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Amedeo John Engel Terzi (1872-1956)
Born in Palermo, Italy, Amedeo Terzi grew up in an artistic family. In 1900, Terzi joined two tropical disease researchers, Louis Sambon and George Carmichael Low, to conduct important field experiments studying the theory that mosquitoes transmitted malaria. These experiments were carried out in an area well know for malaria, at Ostia in the Roman Campagna. Terzi's contribution was primarily to draw the mosquitoes but he also became a human guinea pig. During the height of the malaria season the three men spent many nights in a specially constructed hut, screened against the mosquitoes. They did not contract malaria while those working out in the open in the same locality did. This practical experiment therefore helped to prove that mosquitoes transmitted malaria. Later on in the same year, Terzi came to England, and in 1902 he joined the Natural History Museum where he worked for the rest of his life. Terzi is perhaps best known for his series of large-scale watercolours of British blood-sucking flies. These were originally intended to be displayed in the Museum galleries, but they were considered to be of such exceptional quality that they were also used as plates in Edward E. Austen's Illustrations of British Blood-Sucking Flies (1906). He also contributed outstanding artwork for many other important entomology books. His entomological artistic output continued to be phenomenal and he claimed to have produced over 37,000 drawings and illustrated some 55 books in his lifetime. In recognition of his exceptional qualities and achievements, the mosquito (Culex terzii) was named after him. Through such accurate depictions of blood-sucking flies, Terzi has provided generations of students and entomologists around the world with precise and detailed illustrations of these important species. A memorable tribute was made by G. F. Ferris in 1928 who wrote : '[Terzi] is one who combines the qualifications of both the artist and the scientific investigator to such a degree that his illustrations are not only pleasing to the eye but technically impeccable as well.'
This large watercolour of the mosquito (Theobaldia annulata), now named (Culiseta annulata) is typical of Terzi's work. The level of detail and accuracy is quite outstanding, surpassing all previous attempts to illustrate medically important insects. It is one of the largest British mosquitoes and is widespread across Great Britain. It can be recognised by its large size, spotted wings and white rings on the legs. Adult females require a blood-meal to develop their eggs and often enter houses to feed on humans. Terzi's drawing clearly shows the needle-like mouth parts used to pierce the skin of its victims. The female later lays her eggs in a wide range of watery sites such as ponds, ditches, marshy areas and even water butts.
Mosquitoes are probably the most notorious of the flies (Diptera), belonging to the family of flies called (Culicidae). Species are found throughout the world, the only exception being the Antarctica and a few islands. A great deal of research has been carried out on mosquitoes. In some parts of the world mosquitoes are just an irritating biting nuisance, but in many regions they also transmit diseases including malaria, Bancroftian filariasis, dengue and yellow fever. Each year malaria kills over 1 million people world-wide. To find out more about malaria see the WHO Factsheet Malaria.
The drawing forms part of a collection of 58 large scale drawings of blood-sucking flies by Terzi. The collection was assembled from Terzi's work at the Natural History Museum and was produced over a 30 year period.
Exhibition and publication details Drawing used as Plate 13 in : Edwards, F. W., Oldroyd, H. and Smart, J. (1939) British Blood-Sucking Flies. BM(NH): London. 156pp. Austen, E. E. (1906) Illustrations of British Blood-Sucking Flies. BM(NH): London. 74pp. Snow, K. R. (1990) Mosquitoes. Naturalist's Handbooks no. 14. Richmond Publishing Co.: Slough. 66pp.
References and further reading Mattingly, P. (1976) Amedeo John Engel Terzi (1872-1956). Mosquito Systematics, vol. 8, pp. 114-120. Service, M. W. (2000) Medical Entomology for Students. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge UK ; New York. 283pp. Speilman, A. and D'Antonio, M. (2001) Mosquito: a Natural
History of Our Most Persistent and Deadly Foe. Faber and
Faber: London. 247pp.
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