Clare Rilloraza Baltazar is a Filipina entomologist. She specializes in systematic entomology and economic entomology. Through her research on Philippine Hymenoptera, Baltazar discovered eight previously undescribed genera and 108 species of parasitic wasps. Her work on Hymenoptera was important to future biological pest control in the Philippines. She was named a National Scientist of the Philippines in 2001.

Clare R. Baltazar
Born (1927-11-01) November 1, 1927 (age 96)
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines (BSA)
University of Wisconsin (MS, PhD)
AwardsNational Scientist of the Philippines (2001)
Scientific career
FieldsSystematic entomology
economic entomology

Early life and education edit

Clare R. Baltazar was born on November 1, 1927,[1] in San Fernando, La Union.[2]

Baltazar began her studies at the University of the Philippines in 1943. She earned a BSA summa cum laude in entomology in 1947. She then studied economic entomology at the University of Wisconsin, earning an MS in 1950. She studied in the United States from 1955 to 1957 through a two-year fellowship from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Manila.[3] She studied at N.C. State College before earning her PhD in systematic entomology from the University of Wisconsin in 1957.[4]

Career edit

Baltazar started a catalogue of Philippine Hymenoptera in 1950. During her studies in the United States from 1955 to 1957, she completed a large portion of the catalogue, which was published in 1966.[3] In 1957, she received the first of two Guggenheim Fellowships for the preparation and publishing of the work. She conducted postdoctoral research at the Smithsonian Institution in 1965 and 1966 through the second fellowship.[4] The 1966 monograph, A catalogue of Philippine Hymenoptera, included 235 entries for species of ants.[5]

Through her research on Philippine Hymenoptera, Baltazar discovered eight previously undescribed genera, one subgenus, and 108 species of parasitic wasps. Her work on Hymenoptera was an important precursor to future biological pest control in the Philippines.[6]

In 1979, she wrote Philippine Insects: An Introduction, the first authoritative textbook on insects of the Philippines.[7]

Awards and honours edit

Baltazar received the Jose Rizal Pro Patria Award from the President of the Philippines in 1980. In 1981, the Philippine Association of Entomologists presented her with the L. B. Uichanco Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Entomologist. The alumni association of the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture granted her a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1984.[8] A hybrid of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was named for her in 2000, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Clare R. Baltazar'.[9]

She was named a National Scientist of the Philippines in 2001.[1]

Described taxa edit

Baltazar described 108 species of parasitic wasps endemic to the Philippines.[10] She also described the following genera:

  • Barthasis (1972)
  • Hybomischos (1961)
  • Hypsotypos (1963)
  • Ischnobracon (1963)
  • Pachymelos (1961)
  • Millironia (1964)
  • Sychnostigma (1961)
  • Triancyra (1961)

Selected publications edit

  • Baltazar, C.R. (1961). "New generic synonyms in parasitic Hymenoptera". Philippine Journal of Science. 90 (3): 391–395.
  • Baltazar, Clare R. (15 March 1964). "The genera of parasitic Hymenoptera in the Philippines, Part 2" (PDF). Pacific Insects. 6 (1): 15–67.
  • Baltazar, C.R. (1964). "Import and export of biological control agents in the Philippines (1850-1960)". Philippine Journal of Agriculture. 28 (1–2): 1–30.
  • Baltazar, C. R. (1966). "A catalogue of Philippine Hymenoptera (with a bibliography, 1758-1963)". Pacific Insects Monograph. 8: 1–488.
  • Baltazar, Clare R. "Reclassification of some Indo-Australian and African Braconinae and Rogadinae (Braconidae, Hymenoptera)". Philippine Journal of Science. 98 (1969): 259–277.
  • Alba, Melanie C.; Baltazar, C.R. (1987). "Trichogrammatids in the Philippines". Philippine Entomologist. 7 (3): 253.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "National Scientist: Baltazar, Clare R." National Academy of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  2. ^ Trombeta, André. "Clare Rilloraza Baltazar". Neglected Science. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Baltazar, C. R. (April 30, 1966). "A catalogue of Philippine Hymenoptera (with a bibliography, 1758-1963)". Pacific Insects Monograph. 8: 7.
  4. ^ a b "Clare R. Baltazar". Department of Science and Technology, Science and Technology Information Institute. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  5. ^ General, David M.; Alpert, Gary D. (2012). A Synoptic Review of the Ant Genera (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the Phillippines. PenSoft Publishers LTD. p. 6. ISBN 978-954-642-640-6.
  6. ^ Guillermo, Artemio R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Philippines. Scarecrow Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-8108-7246-2.
  7. ^ Gamboa, Vianca (May 14, 2021). "Women in science". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  8. ^ Corpuz-Raros, L. A. (1995). "Bibliography". Asia Life Science. 4: 1–13.
  9. ^ Magdalita, Pablito M.; San Pascual, Alangelico O. (2022). "Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis): Importance and Classification". Floriculture and Ornamental Plants. Springer Nature. p. 506. ISBN 978-981-15-3518-5.
  10. ^ E-Science I (Science and Technology). Rex Book Store. 2003. p. 30. ISBN 978-971-23-3562-4.