Kumar Krishna

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Kumar Krishna (21 June 1928-19 September 2014) was an American entomologist of Indian origin. He was an expert on the termites and published the definitive systematic treatment of the termites of the world in a seven volume Treatise on the Isoptera of the world in 2013 written with collaborators.

Kumar was born in Rangoon and grew up in Dehra Dun where his father lived as an army physician who had served as a major in World War I. Kumar studied at the Agra University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in 1950 followed by a Master's degree from the University of Lucknow in 1952. He worked as a research assistant at the Forest Research Institute to Mithan Lal Roonwal, a specialist on termites and became very interested in the group. He moved to the University of Minnesota in 1954 and then moved to the University of Chicago to pursue a Ph.D. under Alfred E. Emerson (1896–1976). His research was on the dry wood termites in the family Kalotermitidae. He then worked at the City College of the City University of New York from 1962 while also being a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History. He became an assistant professor in 1964 and a full professor in 1973. [1]

Along with F.M. Weesner he published a two volume work on the Biology of Termites in 1970. After retiring from college in 1996 he began to work on the termites of the world which was published on April 25, 2013 in seven volumes consisting 2704 pages. His collection of termites from around the world is the most comprehensive one and is now part of the AMNH. Nearly 14 insect taxa are named after him. He was invited to write the entry on termites in the 15th edition of Encyclopedia Britannica. [1]

Kumar met Valerie Smith at the University of Chicago and the two got married. Valerie was a professor of English working alongside Kumar at the City College and helped him produce the Treatise. He took an interest in classical music. [1] He died from multiple cancers at his home in Manhattan. [2]

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Mastotermitidae

Mastotermitidae is a family of termites with one sole living species, Mastotermes darwiniensis which is found only in northern Australia. The remaining genera of this family are only known from the fossil record.

Termopsidae family of insects

Dampwood termites constitute a small and rather primitive family Termopsidae (Latin) of termites (Isoptera). They contain four or five extant genera with 13–20 living species, but can be divided into several subfamilies. They may be a nuisance, but compared to the drywood termites (Kalotermitidae), usually do not cause extensive damage to buildings or other man-made structures. As their name implies, they eat wood that is not dried out, perhaps even rotting, and consequently of little use to humans.

<i>Prostylotermes</i> extinct genus of termites

Prostylotermes is an extinct genus of termite in the isopteran family Stylotermitidae known from two Eocene fossils found in India. The genus contains a single described species, Prostylotermes kamboja.

<i>Parastylotermes</i>

Parastylotermes is an extinct genus of termite in the Isoptera family Stylotermitidae known from North America, Europe, and India. The genus contains five described species, Parastylotermes calico, Parastylotermes frazieri, Parastylotermes krishnai, Parastylotermes robustus, and Parastylotermes washingtonensis.

<i>Mastotermes</i>

Mastotermes is a genus of termites. The sole living species is Mastotermes darwiniensis, found only in northern Australia. A number of extinct taxa are known from fossils. It is a very peculiar insect, the most primitive termite alive. As such, it shows notable similarities to certain cockroaches, the termites' closest relatives. These similarities include the anal lobe of the wing and the laying of eggs in bunches, rather than singly. The termites were traditionally placed in the Exopterygota, but such an indiscriminate treatment makes that group a paraphyletic grade of basal neopterans. Thus, the cockroaches, termites and their relatives are nowadays placed in a clade called Dictyoptera.

Zootermopsis laticeps, known generally as Arizona dampwood termite, is a species of termite in the family Archotermopsidae. Other common names include the wide-headed rottenwood termite and southwestern rottenwood termite. It is found in Central America and North America.

Gnathamitermes perplexus, the long-jawed desert termites, is a species of termite in the family Termitidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Gnathamitermes is a genus of termites in the family Termitidae. There are about six described species in Gnathamitermes.

Reticulitermes hageni, the light southeastern subterranean termite, is a species of termite in the family Rhinotermitidae. It is found in North America.

Reticulitermes hesperus, the western subterranean termite, is a species of termite in the family Rhinotermitidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Neotermes castaneus, known generally as the southern damp-wood termite or Florida dampwood termite, is a species of termite in the family Kalotermitidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America.

Marginitermes hubbardi, the light western drywood termite, is a species of termite in the family Kalotermitidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Marginitermes is a genus of termites in the family Kalotermitidae. There are at least three described species in Marginitermes.

Tenuirostritermes cinereus is a species of termite in the family Termitidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Tenuirostritermes is a genus of termites in the family Termitidae. There are about five described species in Tenuirostritermes.

Stolotermitidae is a family of termites in the order Blattodea. There are about 14 described species in Stolotermitidae.

Stylotermitidae is a family of termites in the order Blattodea. There are two extinct and one extant genera in Stylotermitidae, with more than 50 described species.

Archeorhinotermes is an extinct genus of termites in the family Archeorhinotermitidae, and is the sole genus of the family. There is one described species in Archeorhinotermes, A. rossi. It was discovered in Burmese amber.

Cratomastotermes is an extinct genus of termites in the family Cratomastotermitidae, the sole genus of the family. There is one described species in Cratomastotermes, C. wolfschwenningeri.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Engel, Michael S.; Grimaldi, David A. (2011). "Kumar Krishna, in appreciation". ZooKeys (148): 1–13. doi:10.3897/zookeys.148.2008. PMC   3264412 . PMID   22287887.
  2. ↑ "Kumar Krishna. Obituary". The New York Times. 2014-09-28.
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