History of research

‘Before Frivaldszky there was nobody with a clear idea about the Bulgarian fauna and flora. He was the first, who transferred this country into the scope of European natural history.’ This applies more or less to the Bulgarian butterflies, being, however, a statement not entirely accurate, since the first published record of Zerynthia cerisy mentioning Bulgaria (Treitschke, 1834) came out an year earlier than the Frivaldszky’s treatise (1835).

The beginning of a more thorough investigation of butterflies in Bulgaria is to be traced back about the end of 19th century. Josef Haberhauer lived in Sliven for many years and was often a fellow-traveller of the great English investigators M. Nicholl and H. J. Elwes. His material was later used as a basis for the Rebel’s investigations, too. In 1863 a businessman from Vienna, Julius Lederer, published the first more detailed paper on the Bulgarian butterflies, based on material collected by Haberhauer. The first work produced by Bulgarian was by Wasil Kowatschew (1894). He was born on 1 January 1866 in Ruse; graduated secondary school in Ruse, and higher school at the University in Odesa (1885—1889). First he taught in Veliko Tarnovo (1889—1891), and after that in Ruse (1891—1912). Greatly enthusiastic, he collected natural history specimens in the regions of Ruse, Varna, Shumen and Veliko Tarnovo. In 1912 he became an Expert at the Ministry of Education, in 1914 — a Director of the Haskovo Man’s School, in the period of 1914—1915 he was a teacher in Plovdiv, and then in Kyustendil (1915—1922). Died on 3 August 1926 in Ruse at the age of 60. It is necessary to mention here also the name of the teacher of natural sciences Hristo Pigulew (born March 1862; died 6 March 1903), founder of the first Bulgarian Entomological Society in Sliven. He published a few papers in the first Bulgarian entomological journal Svetulca. Unfortunately, after his death the collection he left was destroyed by museum pests. In 1899 Mary de la Beche Nicholl travelled in a ‘pleasantest and the most original tour’ around Bulgaria. She collected mainly in the surroundings of Sliven and in Rila Mountains.

The Russian Professor Porfiry Bachmetjew (born 26 February 1860; died 14 October 1913), who is considered the father of Bulgarian entomology, published a number of articles on Bulgarian butterflies, even though he first won popularity with his original investigations on the anabiosis. He was one of the founders of the Bulgarian Entomological Society. At the same time came out the first contributions of Andrei Markowitsch (born 29 June 1872; died 22 July 1939). He undertook a number of investigations on the butterflies of Razgrad District and the Rhodopes. His collection is today in the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia and a major part can be seen in the permanent exposition. One of the leading lepidopterists of that time was the Austrian Hans Rebel (born 2 September 1861; died 19 May 1940). He made two trips to Bulgaria — in 1896 and 1902 — to the areas near Sofia, Sliven and in the Rila Mountains. His results were published in his faunistic monograph on the butterflies of the Balkan countries (1903). Among the many taxa, which he had described, is Erebia ottomana balcanica.

The bloom of the Bulgarian lepidopterology was in the twenties—fourties of the 20th century. This period is remarkable for the names of some prominent scientists like Alexander Drenowski, the best explorer of the Bulgarian high mountains, D. Iltschew (born 29 May 1885; died 14 April 1925), the head of the Entomological Station in Sofia and Dr Ivan Buresch (born 15 December 1885; died 8 August 1980), academician, head of the National Museum of Natural History, Zoological Garden and Institute of Zoology in Sofia (1918—1959). Buresch described a number of high-montane endemics, like Erebia gorge pirinica and E. cassioides macedonica. His main contribution (with K. Tuleschkow as co-author) was the most significant work on the Bulgarian Macrolepidoptera ‘Die horizontale Verbreitung der Schmetterlinge in Bulgarien.’ Of special value is the collection of Peter Tschorbadjiew, kept in the museum in Sofia. He was a chemist by education and worked as an assistant-manager of the Entomological Section at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Sofia. He published several articles, mainly on pests, but also some faunistic contributions to the butterflies of Sliven, Burgas and Svilengrad districts. From among the foreign scientists who worked on the Bulgarian butterflies during this period is the name of Hans Fruhstorfer (born 7 March 1866; died 9 April 1922).

The next period comprises the years after the end of the World War II. Characteristic is the considerably slower accumulation of knowledge on the butterflies as compared to the period before the war. Here should be mentioned the names of H. Loukov, author of several faunistic contributions; D. Gogov and his work on the butterflies of the Mount Lyulin; Dr S. Bocharov; N. Vihodcevsky, a botanist and entomologist; N. Karnojizky, with his very interesting works on the butterflies along the Northern Black Sea Coast. Meanwhile K. Tuleschkow continued his work at the Institute of Zoology. In 1958 he published the first Bulgarian book of scientific value, ‘The butterflies and moths in Bulgaria.’ The Hungarian Zoltan Varga will always be remembered in connection with the names of the endemic subspecies Boloria pales rilaensis, Erebia orientalis infernalis, E. pandrose ambicolorata, etc.

The decade following 1980 gave rise to a series of good scientific works, the first of which was the comprehensive publication of the Polish M. Krzywicki, ‘Anmerkungen zur Tagfalterfauna Bulgariens.’ Important for this period are the works of Julius Ganev, which contain several detailed studies on the butterflies of Zemen Gorge (1983b), volcanic hill of Kozhuh (1984a), Ograzhden (1986). At the end it is necessary to mention three more names: D. Kiriakov, with his article on the butterflies of Sakar (1988), Stoyan Beshkov and Zdravko Kolev.

The first Bulgarian Entomological Society was established by H. Pigulew in January 1899 in Sliven. On the 1st of February the first issue of Svetulca appeared. Unluckily, due to financial problems, the publication stopped very soon — in March 1900.

The [second] Bulgarian Entomological Society was founded on 6 January 1909 on the initiative of P. Bachmetjew, with the aims of investigation the Bulgarian insect fauna and the dissemination of scientific and practical knowledge in entomology. It issued brochures, organised scientific expeditions, lectures, expositions and maintained relationships with Bulgarian and foreign entomologists and related societies. The society published Izvestiya na Bulgarskoto Entomologichno Druzhestvo (1924—1942) and lasted until 1948.

Of great importance for the development of the Bulgarian lepidopterology is the Royal Natural History Museum in Sofia (now National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), which was established in 1889. The museum was first open for visitors in 1907. In the period ending with the World War II it was one of the best known museums in Europe.