William L. Peters

William L. Peters (1939–2000) was an American entomologist specializing in mayflies, especially those in the family Leptophlebiidae.

Biography

William Lee Peters was born in Leavenworth, Kansas. His father was an electrical engineer; the family moved to New Orleans so that he could work on military aircraft during the Second World War.

He wrote 108 papers on Ephemeroptera, mainly on their taxonomy. He defined more than 60 new genera or subgenera of mayflies, and published formal descriptions of many new mayfly species. Among his many specialist studies was that of the ecology of Dolania americana, a "strange" and rare sand-burrowing mayfly that needs a short Arctic year for its egg to develop, and a second year for the nymphs, while the adult lives for only about one hour.

Peters was for 36 years married to the entomologist Janice G. Peters, who went on collecting trips with him and wrote some 20 papers together with him. She, their daughter, and four grandchildren survived him.