Howard P. Boyd
Encyclopedia
Howard P. Boyd is an entomologist, botanist, editor, teacher, photographer, filmmaker, writer, and naturalist, best known for his close association with the Pine Barrens of New Jersey
spanning more than 70 years.
, Massachusetts
, in 1914, Boyd spent much of his early life on small farms in three suburban communities northeast of the city. An avid Boy Scout, by the time of his graduation from high school
in Billerica
, MA, in 1932, he had earned every nature merit badge in the Boy Scout Handbook
.
He attended the University of New Hampshire
for two years before transferring to Boston University
, where he received a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences with an emphasis in botany (1938). A lifelong learner with a fascination for the biological and natural sciences, he later earned a master of science degree in entomology from the University of Delaware
(1979).
, Boyd went to work for the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA), moving with his wife, Doris (nee Fowler), to the Philadelphia area in 1938. He had his first exposure to the New Jersey Pine Barrens
through numerous insect collecting trips in the fall of that year. In 1969, after 31 years as an executive with BSA, he retired, at which time he became increasingly active in his two primary areas of interest: the Pine Barrens and entomology
.
Since his retirement, Boyd has been prolific as an educator, conservationist, and writer. With his wife Doris as photographer, from 1966–1976 the Boyds produced and presented films through the National Audubon Society
Wildlife Film Tours. From 1970-1990, he was an instructor at the Conservation and Environmental Studies Center at Whitesbog (now known as the Pinelands Institute for Natural and Environmental Studies), then sponsored by Glassboro State College. In the late 1980s and early ’90s, he was an adjunct instructor at the college, developing and teaching a course on the ecology of the Pine Barrens
. He has been a lecturer on Pine Barrens ecology
for both Burlington County College
(1990s) and the Pinelands Teacher Institute run by Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA; late 1990s to present). He has led numerous workshops and field trips focusing on diverse aspects of Pine Barrens biology, ecology, and conservation.
Boyd’s reputation as an educator and conservationist is closely tied to his work as a scientist and researcher. Beginning in 1974, he spent nearly 30 years as the editor of the serial scientific publication, Entomological News, published by the American Entomological Society
(AES), and he served as president of the AES from 1977–1981. He is considered one of the U.S.’s leading experts on tiger beetle
s, a significant focus of his entomological research. He served as vice president and executive board member of the New Jersey Audubon Society
(NJAS) from 1975–1983, and as chair of NJAS’s Advisory Committee for the Rancocas Nature Center, which he helped establish, from 1977–1980. He was president of the Burlington County Natural Sciences Club from 1988–1990. Since 1989, he has served as a trustee (now emeritus) of PPA.
In 1980, Boyd was presented with the Paul S. Battersby Award by the Audubon Wildlife Society. In 1989, he was presented with the Silver Beaver Award
by the Camden County Council, BSA. In 2002, he was presented with the Medal of the Garden Club of New Jersey (GCNJ), the organization’s highest honor. In 2004, he was one of two premiere inductees into the Pine Barrens Hall of Fame, established by PPA to honor heroes of Pine Barrens protection.
At 95 years of age, Howard P. Boyd remains an active voice for protecting the New Jersey Pine Barrens from human development and related threats. Together with Doris, his wife of more than 70 years, he resides in Tabernacle
, New Jersey
, Burlington County
, within the Protection Area of the Pinelands National Reserve
.
His other books are A Pine Barrens Odyssey: A Naturalist’s Year in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey (Plexus, 1997), Wildflowers of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey (Plexus, 2001), and The Ecological Pine Barrens of New Jersey: An Ecosystem Threatened by Fragmentation (Plexus, 2008). The impact of Boyd’s books in raising awareness of the New Jersey Pine Barrens ecosystem both regionally and nationally has been significant.
Stalking the “Tigers” of the Delaware Valley. Frontiers 37(3): 12-17; 4/1973
Overlapping Ranges of Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis and C. d. media. with notes on the Calvert Cliffs area, Maryland. Cicindela 7(3): 55-60; 9/1975
A Bird Lore Primer. Scouting 64(2): 26-27, 56-58; 3/4/76
Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) of New Jersey, with special reference to their Ecological Relationships. Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 104(2): 191-242; 8/1978
Flying Tigers. New Jersey Audubon 5(1): 11-14; W/1979
Insect Calendar. New Jersey Audubon 5(1): 21; W/1979
Insect Calendar. New Jersey Audubon 5(2): 18; Sp/1979
Insect Calendar. New Jersey Audubon 5(3): 22; Su/1979
Insect Calendar. New Jersey Audubon 5(4): 21; A/1979
Arthropods of the (N.J.) Pine Barrens (with P.E. Marucci). In: Forman, R.T.T. (ed.), Pine Barrens Ecosystem and Landscape. Chap. 29, pp. 505–525. Academic Press; Sp/1979
Intraspecific and Geographic Variations in Cicindela dorsalis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) (with R.W. Rust). Coleop. Bull. 36(2): 221-239; 6/1982
Annotated Checklist of Cicindelidae. The Tiger Beetles of North and Central America and the West Indies (with Assoc’s). Plexus Publishing, Inc., 31 pp.; 3/1982
Library of The American Entomological Society and a Brief Review of the Society’s Association with The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Entomol. News 95(4): 131-136; 9/10/84
Pitfall Trapping Cicindelidae (Colcoptera) and Abundance of Megacephala virginica and Cicindela unipunctata in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Entomol. News 96(3): 105-108; 5/6/85
The Birth of “Entomological News” and a Century of Editors. Entomol. News 100(5): 207-211; 11/12/89
Twenty Year Index to the Quarterly Journal, “Cicindela” Vols. 1-20. 1969-1988; 2/1990
Arthropods Taken in Pitfall Traps in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Entomol. News 106(1): 45-56; 1/1995
Re-establishing the Validity of Cicindela scutellaris (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Entomol. News 111(3): 224-226; 5/2000
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
spanning more than 70 years.
