Annette Frances Braun (1884–1978) was an American

entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...

and leading authority on

microlepidoptera Microlepidoptera (micromoths) is an artificial (i.e., unranked and not monophyletic) grouping of moth families, commonly known as the 'smaller moths' ( micro, Lepidoptera). These generally have wingspans of under 20 mm, and are thus harder ...

, a grouping of mostly small and nocturnal moths. Her special interest was

leaf miner A leaf miner is any one of numerous species of insects in which the larval stage lives in, and eats, the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths ( Lepidoptera), sawflies (Symphyta, the mother clade of wasp ...

s: moths whose larvae live and feed from within a leaf.

Early life and education

Annette Frances Braun was born on August 24, 1884, to George F. and Emma Maria (Wright) Braun in Cincinnati, Ohio. She got her education at the

University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,00 ...

, receiving her A.B. in 1906, her A.M. in 1908, and her Ph.D. in 1911, making her the first woman to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati; her younger sister

Emma Lucy Braun E. Lucy Braun (April 19, 1889 – March 5, 1971) was a prominent botanist, ecologist, and expert on the forests of the eastern United States who was a professor of the University of Cincinnati. She was the first woman to be elected President ...

would be the second.

Career

Braun began her career as a

zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and ...

teaching assistant at the University of Cincinnati (1911–19) before turning to private research. She developed expertise in the moths of the eastern North American forests, becoming an international authority who has been described as one of the most accomplished

lepidopterists Lepidopterology ()) is a branch of entomology concerning the scientific study of moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies. Someone who studies in this field is a lepidopterist or, archaically, an aurelian. Origins Post-Renaissance, the ...

of the 20th century. She described and named over 340 species in her lifetime and published four major monographs and dozens of papers on moths. A skilled artist with pen and ink, she often illustrated her work with detailed anatomical drawings made from her own field observations and microscope studies. Braun had specimens of over 30,000 microlepidoptera, which for years was the world's second-largest moth collection. Braun lived in Mount Washington, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, with her sister Emma, who was a noted botanist. Part of their garden was used as an outdoor entomological and botanical laboratory, and the sisters often took field trips together as well. Starting in the 1910s, they walked (and later drove) hundreds of miles through the forests of eastern North America—especially Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee—in search of plant and moth specimens. They were also dedicated conservationists, and Braun is remembered for her efforts to preserve natural areas in

Adams County, Ohio Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,477. Its county seat is West Union. The county is named after John Adams, the second President of the United States. Geography According to the ...

. Braun served as vice-president of the

Entomological Society of America The Entomological Society of America (ESA) was founded in 1889 and today has more than 7,000 members, including educators, extension personnel, consultants, students, researchers, and scientists from agricultural departments, health agencies, ...

(1926). She was also a trustee of the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. Braun continued working and publishing into her eighties. She died on November 27, 1978, at the age of 94.

Legacy

Species named after Braun include ''

Argyresthia annettella ''Argyresthia annettella'' is a moth of the family Yponomeutidae. It is found in North America, including Ohio, Ontario and Quebec. The wingspan is about 9 mm. The forewings are silvery white with a pale golden crooked fascia from th ...

'' and '' Glyphipterix brauni''. "Annette's Rock" is a trailside landmark named after Braun on the

Lynx Prairie Lynx Prairie is a nature preserve located in Adams County, Ohio, United States, near the community of Lynx. The preserve features a group of cedar glades which harbor rare prairie species, surrounded by forests on all sides. The prairie speci ...

nature reserve in Ohio. Braun's works are archived at several different institutions. The Annette and E. Lucy Braun Papers are held by the Cincinnati History Library & Archives, which is part of the

Cincinnati Museum Center The Cincinnati Museum Center is a museum complex operating out of the Cincinnati Union Terminal in the Queensgate neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. It houses museums, theater, a library, and a symphonic pipe organ, as well as special traveling ex ...

. The

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

holds an archive that includes some 5000 of Braun's slides. The

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas. It was founded in 1812, by many of the leading natu ...

houses her collection of 30,000 moth specimens. A number of the leaf mining moth specimens have associated preserved botanical specimens, which are also housed at the

Selected publications

Monographs

*''Evolution of the Color Pattern in the Microlepidopterous Genus''

Lithocolletis ''Phyllonorycter'' is a genus of moths in the family Gracillariidae. Diversity The genus comprises about 400 species, with a worldwide distribution. The vast majority of species are found in the temperate regions, with about 257 species descri ...

, 1914 *''

Elachistidae The Elachistidae (grass-miner moths) are a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Some authors lump about 3,300 species in eight subfamilies here, but this arrangement almost certainly results in a massively paraphyletic and c ...

of North America (Microlepidoptera)'', 1948 *'' Tischeriidae of America North of Mexico'', 1972 *"The Genus ''

Bucculatrix Bucculatricidae or (Bucculatrigidae) is a family of moths. This small family has representatives in all parts of the world. Some authors place the group as a subfamily of the family Lyonetiidae. Adults of this family are easily overlooked, being ...

'' in America North of Mexico (Microlepidoptera)", 1963

Other writings

*"Revision of the North American species of the genus ''Lithocolletis'' Hübner," 1908 *"The

Frenulum A frenulum (or frenum, plural: frenula or frena, from the Latin ''frēnulum'', "little bridle", the diminutive of ''frēnum'') is a small fold of tissue that secures the motion of a mobile organ in the body. In human anatomy Frenula on the ...

and Its

Retinaculum A retinaculum (plural ''retinacula'') is a band of thickened deep fascia around tendons that holds them in place. It is not part of any muscle. Its function is mostly to stabilize a tendon. The term retinaculum is New Latin, derived from the Latin ...

in the Lepidoptera," 1924

References

External links

Annette and E. Lucy Braun Papers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Braun, Annette 1884 births 1978 deaths Scientists from Cincinnati Women entomologists 20th-century American women scientists 20th-century American zoologists