Keith Arthur John Wise

Keith Arthur John Wise (1 June 1926 – 31 March 2012 ), often referred to as K. A. J. Wise, was a New Zealand entomologist. Originally employed at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wise began working with the Bishop Museum in the early 1960s, coordinating field programmes for United States visits to Antarctica and Subantarctic islands. This work led Wise to identify and describe large numbers of novel species, including many species of springtail. In 1965, Wise became the first Curator of Entomology at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, where he was integral in creating the first entomology section within the natural history gallery.

Early life

Wise was born on 1 June 1926 in Wellington. As his father Victor John Wise worked in insurance, Wise moved around the country often, living in Whangārei, Invercargill and Oamaru, attending Whangarei Boys' High School, Southland Boys' High School and Waitaki Boys' High School. While living in Invercargill, Wise joined the Jellicoe Sea Scouts, which was led by Geoffrey Orbell, who would later be known for rediscovering the takahē in 1948. Orbell often took the boys sailing on his yacht to Foveaux Strait, which led to Wise developing a passion for both sailing and nature.

Career Wise collecting during the Dec 1979 Noises Island field trip. In 1945, Wise joined the Auckland Shell Club, and the following year malacologist Baden Powell gave a recommendation to the Auckland Museum Institute for Wise to join. In 1969, Wise took part in the Cook Bicentenary Expedition, focusing on the biodiversity of Rarotonga, Tonga and the Cook Islands. Wise was a part of the Royal Society of New Zealand South Pacific Expedition in 1977, which documented the biodiversity of the Lau Islands of Fiji. Four taxa have been named in Wise's honour: the Antarctic prostig mites Coccorhagidia keithi and Eupodes wisei (the latter of which Wise discovered), the intertidal beetle Hyphalus wisei,

After his death, his son Martin Wise organised Antarctica 1961, a photography exhibition held at Point Chevalier which showcased 36 of Wise's photographs of Antarctica.

Personal life

Wise married Rosemary Musgrave in 1951, with whom he had four children. Wise's wife and children would often help Wise collect insects, and assisted his work at the museum.

Taxa identified by Wise

Acanthomurus rivalis Alloecentrella Alloecentrella magnicornis Confluens Costachorema notopterum Cryptopygus campbellensis Cryptopygus cisantarcticus Cryptopygus terranovus (originally Gressittacantha terranova) Diplectrona bulla Ecnomina zealandica Edpercivalia harrisoni Friesea litoralis (originally Colonavis litoralis) Friesea tilbrooki Hydrobiosis falcis Neobiosella Neobiosella irrorata Oeconesus lobatus Olinga fumosa Orthopsyche thomasi (originally Hydropsyche thomasi) Oxyethira ahipara Oxyethira waipoua Parakatianna salmoni (originally Longkingia salmoni) Polyplectropus impluvii Polyplectropus waitakerensis Porphyrosela hardenbergiella (originally Lithocolletis hardenbergiella) Pseudoeconesus bistirpis Pseudosorensia atlantica (originally Sorensia atlantica, later Isotoma (Pseudosorensia) atlantica) Psilochorema embersoni Pycnocentrodes aeris Tiphobiosis kuscheli Tullbergia mediantarctica Tullbergia templei Zelandanura Zelandanura bituberculata

Selected bibliography