Background
Born in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in 1914, Boyd spent much of his early life on small farms in three suburban communities northeast of the city. An avid Boy Scout, by the time of his graduation from high school
Billerica Memorial High School
Billerica Memorial High School is located at 35 River Street in Billerica, Massachusetts. It is one of two public high schools in the town. Kevin Soraghan is the principal of Billerica High. The school serves about 1,630 students in grades 9 through 12. An assistant principal oversees students in...
in Billerica
Billerica, Massachusetts
Billerica is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,243 at the 2010 census. It is the only town named Billerica in the United States and borrows its name from the town of Billericay in Essex, England.- History :...
, MA, in 1932, he had earned every nature merit badge in the Boy Scout Handbook
Boy Scout Handbook
The Boy Scout Handbook is the official handbook of the Boy Scouts of America. It is a descendant of Baden-Powell's original handbook, Scouting for Boys, which has been the basis for Scout handbooks in many countries, with some variations to the text of the book depending on each country's codes and...
.
He attended the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
for two years before transferring to Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, where he received a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences with an emphasis in botany (1938). A lifelong learner with a fascination for the biological and natural sciences, he later earned a master of science degree in entomology from the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
(1979).
Career
Shortly after his graduation from Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, Boyd went to work for the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(BSA), moving with his wife, Doris (nee Fowler), to the Philadelphia area in 1938. He had his first exposure to the New Jersey Pine Barrens
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
through numerous insect collecting trips in the fall of that year. In 1969, after 31 years as an executive with BSA, he retired, at which time he became increasingly active in his two primary areas of interest: the Pine Barrens and entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
.
Since his retirement, Boyd has been prolific as an educator, conservationist, and writer. With his wife Doris as photographer, from 1966–1976 the Boyds produced and presented films through the National Audubon Society
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...
Wildlife Film Tours. From 1970-1990, he was an instructor at the Conservation and Environmental Studies Center at Whitesbog (now known as the Pinelands Institute for Natural and Environmental Studies), then sponsored by Glassboro State College. In the late 1980s and early ’90s, he was an adjunct instructor at the college, developing and teaching a course on the ecology of the Pine Barrens
Pine barrens
Pine barrens, pine plains, sand plains, or pinelands occur throughout the northeastern U.S. from New Jersey to Maine as well as the Midwest and Canada....
. He has been a lecturer on Pine Barrens ecology
Atlantic coastal pine barrens
The Atlantic coastal pine barrens is a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of the northeastern United States.-Setting:This ecoregion covers a disjunct area of 8,975 km² including the New Jersey Pine Barrens on the coastal plain of New Jersey, and smaller areas of southern Long Island in New...
for both Burlington County College
Burlington County College
Burlington County College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Burlington County, New Jersey...
(1990s) and the Pinelands Teacher Institute run by Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA; late 1990s to present). He has led numerous workshops and field trips focusing on diverse aspects of Pine Barrens biology, ecology, and conservation.
Boyd’s reputation as an educator and conservationist is closely tied to his work as a scientist and researcher. Beginning in 1974, he spent nearly 30 years as the editor of the serial scientific publication, Entomological News, published by the American Entomological Society
American Entomological Society
The American Entomological Society was founded on March 1, 1859. It is the oldest continuously-operating entomological society in the Western Hemisphere, and one the oldest scientific societies in the United States. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
(AES), and he served as president of the AES from 1977–1981. He is considered one of the U.S.’s leading experts on tiger beetle
Tiger beetle
The tiger beetles are a large group of beetles known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest species of tiger beetle can run at a speed of 9 km/h , which, relative to its body length, is about 22 times the speed of former Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson, the...
s, a significant focus of his entomological research. He served as vice president and executive board member of the New Jersey Audubon Society
New Jersey Audubon Society
The New Jersey Audubon Society is an environmental education and conservation advocacy organization. Founded in 1897, it is one of New Jersey's largest environmental organizations, with 10 staffed nature centers, 34 nature preserves, and thousands of members throughout New Jersey and the world...
