Emily L. Morton (April 3, 1841 – January 8, 1920) was an American entomologist and scientific illustrator. She was a co-author at onset of The Life-Histories of the New York Slug Caterpillars series.[1]
Emily L. Morton | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | New Windsor, New York, US | April 3, 1841
Died | January 8, 1920 New Windsor, New York, US | (aged 78)
Citizenship | American |
Known for | "The Life-Histories of the New York Slug Caterpillars" series |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Entomology, scientific illustration |
Signature | |
![]() |
Life
editEmily L. Morton was born on April 3, 1814, in New Windsor, New York. At the age of thirteen, she came across a scientific book on insects with their Latin names and became interested in collecting books on insects.[2]
Morton described Lepidoptera life histories in U.S. entomological circles acquiring, rearing, and illustrating the life stages.[1]
She met other collectors through articles and advertisements in the journal The Canadian Entomologist.[2] In 1893, Morton began working with entomologist Harrison G. Dyar after they both placed ads requesting exchanges of moths, including limacodids, in Entomological News.[1]
She also supplied a researcher Alpheus Spring Packard, PhD, with rare specimens of insects injurious to forest and shade trees, such as Janassa lignicolor, Hyparpax aurora and others.[3]
Morton sold eight specimens of her extensive collection of Lepidoptera in which she had hybridized several forms, to an English collector.[2]
She is not known to have published her research results,[2] however Morton became a co-author at onset of "The Life-Histories of the New York Slug Caterpillars" series.[1]
In 1904, Morton's collection of insects was divided between the American Museum of Natural History, the Boston Society of Natural History, and private collectors.[2]
Emily L. Morton died on January 8, 1920, in New Windsor.
References
edit- ^ a b c d Epstein, Marc (2016-01-28). Moths, Myths, and Mosquitoes: The Eccentric Life of Harrison G. Dyar, Jr. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-021527-9.
- ^ a b c d e Ogilvie, Marilyn; Harvey, Joy (2003-12-16). The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science: Pioneering Lives From Ancient Times to the Mid-20th Century. Routledge. p. 918. ISBN 978-1-135-96343-9.
- ^ Packard, Alpheus Spring (1890). Insects Injurious to Forest and Shade Trees. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 923.