Amy Castle

Amy Castle (9 May 1880 – 23 February 1971) was a New Zealand museum curator and entomologist.

Biography She was born in Maori Gully, near Reefton, West Coast, New Zealand on 9 May 1880. She was the first female scientist to be employed in the public service sector in New Zealand. She also played an important role in the history of New Zealand museums, as the first entomologist and first professional woman to be employed by one.

She was first employed by the Dominion Museum as a temporary photography assistant in early 1907, and was appointed to permanent staff by July. Mt Taranaki, and the Rimutaka Range,

She was actively involved in educating the public about insects and entomology, through speaking with school children on class visits and public lectures to adults.

In 1939, she was honoured by G.P. Whitley and W.J. Phillips who named a newly discovered fish after her "in recognition of generous help accorded one of us in identifying insects from the stomachs of fish". Unfortunately, this subsequently turned out to be a junior synonym of Galaxias brevipinnis.

She remained at the museum until 1931, when the government reduced staffing levels to save money during the depression.

Selected publications (1925)."Lepidoptera collected at York Bay, Wellington, in 1924." New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology. 8(1): 32–34. Philpott, A.; Castle, A.; Andersen, J.C. (1925)."Australian Lepidoptera in New Zealand." New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology. 7(6): 364–367.