Harold C. Chapman

Dr. Chapman was involved in entomological research from 1949-1981.  During those 33 years, he conducted research on forest insects, stored grain insects, aquatic and semi-aquatic Hemiptera, and insects of medical importance, particularly mosquitoes.  He has published 134 scientific papers, including bulletins and book chapters.  He has presented more than 45 invitational talks at the state, regional and national meetings and 30 invitational presentations before international groups.

Chappy, as he is known to his colleagues, and friends, was born on December 1, 1921 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  He earned his B.S. in Forestry in 1948 and his M.S. in Entomology in 1950 at Michigan State University.  He earned his Ph.D. (Entomology) at Rutgers University in 1959.

He was director of the Gulf Coast Mosquito Research Laboratory, USDA, ARS in Lake Charles, LA, from 1964 to 1981.  It was during this time that Dr. Chapman became an active member of the LMCA.  Besides serving on the LMCA Board of Directors for over 15 years, he served as Vice President twice, 1966 and 1978, and President in 1979.  His service to LMCA has been invaluable, and he served many years as an editor of the association newsletter.

He was a very active member of the American Mosquito Control Association.  He was a member of the AMCA Board of directors from 1973-1978, serving as President in 1976.  In 1986, the AMCA hired him as Executive Director, a position he held until 1991.  Dr. Chapman has also served on numerous AMCA committees, including the Editorial Board of Mosquito News.

Officers and Committee Assignments in Professional Societies:

• 1966, 1978   Vice President of LMCA
• 1976 - 1991   Board of Directors, LMCA
• 1992   President of LMCA
• 1973 - 1978   Board of Directors, American Mosquito Control Association
• 1976   President, AMCA
• 1979 - 1980   Chairman, Editorial board of Mosquito News
• 1985   Editor, AMCA Bulletin 6, Biological Control of Mosquitoes

Dr. Chapman's technical advisory activities with the USDA-ARS and the World Health Organization carried him to many other countries.  A few of these were: El Salvador, Switzerland, India, Nauru Island (Central Pacific), Taiwan, Thailand, Canada, China and Malaysia.  He maintained many of these activities even after his retirement in 1981 as a Collaborator/Consultant with the USDA, ARS Lab in Lake Charles.

Honoraria & Awards:

• Wildlife Achievement Award by Northeastern Section of Wildlife Society in 1965: Most outstanding contribution to wildlife in northeastern United States in 1956.
• Certificate of Merit in 1975 for superior performance by USDA-SEA for planning and directing a scientifically productive and internationally recognized research program for the biological control of mosquitoes.
• Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service as President, 1975-1976, AMCA
• Received Medal of Honor from the American Mosquito Control Association, 1991
• Honorary Member of AMCA 1999

Other Significant Information:

Periodically reviews grant applications of NIH, NSF and WHO.  Review numerous manuscripts for the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association and from government scientists.

Eight pathogens and parasites and on Hemiptera have been named after Dr. Chapman: protozoa (Nosema chapmani, Plestophora chappmani, Hyalinocysta chapmani, Pilosporell chapmani , and Chapmanium cerritus), a nematode (Aproctonema chapmani ), two fungi (Coelomomyces stegomyiae var. chapmani, and Leptolegnia chapmani), and semi-aquatic hemiptera (Loscytus chapmani ).

He authored or co-authored the descriptions of 27 species of aquatic or semi-aquatic Hemiptera, one species of mosquito, and one protozoan species.