Willis J. Gertsch
Encyclopedia
Willis John Gertsch was an American arachnologist. He classified a number of species, including the Brown recluse spider
and the Tooth cave spider
.
Gertsch was the premier American arachnologist for half of the 20th century. He was Curator
of Arachnids at the American Museum of Natural History
, and later retired to Portal, Arizona
in the Chiricahua Mountains
. He was the author of hundreds of generic and specific names in a multitude of families and also the author of American Spiders, as well as editor of a later revised printing of John Henry Comstock
's Spider Book. During his tenure as Curator of Arachnids at the American Museum of Natural History
he was the usual authority quoted when any question on spiders arose.
Brown recluse spider
The brown recluse spider or violin spider, Loxosceles reclusa, is a member of the family Sicariidae . The spider has a venomous bite....
and the Tooth cave spider
Tooth cave spider
The tooth cave spider is a 1/16 inch long arachnid. It is endemic to Texas and is considered an endangered species....
.
Gertsch was the premier American arachnologist for half of the 20th century. He was Curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
of Arachnids at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
, and later retired to Portal, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in the Chiricahua Mountains
Chiricahua Mountains
The Chiricahua Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Arizona which are part of the Basin and Range province of the southwest, and part of the Coronado National Forest...
. He was the author of hundreds of generic and specific names in a multitude of families and also the author of American Spiders, as well as editor of a later revised printing of John Henry Comstock
John Henry Comstock
John Henry Comstock was an eminent researcher in entomology and arachnology and a leading educator. His work provided the basis for classification of butterflies, moths, and scale insects.-Early life and education:...
's Spider Book. During his tenure as Curator of Arachnids at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
he was the usual authority quoted when any question on spiders arose.