands (Vereniging ter Bevordering van de Bijenteelt in Nederland, VBBN). You can search the Entomology collection in the catalogue of the Special Collections.

Some of the old books and all of the wall charts [printed and hand made] on entomology are made electronically available on the internet. You can have a look at the historic highlights of entomology on this website.

Wall charts

• Entomological and Phytopathological wallcharts. [Binnenhaven collection]


• Zoological and entomological wallcharts : varia. [1900-1950?]

Books

If the original books are available at the Special Collections you can also examen the originals in our reading room.

• Hoefnagel, Joris or Georg Mira calligraphiae monumenta, [1590-1600?]
  Archtypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnageli, 1592 copies by his son Jacob Hoefnagel Diversę insectarum volatilium icones (1630)
• Aldrovandi, U. De animalibus insectis, 1602 Ed. 1638
• Goedaert, J. Metamorphosis naturalis, 1669 Latin edition, 1662
• Merian, Maria Sybilla Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium, 1705;
  Receueil de[s] plantes des Indes, [1768] Surinaamsche Insecten, 1730 ed. 1719
  Europische insecten, 1730
• Swammerdam, J. Historia insectorum generalis, 1733 Dutch ed., 1669 French ed., 1686 Biblia naturae : sive historia insectorum... = Bybel der natuure : of historie der insecten, 1737-1738 German ed.: Bibel der Natur, 1752
• Fabricius, J.C. Entomologia systematica, 1792-1798 (check SFX button at for all parts)
  Mantissa insectorum, 1787 Part 1
• Panzer, G.W.F., Sturm, J.C. Faunae insectorum Germanicae initia , 1793-1809
  [Theil 1] [Theil 2] Or view our Panzer-und-Sturm slideshow
• Darwin, C. Insectivorous plants, 1876 1st. edition 1875 Die verschiedenen Einrichtungen durch welche Orchideen von Insecten befruchted werden, 1877
• Oudeman, J.T. De Nederlandsche insecten, 1900

Bees and Apiculture

• Nyland, P. Den naerstigen byen-houder, 1683. Part 3, 2nd section of 't Vermakelijck landt-leven

Other sources:

• Wikipedia's Timeline of Entomology


• Jan Swammerdam (1637-1680) website on Jan Swammerdam, a 17th century Dutch microscopist, made major discoveries in medicine and anatomy. His greatest contribution to biology was his understanding of insect development.


• The Hive And The Honeybee: The Phillips' Beekeeping Collection at Cornell's Albert R. Mann Library is a large American apiculture collection (1800-1950).

Wageningen Digital Library, 29 December, 2011