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Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 7462

Zetek, James, 1886-1959

James Zetek Papers, circa 1921-1951

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Zetek, James, 1886-1959
Title:James Zetek Papers
Dates:circa 1921-1951
Quantity:8 cu. ft. (8 record storage boxes)
Collection:Record Unit 7462
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This collection consists primarily of an index card file documenting Zetek's research on the insects of Panama and his insect collection. The file contains information on insects collected, their identification, and their effect on native vegetation. Also included is a file of bibliography cards relating to the natural history of Panama.

Historical Note

James Zetek (1886-1959) was an entomologist and authority on the natural history of Panama. From 1923 to 1956, he served as Resident Manager of the Canal Zone Biological Area on Barro Colorado Island in Panama. Zetek's primary research interest was the study of termites and termite control.

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Descriptive Entry

This collection consists primarily of an index card file documenting Zetek's research on the insects of Panama and his insect collection. The file contains information on insects collected, their identification, and their effect on native vegetation. Also included is a file of bibliography cards relating to the natural history of Panama.

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This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

Subject

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7462, James Zetek Papers

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Container List

Box 1

Index box 1: Insect catalog numbered 3100-3900, 5000-5500, and various categories

Box 1 of 8

Index box 2: Insect catalog numbered 4100-5400 and January-December

Box 1 of 8

Index box 3: Insect catalog numbered 3600-4900 and various categories

Box 1 of 8

Index box 4: Insect catalog numbered 1-89

Box 1 of 8

Box 2

Index box 1: Insect catalog numbered 90-165

Box 2 of 8

Index box 2: Insect catalog numbered 166-256

Box 2 of 8

Index box 3: Insect catalog numbered 257-318

Box 2 of 8

Index box 4: Insect catalog numbered 1000-1800 and G

Box 2 of 8

Box 3

Index box 1: Insect catalog numbered 1900-3100

Box 3 of 8

Index box 2: Insect catalog numbered 3200-3500

Box 3 of 8

Index box 3: Various insect categories

Box 3 of 8
Fraterculus
Flavipennis
Zuelaniae
Solanum
Summary
Serp. Only
All spp.
BCI 1943
1951 Arraijan
1950 Arraijan
All spp.
Cermeno 1942
Daniel A
Daniel B
Summary
Cermeno 1941
Daniel A
Daniel B
Cornelio
Summary
Cermeno
Cermeno 1939-1940
Daniel
Cornelio
Paredes
Boyd
Campana
Analysis Trans Cermeno
1939
1940
5300-4700
Hamadryas
Hamata
Sagitata
Zernyl
Pending
Consobrina Group
Fraterculus Group
Mombinpreoptans
Acbras
Annona
Apples
Calocarpum
Capsicum
Chrysobaianus
Chrysophyllum
Citrus
Dovyalis
Lucumaphila
Citrulus
Eugenia
Field
Glass Traps

Box 4

Index box 1: Various categories and catalog numbered 3400-4400, 5400-5500

Box 4 of 8
Labatia
Grape
Guayaba
Inga
Mammea
Mango
Manihat
Nectarines
Okra
Phyllanthus
Passiflora
Quararibea
Rheedia
Solanum
Spondias
Terminalia
Tomato
Turpinia
Zschokkea
Zuelania
Pachycrepoideus
Cothonaspis
Eucoila
Opius sp.
Opius bellus
Opius cereus
Opius n. sp.
Ashmeadopria
Phaenocarpa
Pseudeucoila
Lignophol
Paints
Celotex Ferox
Int. Paper Company
Masonite
Vazcane
Rotenone
U.S. Gypsum
Chemonite
Homosote Agasote
Pabco
Woolsey's Paints
Plywood Harboard
Goodale Process
Johns Manville
German Ply Board
D. Manson Southerland
Fire Hose
Presotius
Celcure
Haskelite
American Reinforced Paper Company
Miscellaneous
5500-5400
4400-3700
Anastrepha
3600-3400

Index box 2: Various categories

Box 4 of 8
Parasites Anastrepha
Plants
Toxotrypana
4600
4500
Montei
Mucronota
Palae
Pallidipennis
Distincta
Mombinppaeoptans
Striata
Mombinpraeoptans
Serpentina
Rheedia
Posoqueria
Striata
Fraterculus
Roses
Spondias
Stenoma
Sugar Cane
Teak
Tamarind
Termites
Crebra
Randia
Whiteflies
Triplaris
Tobacco
Thysanoptera
Tomato
Ticks
Rhynchophora
Hemiptera
Hymenoptera
Woglumi
Red-Ring
Inspections
Miscellaneous
Serpentina
Summary
1949 Arraijan
All Spp.
Serp.
Summary
All Spp.
1948 Arraijan
Serp.
Summary

