In 1987, the American Entomological Society initiated the Calvert Award to be presented to a young person who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in insect-related study. The Award is named in honor of Dr. Philip P. Calvert who joined the Society as a teenager, later became its president, and was a member for 74 years. As Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and an Associate of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Dr. Calvert played an important role in stimulating an interest in insects among young people.

This year the twelfth Calvert Award was presented to Sarah Wright, a ninth grade student at North Penn High School in Lansdale, who is interested butterflies and what they see. Her project, conducted over the past year, was entitled, "How do butterflies see each other?" Butterflies and other insect can see ultraviolet light that is invisible to humans. By taking pictures of a variety of butterflies using UV-sensitive film, Sarah showed that in addition to the beautiful colors we see, butterflies see patterns we do not see. For example, two species that look very similar to us have strikingly different appearance in the ultraviolet. Over half of the 114 species she photographed appeared showed these differences. There were also noticeable difference between males and females. She says that a these distinctive ultraviolet reflectance and absorption patterns probably help butterflies recognize mates of their own species.

As the winner of the Calvert Award, Sarah Wright received memberships in the American Entomological Society and the Young Entomologists' Society as well as a $50 check. Jonathan Gelhaus, president of the Society, made the presentation at the membership meeting of the Society on April 22 at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.

Two other students were honored at the meeting. Ross Lang, an eighth grade home-schooled student from Yardley, received first runner up for his project, "Is it time for lunch? Temporal learning in yellow jackets." Abigail Kochanik, an eleventh grade student from Cherokee High School in Marlton, New Jersey, received an honorable mention for her study, "To kill or not to kill? The insect vs. the pesticide." Ross and Abigail participated in the annual Delaware Valley Science Fairs held in Fort Washington on April 8.

Copyright 1998 by The American Entomological Society

Updated 8 November1998 by Hal White

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