Mahadeva Subramania Mani

Born: 2 March 1908

Died: 8 January 2003

• He was an Indian entomologist especially famous for his studies on high altitude entomology.
• He made many scientific expeditions to the Himalayas resulting in pioneering contributions to High Altitude Entomology.
• He later made studies in the Pamir and Caucasus ranges leading to his work on Biogeography in India.
• In 1956, he joined the ZSI as Deputy Director and retired as officiating director in 1968.
• In 1968 he returned to his first love, Scientific Research and became Emeritus Professor, at the School of Entomology, St. John’s College, Agra and continued with his research work till 1984.
• His outstanding Research work has been on Taxonomy of parasitic Hymenoptera (Chalcidoidea and Proctotrupoidea), gall midges (Itonididae: Diptera) and ecology and histogenesis of plant galls.
• He is remembered most for his pioneering work in high altitude entomology. He led the first three Entomological Expeditions to the North West Himalaya in 1954, 1955 and 1956 and brought back a large collection of insects.
• He published several books like High Altitude Entomology, Ecology and Biogeography of India etc.

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