Haris Attila: Hymenoptera Research in the Carpathian Basin - Natura Somogyiensis 29. (Kaposvár, 2016)
Early History of the Aculeata research in Hungary from the 16th till the 19th century (1560–1800)
58 Natura Somogyiensis Mezőség listing numerous (47) Aculeata species (Herman 1872). The listed Hymenoptera species were identified by Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer (22nd December 1831 Wien - 15th January 1897 Wien) Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera specialist, curator of the Lepidoptera collection of the Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien. János Frivaldszky (17th June 1822 Rajec - 29th March 1895 Budapest, entomologist, manager of the zoological collection of the Hungarian National Museum) has 4 important faunistic papers on hymenoptera. In his paper, titled "Data to the fauna of Märamaros county" he described his zoological expedition into the county on July of 1871. In this month, they collected 618 insect species including few (only 3) Aculeata species from Fajnavölgy, Vörösmárth and at the foot of Pietros Mts. (Frivaldszky 1871). In his other paper on the fauna of Temes and Krassó counties (Frivaldszky 1876), he provided long list of Hymenoptera from Grebenácz, Ulma, Ferencfalva, Ribis- völgy and Oravica, including the description of 5 new species, namely: Ammophila mocsaryi Frivaldszky, 1876; Pterochilus formosus Frivaldszky, 1876; Larra hungarica Frivaldszky, 1876; Tachytes discolor Frivaldszky, 1876 and Osmia affinis Frivaldszky, 1876 (their current status see separately). In 1873, he reported the results of his zoological-botanical expeditions to Herkulesflirdő, Orsóvá and Komiareva (Transylvania) in 1853, 1856, 1865 and 1867 with Imre Frivaldszky or with Károly Sacher or sometimes alone (Frivaldszky 1873). His long and detailed list includes high number of Hymenoptera species. Frivadszky completed the insect fauna of Budapest either published in the monograph on the nature history of the capital of Hungary (Frivaldszky and Markó 1879). Frivaldszky attended grammar school in Trencsén (now Trencín), Nagyszombat (now Tmava) and Léva (now Levice) finally in Vác (luckily Vác is still Vác). In 1840, he started his engineer studies but all his spare time he spent in the Hungarian National Museum, where he worked with his uncle, Imre Frivaldszky. He passed the comprehensive exam of engineering from 1847 to 1848. In 1852, the Hungarian National Museum appointed him assistant curator, and 18 years later, Frivaldszky held the position of the executive officer of Department of Zoology of the National Museum. He traveled twice in the Balkan Peninsula, and from these expeditions, he returned with rich material. In 1865, he was elected correspondent, and in 1873 full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and also became member of numerous international scientific societies. He also studied other animals not only insects. Károly Brancsik (13th March 1842 Obeszterce - 18th November 1915 Trencsén, medical doctor and public health officer of Trencsén county). Károly Brancsik studied in Wien, Prague and finally in Graz Universities and started his medical career in Beckó later got job in Trencsén as medical doctor and public health officer of the region. Brancsik participated in different zoological and botanical expeditions, often as organizer in Hungary, in the Balkans and also in Austria. His favorite groups were beetles, snails, grasshoppers, and the plants which were clearly reflected in his collection specimens and his species descriptions as well. He was in exchanges with 125 foreign institutions, therefore he steadily increased his collection with specimens from exotic lands (eg. New Guinea, Madagascar, Africa, North America and Australia). Beyond his interest in natural history, he also dealt with poetry, painting and music (as composer). Károly Brancsik reported numerous Hymenoptera species (Brancsik 1893) from the historical Trencsén vármegye (historical county around Trencsén in Hungary, now Trencín in Slovakia). This output was result of 2 years intensive collection (Brancsik 1893). Brancsik didn't list the places of captures. Only the Aculeata parts are 5 pages. Dr.
