Shvanvich, Boris

Born Nov. 14 (26), 1889, in Poltava; died Dec. 5, 1957, in Leningrad, Soviet zoologist.

Shvanvich graduated from St. Petersburg University in 1913. In 1915 he began working at Petrograd University; in 1919 he became an assistant, in 1927 a privatdocent, and in 1931 head of a subdepartment. From 1928 to 1930 he was a professor at the University of Perm’. In the period 1954–57 he was vice-president of the All-Union Entomological Society. He was also chairman of the zoological department of the Leningrad Society of Natural Scientists.

Shvanvich established the existence of dwarf male mollusks. However, his main works dealt with general entomology. Shvanvich related the morphology of insect-wing designs to the theory of protective coloring and ecology. He also studied various aspects of insect taxonomy and silkworm acclimatization as well as insect pollinators, including the honeybee.

Shvanvich was awarded the Order of Lenin and various medals.