(NJAS) from 1975–1983, and as chair of NJAS’s Advisory Committee for the Rancocas Nature Center, which he helped establish, from 1977–1980. He was president of the Burlington County Natural Sciences Club from 1988–1990. Since 1989, he has served as a trustee (now emeritus) of PPA.
In 1980, Boyd was presented with the Paul S. Battersby Award by the Audubon Wildlife Society. In 1989, he was presented with the Silver Beaver Award
Silver Beaver Award
The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council...
by the Camden County Council, BSA. In 2002, he was presented with the Medal of the Garden Club of New Jersey (GCNJ), the organization’s highest honor. In 2004, he was one of two premiere inductees into the Pine Barrens Hall of Fame, established by PPA to honor heroes of Pine Barrens protection.
At 95 years of age, Howard P. Boyd remains an active voice for protecting the New Jersey Pine Barrens from human development and related threats. Together with Doris, his wife of more than 70 years, he resides in Tabernacle
Tabernacle Township, New Jersey
Tabernacle Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 7,170....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Burlington County
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, within the Protection Area of the Pinelands National Reserve
New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve preserves the New Jersey Pine Barrens.The Pinelands is a unique location of historic villages and berry farms amid the vast oak-pine forests , extensive wetlands, and diverse species of plants and animals of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion...
.
Books by Howard P. Boyd
Boyd has written four books about the New Jersey Pine Barrens. His first book, A Field Guide to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey: Its Flora, Fauna, Ecology and Historic Sites (Plexus Publishing, Inc., 1991), with illustrations by Mary Pat Finelli, is currently in its sixth printing and is recognized as the most authoritative and widely referenced field guide to New Jersey Pinelands flora and fauna.His other books are A Pine Barrens Odyssey: A Naturalist’s Year in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey (Plexus, 1997), Wildflowers of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey (Plexus, 2001), and The Ecological Pine Barrens of New Jersey: An Ecosystem Threatened by Fragmentation (Plexus, 2008). The impact of Boyd’s books in raising awareness of the New Jersey Pine Barrens ecosystem both regionally and nationally has been significant.
- A Field Guide to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey: Its Flora, Fauna, Ecology and Historic Sites (1991) ISBN 0-937548-19-7
- A Pine Barrens Odyssey: A Naturalist’s Year in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey (1997) ISBN 0-937548-34-0
- Wildflowers of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey (2001) ISBN 0-937548-45-6
- The Ecological Pine Barrens of New Jersey: An Ecosystem Threatened by Fragmentation (2008) Hardback: ISBN 978-0-937548-65-3 Softback: ISBN 978-0-937548-69-1
Articles and scientific papers by Howard P. Boyd
Collecting Tiger Beetles in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Cicindela 5(1): 1-12; 3/1973Stalking the “Tigers” of the Delaware Valley. Frontiers 37(3): 12-17; 4/1973
Overlapping Ranges of Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis and C. d. media. with notes on the Calvert Cliffs area, Maryland. Cicindela 7(3): 55-60; 9/1975
A Bird Lore Primer. Scouting 64(2): 26-27, 56-58; 3/4/76
Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) of New Jersey, with special reference to their Ecological Relationships. Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 104(2): 191-242; 8/1978
Flying Tigers. New Jersey Audubon 5(1): 11-14; W/1979
Insect Calendar. New Jersey Audubon 5(1): 21; W/1979
Insect Calendar. New Jersey Audubon 5(2): 18; Sp/1979
Insect Calendar. New Jersey Audubon 5(3): 22; Su/1979
Insect Calendar. New Jersey Audubon 5(4): 21; A/1979
Arthropods of the (N.J.) Pine Barrens (with P.E. Marucci). In: Forman, R.T.T. (ed.), Pine Barrens Ecosystem and Landscape. Chap. 29, pp. 505–525. Academic Press; Sp/1979
Intraspecific and Geographic Variations in Cicindela dorsalis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) (with R.W. Rust). Coleop. Bull. 36(2): 221-239; 6/1982
Annotated Checklist of Cicindelidae. The Tiger Beetles of North and Central America and the West Indies (with Assoc’s). Plexus Publishing, Inc., 31 pp.; 3/1982
Library of The American Entomological Society and a Brief Review of the Society’s Association with The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Entomol. News 95(4): 131-136; 9/10/84
Pitfall Trapping Cicindelidae (Colcoptera) and Abundance of Megacephala virginica and Cicindela unipunctata in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Entomol. News 96(3): 105-108; 5/6/85
The Birth of “Entomological News” and a Century of Editors. Entomol. News 100(5): 207-211; 11/12/89
Twenty Year Index to the Quarterly Journal, “Cicindela” Vols. 1-20. 1969-1988; 2/1990
Arthropods Taken in Pitfall Traps in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Entomol. News 106(1): 45-56; 1/1995
Re-establishing the Validity of Cicindela scutellaris (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Entomol. News 111(3): 224-226; 5/2000