Boris Balinsky

Borys Ivanovych Balinsky (23 September 1905 – 1 September 1997) was a Ukrainian and South African biologist, embryologist, entomologist, professor of Kyiv University and University of the Witwatersrand. Pioneer researcher in the field of experimental embryology, electron microscopy and developmental biology. He was author of popular textbook in embryology ''An Introduction to Embryology''.

Balinsky was born 23 September 1905, in Kyiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine). He was a student of Ivan Schmalhausen and one of the first to experimentally induce organogenesis in amphibian embryos. Balinsky was a full university professor and the deputy director of the Institute of Biology in Kyiv (now I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology) at 28 years of age. He became a recognized expert in fish and amphibian development. Being a victim of Soviet repressions, he remained under German occupation during World War II and fled to Poznań, Poland and later Munich, Germany. Balinsky briefly worked in Scotland in Conrad Hal Waddington's laboratory on mice embryology. Finally, he went to South Africa to become one of the founders of South African experimental bioscience.

Balinsky also worked in entomology and described new species of Plecoptera, Odonata and moths from the family Pyralidae, mainly from Caucasus and South Africa.

He died in Johannesburg 1 September 1997. He had a son John Balinsky who is also a scientist.

Insects described

Plecoptera

* '' Pontoperla teberdinica'' Balinsky, 1950
* '' Pontoperla katherinae'' Balinsky
* '' Balinskycercella gudu'' Balinsky, 1956
* '' Balinskycercella tugelae'' Balinsky, 1956
* '' Balinskycercella fontium'' Balinsky, 1956

Dragonflies

* ''Agriocnemis pinheyi'' Balinsky, 1963
* ''Agriocnemis ruberrima'' Balinsky, 1961
* ''Ceratogomphus triceraticus'' Balinsky, 1963
* ''Chlorolestes draconicus'' Balinsky, 1956
* ''Orthetrum robustum'' Balinsky, 1965
* ''Pseudagrion helenae'' Balinsky, 1964
* ''Pseudagrion inopinatum'' Balinsky, 1971
* ''Pseudagrion vumbaense'' Balinsky, 1963
* ''Urothemis luciana'' Balinsky, 1961

