5.3 Bergman’s Research in Entomology
Bergman never gave up his interest in insects. In 1762, he published a paper
describing an oak apple, which he could not find in the works of de Réaumur,
8 and
which he had shown to Linnaeus 2 years earlier [35]. It was known that oak apples
were formed by insects, but much of the details of their formation were still
unknown at Bergman’s time.
Bergman’s next contribution was a long paper on sawflies (genus Tenthredinidae) and their larvae [36]. In this paper, which must have taken several years of
studies to prepare, Bergman gave an extensive description of the different sawflies,
their ethology and life cycles.
In 1762, Bergman had an excellent chance to apply his knowledge about insects.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences had received a donation from Count
Fredrik Sparre, who had died in 1747. From 1762, the fund was used to finance
yearly competitions [37]. The members of the Academy were entitled to suggest
topics for the competitions and the Academy then selected topics on their meetings,
encouraging the public to send in their solutions. Usually, the topics were related to
the improvement of agriculture and other questions of economic interest. From the
answers, the Academy selected a winner, who was awarded a gold medal.
In 1762, The Academy published the question “How worms [caterpillars], that
make damage on fruit trees by eating flowers and leaves, can be circumvented or
expelled in the best way”. The Academy received eleven answers, of which answer
number six was found most promising; after evaluation it was awarded the gold
medal [38]. Four additional answers were found suitable for publication (Fig. 5.5).
It turned out that the winning contribution came from Bergman. The other published contributions came from Professor Johan Leche (1704–1764) in Åbo, Professor Erik Gustaf Liedbeck (1724–1803; one of Linnaeus’ apostles), Roland
Schröder, a merchant from Stockholm, and finally a Mr C. N. Nelin. The later never
revealed himself, but C. N. Nelin is an anagram of C. N. Linné (e.g. Carl Linnaeus,
who changed his name to Carl von Linné after his ennoblement in 1761. The N.
would stand for “Nilsson”). Linnaeus was very sensitive and believed himself to be
commissioned directly by God to reveal the wonders of nature, and it has been
suggested that the fact that Bergman won would have turned Linnaeus against him.
If so, Linnaeus did not show it. When Bergman’s suggestions were attacked by an
anonymous writer, Linnaeus sent Bergman a polite letter
9 were he gave Bergman
his support. The anonymous author had also criticised Linnaeus for publishing his
books in Latin rather than Swedish. Linnaeus was annoyed and wrote to Bergman
that by writing in Latin he could serve the whole world, and if he would also
publish in Swedish, he would have worked himself to death.
Bergman’s essay stresses that a deep knowledge is important in order to find a
solution to the problem. “He who believes that a worm [i.e. a caterpillar] can arise
from putrefaction (although it is more complicatedly built than an elephant and, as
8
René Antoine Fercault de Réaumur (1683–1757), French physicist and zoologist.
9
Signed June 25, 1764.
5.3 Bergman’s Research in Entomology
67
Bergman never gave up his interest in insects. In 1762, he published a paper
describing an oak apple, which he could not find in the works of de Réaumur,
8 and
which he had shown to Linnaeus 2 years earlier [35]. It was known that oak apples
were formed by insects, but much of the details of their formation were still
unknown at Bergman’s time.
Bergman’s next contribution was a long paper on sawflies (genus Tenthredinidae) and their larvae [36]. In this paper, which must have taken several years of
studies to prepare, Bergman gave an extensive description of the different sawflies,
their ethology and life cycles.
In 1762, Bergman had an excellent chance to apply his knowledge about insects.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences had received a donation from Count
Fredrik Sparre, who had died in 1747. From 1762, the fund was used to finance
yearly competitions [37]. The members of the Academy were entitled to suggest
topics for the competitions and the Academy then selected topics on their meetings,
encouraging the public to send in their solutions. Usually, the topics were related to
the improvement of agriculture and other questions of economic interest. From the
answers, the Academy selected a winner, who was awarded a gold medal.
In 1762, The Academy published the question “How worms [caterpillars], that
make damage on fruit trees by eating flowers and leaves, can be circumvented or
expelled in the best way”. The Academy received eleven answers, of which answer
number six was found most promising; after evaluation it was awarded the gold
medal [38]. Four additional answers were found suitable for publication (Fig. 5.5).
It turned out that the winning contribution came from Bergman. The other published contributions came from Professor Johan Leche (1704–1764) in Åbo, Professor Erik Gustaf Liedbeck (1724–1803; one of Linnaeus’ apostles), Roland
Schröder, a merchant from Stockholm, and finally a Mr C. N. Nelin. The later never
revealed himself, but C. N. Nelin is an anagram of C. N. Linné (e.g. Carl Linnaeus,
who changed his name to Carl von Linné after his ennoblement in 1761. The N.
would stand for “Nilsson”). Linnaeus was very sensitive and believed himself to be
commissioned directly by God to reveal the wonders of nature, and it has been
suggested that the fact that Bergman won would have turned Linnaeus against him.
If so, Linnaeus did not show it. When Bergman’s suggestions were attacked by an
anonymous writer, Linnaeus sent Bergman a polite letter
9 were he gave Bergman
his support. The anonymous author had also criticised Linnaeus for publishing his
books in Latin rather than Swedish. Linnaeus was annoyed and wrote to Bergman
that by writing in Latin he could serve the whole world, and if he would also
publish in Swedish, he would have worked himself to death.
Bergman’s essay stresses that a deep knowledge is important in order to find a
solution to the problem. “He who believes that a worm [i.e. a caterpillar] can arise
from putrefaction (although it is more complicatedly built than an elephant and, as
8
René Antoine Fercault de Réaumur (1683–1757), French physicist and zoologist.
9
Signed June 25, 1764.
5.3 Bergman’s Research in Entomology
67