The cave crawler (Dr. Francesc Spanish) was six years since English Francesc discovered what appeared to be a new species of cave beetle until corroborated Jeannel baptizing as Speophilus espanolia . It was the final impetus that focused his interest in entomology zoology. One aspect with which it came to the Balearic Islands in the 30 to catalog the universe of endemic pitiusas caves. The vocation of Francesc English was clear from his teens. Born in Valls (Tarragona) in 1907, and while studying Bachelor in the same town, became interested in insects. His collection of beetles and Hemiptera reached the forty boxes, material that years later would go to the Museum of Zoology of Barcelona.
English, second left pro (1932)
Shortly thereafter focus on the study of cave fauna. He was only 17 when, in 1924 and in the cave of Trac (Tarragona), discover their first new species. The specimen was sent to French entomologist René Jeannel the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. The expert would take six years to confirm the finding and name it Speophilus espanolia. The wait did not deter English. That same year he began working with the Zoological Museum of Barcelona, \u200b\u200band even during his military service in Morocco, from 1926 to 1929, resigned from his collection of insects. When he entered the University of Barcelona in 1931 opted for Pharmacy, continued his studies in entomology at the Institute Catalana d'Història Natural.
Recognition and baptism of his first new species was impetus for investigations of Catalan. From the beginning their campaigns paid close attention to the island communities. A location in which, as experts say, the isolation of the caves of the cave fauna, was added that of the island itself. Conjunction that encourages the existence of endemic species.
His frequent contact with Guillem Colom and its relationship to the Societat d'Història Natural de Balears went a step further in 1935 with his first expedition to the Pitiusas. He came to Ibiza in November with two observers from the Zoology Museum of Barcelona. Explored around Vila, Ses Salines, Sant Antoni Bay and the island of Ses Bledes.
The outbreak of the Civil War in 1936 caused a major interruption in almost all activities. English Francesc not stop his investigations, but they were slowed when Catalan was mobilized. In 1940 he published a summary of his expedition to the Pitiusas: Contribution to the knowledge of the Coleoptera of Ibiza and Formentera.
cataloged and commented work 163 forms between species and subspecies, many of them new for the Balearics. Described as new and set the Neurapes navasi-Aside endemic species or Pimelia ibicencis elevata, among others, considered before as mere varieties. The study confirmed the existence of a rich cave fauna endemic in the islands.
The Darkling beetles, which live in steppe and desert environments, "the cavemen and woodworm woodworm-the-are the three pillars of its scientific expertise. In his research Baleares extend to the revision of previous naturalistic studies such as Martinez de la Escalera and Pérez Arcas. His campaigns in the islands would continue in the years 40 and 50 and would extend to small islands like S'Espalmador or Hutch. Publish the material collected beetles from Ibiza and Formentera (1950) or the Balearics The Darkling (1954). Their campaigns
entomological and biospeleological and continue participation in international conferences in the 50's by the hand of the Institute of Entomology. In the 60 awards to begin its work: in 1966 he was appointed director of the Museum of Zoology and in 1969 entered the Royal Academy of Ciències i Arts de Barcelona, \u200b\u200bincome on which cave fauna of Spain presented a synthesis of studies .
At the same time, English was incorporated into teaching at the University of Barcelona. In 1972, with the recovery of the Societat Catalana d'Història Natural, becomes president of the institution. In 1978 Juan Carlos I plate gives Alfonso X El Sabio and in 1982 the Autonomous University of Barcelona he invested as Doctor Honoris Causa.
Actually Catalan was officially retired in 1977 at age 70, but even that stopped their shipments. "From early 80 published a systematic way with his disciples " says Francesc Xavier Bellés in English or passion for entomology. His latest work Pitiusas referred to was published in 1984. He continued his research until the strength allowed. He died in 1999, and by then had not worked as a pharmacist.
