Derek Lott | |
---|---|
Born | 28 September 1953 |
Died | 19 June 2011 (aged 57) |
Nationality | British |
Alma mater | Balliol College Oxford, University of Warwick |
Known for | Coleoptera studies, biodiversity recording |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Entomology |
Institutions | Leicester Museums |
Dr Derek Arthur Lott F.E.S. was a British entomologist and museum curator, known for his studies of Coleoptera and biodiversity recording.
Lott was born on 28 September 1953[1] in Middlesex, England.[2] He was educated at Hampton Grammar School and went on to study chemistry at Balliol College, Oxford.[3] After attaining a P.G.C.E. from Warwick University in 1977[3] Lott originally worked as a science teacher, then in 1983 applied for a place on the graduate trainee scheme for Leicester Museums.[3][4] Lott first worked as an assistant Keeper of Entomology at Leicester Museum, rising through promotions to become the Curator of Natural Life in 1999.[3] Lott later ran an entomology-focused consultancy company.[5][6]
Lott's special interest areas in Coleoptera studies were Carabidae (ground beetles), Staphylinidae (rove beetles),[5] water beetles,[5] environmental monitoring[7] and regional recording of species, especially from the U.K. and Ireland.[5] Lott became a fellow of the Royal Entomological Society in the 1980s, as well as a member of the Amateur Entomologists Society and the British Entomological & Natural History Society.[6]
Lott had a personal dataset of 61,366 records, comprising a lifetime of beetle occurrence observations, which he shared with the National Biodiversity Network in 2010.[5][6] The National Biodiversity Network recognised Lott with an honorary fellowship for his dedication to biological recording and the high standards of his work.[6] During his career Lott wrote or contributed to at least 84 natural history papers, a bibliography of which is recorded in Durden (2011).[3]