Erich Wasmann, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Erich Wasmann

Austrian entomologist

Date of Birth: 29-May-1859

Place of Birth: Merano, Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy

Date of Death: 27-Feb-1931

Profession: entomologist

Nationality: Kingdom of the Netherlands

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Erich Wasmann (29 May 1859 - 27 February 1931) was an Austrian (born in South Tyrol) entomologist, specializing in ants and termites, and Jesuit priest.
He described the phenomenon known as Wasmannian mimicry.
Wasmann was a supporter of evolution, although he did not accept the productivity of natural selection, the evolution of humans from other animals, or universal common descent of all life.
Rather, he believed that common ancestry was restricted to what he called "natural species" which were generally larger groups than species (which he called "systematic species"), genera, or even families.
His natural species he identified with the "paleontological species" of Melchior Neumayr.
Wasmann also was involved in a long-running dispute with Ernst Haeckel over Monism.
His father was the painter Friedrich Wasmann.