Lepidoptera

New species

* ''Abachausia grisea'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Acrobasis africanella'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Afromyelois communis'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Afromylea natalica'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Afropsipyla pictella'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Afropsipyla similis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Ambetilia crucifera'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Ancylosis aeola'' Balinsky, 1987
* ''Ancylosis eugraphella'' Balinsky, 1987
* '' Ancylosis eurhoda'' Balinsky, 1989
* ''Ancylosis glaphyria'' Balinsky, 1987
* '' Ancylosis melanophlebia'' Balinsky, 1989
* ''Ancylosis mimeugraphella'' Balinsky, 1989
* ''Ancylosis montana'' Balinsky, 1989
* ''Ancylosis namibiella'' Balinsky, 1987
* ''Ancylosis obscurella'' Balinsky, 1989
* '' Ancylosis perfervid'' Balinsky, 1989
* ''Ancylosis similis'' Balinsky, 1987
* ''Apomyelois bicolorata'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Arsissa transvaalica'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Aspithroides minuta'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Azanicola adspersa'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Bahiria defecta'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Bahiria durbanica'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Bahiria flavicosta'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Bahiria latevalvata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Bahiria macrognatha'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Bahiria magna'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Bahiria similis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Bahiria ximenianata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Cabotella inconspicua'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Candiopella dukei'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Cantheleamima excisa'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Cunibertoides nigripatagiata'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Emporia melanobasis'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Encryphodes ethiopella'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Epicrocis abbreviata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis ancylosiformis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis arcana'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis brevipalpata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis complicata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis coriacelloides'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis crassa'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis flavicosta'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis furcilinea'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis gracilis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis imitans'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis insolita'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis intermedia'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis noncapillata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis ornata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis ornatella'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis picta'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Epicrocis plumbifasciata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis punctata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis sacculata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis spiculata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Epicrocis vansoni'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Eucarphia anomala'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Eurhodope nyctosia'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Euzophera crassignatha'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Euzophera crinita'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Euzophera cullinanensis'' (Balinsky, 1991)
* ''Euzophera minima'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Euzophera termivelata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Euzopherodes capicola'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Faveria dubia'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Faveria fusca'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Faveria ignicephalis'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Faveria minima'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Faveria minuscula'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Faveria nonceracanthia'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Faveria onigra'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Faveria poliostrota'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Flabellobasis montana'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Gaana minima'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Gaana quatra'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Getulia maculosa'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Hobohmia paradoxa'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Homoeosoma masaiensis'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Joannisia heterotypa'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Joannisia jansei'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Joannisia poliopasta'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Joannisia semiales'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Kivia longisacculata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Laodamia affinis'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Laodamia glaucocephalis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia grisella'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia homotypa'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia hortensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia inermis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia injucunda'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia karkloofensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia lugubris'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia nigerrima'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia nonplagella'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia pulchra'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Laodamia salisburyensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia sarniensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia similis'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Laodamia spissa'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia squamata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Laodamia zoetendalensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Leviantenna ferox'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Macrovalva quadrielevata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Magiriamorpha superpalpia'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Miliberta gnathilata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Nakurubia sacculata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Namibicola simplex'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Namibicola splendida'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Namibiopsis punctata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Nonphycita lineata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Nyctegretis cullinanensis'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Oncocera affinis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera cenochreella'' Ragonot, 1888
* ''Oncocera dubia'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera glaucocephalis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera grisella'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera homotypa'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera horrens'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera hortensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera ignicephalis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera inermis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera injucunda'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera karkloofensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera lugubris'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera nigerrima'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera nonplagella'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera pulchra'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera salisburyensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera sarniensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera similis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera spiculata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera spissa'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera squamata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Oncocera zoetendalensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Ortholepis polyodonta'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Ortholepis pyrobasis'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Ortholepis unguinata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Paralaodamia haploa'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Paralaodamia angustata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Paralaodamia fraudulenta'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Paralaodamia modesta'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Paralaodamia pretoriensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Paralaodamia serrata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Paralaodamia subligaculata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Paralaodamia transvaalica'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Phycita attenuata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Phycita exaggerata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Phycita ligubris'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Phycita randensis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Phycita singularis'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Phycita spiculata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Phycita spissoterminata'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Phycita suppenditata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Phycitophila obscurita'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Phycitopsis insulata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Pretoria nigribasis'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Proancylosis argenticostata'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Pseudogetulia luminosa'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Pseudographis dermatina'' Balinsky, 1989
* ''Pseudographis mesosema'' Balinsky, 1989
* ''Psorosa africana'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Pylamorpha albida'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Pylamorpha cristata'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Quasiexuperius rhodesianus'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Ramosignathos inconspicuella'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Samaria inconspicuella'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Sematoneura africana'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Shebania grandis'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Shebania maculata'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Spatulipalpia monstrosa'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Staudingeria mimeugraphella'' Balinsky, 1989
* '' Trachypteryx victoriola'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Ulophora flavinia'' Balinsky, 1994

New genera

* ''Abachausia'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Afromyelois'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Afromylea'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Afropsipyla'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Ambetilia'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Aspithroides'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Azanicola'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Bahiria'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Cabotella'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Candiopella'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Cantheleamima'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Ceuthelea'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Cunibertoides'' Balinsky, 1991
* ''Flabellobasis'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Hobohmia'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Joannisia'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Kivia'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Leviantenna'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Macrovalva'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Magiriamorpha'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Miliberta'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Nakurubia'' Balinsky, 1994
* ''Namibicola'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Namibiopsis'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Nonphycita'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Paralaodamia'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Phycitophila'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Proancylosis'' Balinsky, 1991
* '' Pseudogetulia'' Balinsky, 1994
* ' Balinsky, 1989
* '' Pylamorpha'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Quasiexuperius'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Ramosignathos'' Balinsky, 1994
* '' Shebania'' Balinsky, 1991

References

Sources

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Balinsky, Boris
1905 births
1997 deaths
Scientists from Kyiv
People from Kievsky Uyezd
Ukrainian biologists
South African biologists
Soviet emigrants to South Africa
20th-century biologists