Box 5

Index box 1: Records of two types: infestations found in plants and experiments done. Infestations note the location, experiments note the cage number. Cards are not divided up by whether they are infestations or experiments but instead are divided first by plant, then by insect. The small reports note the number and location of fruits (whether they have fallen from the tree, are still green, etc.) and the number and stage of insects (whether larvae, pupae, etc.).

Box 5 of 8

Index box 2:

Box 5 of 8
Section 1 - Barro Colorado: Records of specimens collected on Barro Colorado Island. Divided by insect order, each entry lists Latin names, the number of vials, the collector, the date (most of which seem to be in 1940), and sometimes further information, like how the insects were collected.
Section 2 - (Starts with the red notecards) Records of experiments done with various different trees and insect repellents. Some trees are treated with one kind of insect repellent, others are not, then they are periodically checked for infestations. Headings are both the names of trees (i.e. Redwood, Port Orford Cedar) and the names of the chemicals used (i.e. Zinc Chloride, Lye Treat). Most appear to be from 1927-1931.

Box 6

Index box 1:

Box 6 of 8
Section 1 - (ends at 'Treated Wire Insulation') Records of experiments done with various different trees and insect repellents. Some trees are treated with one kind of insect repellent, others are not, then they are periodically checked for infestations. Headings are both the names of trees (i.e. Redwood, Port Orford Cedar) and the names of the chemicals used (i.e. Zinc Chloride, Lye Treat).
Section 2 - (starts with E. Jambos and ends with Ambarella) Records of two types: infestations found in plants and experiments done. Infestations note the location, experiments note the cage number. Cards are not divided up by whether they are infestations or experiments but instead are divided first by plant, then by insect. The small reports note the number and location of fruits (whether they've fallen from the tree, are still green, etc.) and the number and stage of insects (whether larvae, pupae, etc.). They also note the dates, which range from 1933-1942.
Section 3 - (starts with Panamensis) Lists various Latin names followed by a series of four digit numbers and frequently the words 'Glass Traps.' No dates on cards.

Index box 2:

Box 6 of 8
Section 1 - (ends at N SP-1) Lists various Latin names followed by a series of four digit numbers and frequently the words 'Glass Traps.' No dates on cards.
Section 2 - (starts with Mango) Records of two types: infestations found in plants and experiments done. Infestations note the location, experiments note the cage number. Cards are not divided up by whether they are infestations or experiments but instead are divided first by plant, then by insect. The small reports note the number and location of fruits (whether they've fallen from the tree, are still green, etc.) and the number and stage of insects (whether larvae, pupae, etc.). They also note the dates, which range from 1933-1942.

Box 7

Index box 1: Records of two types: infestations found in plants and experiments done. Infestations note the location, experiments note the cage number. Cards are not divided up by whether they are infestations or experiments but instead are divided first by plant, then by insect. The small reports note the number and location of fruits (whether they've fallen from the tree, are still green, etc.) and the number and stage of insects (whether larvae, pupae, etc.). They also note the dates, which range from 1933-1942.

Box 7 of 8

Index box 2: Records of two types: infestations found in plants and experiments done. Infestations note the location, experiments note the cage number. Cards are not divided up by whether they are infestations or experiments but instead are divided first by plant, then by insect. The small reports note the number and location of fruits (whether they've fallen from the tree, are still green, etc.) and the number and stage of insects (whether larvae, pupae, etc.). They also note the dates, which range from 1933-1942.

Box 7 of 8

Box 8

Index box 1: Records of two types: infestations found in plants and experiments done. Infestations note the location, experiments note the cage number. Cards are not divided up by whether they are infestations or experiments but instead are divided first by plant, then by insect. The small reports note the number and location of fruits (whether they've fallen from the tree, are still green, etc.) and the number and stage of insects (whether larvae, pupae, etc.). They also note the dates, which range from 1933-1942.

Box 8 of 8

Index box 2: Bibliography of sources. Divided by taxonomy.

Box 8 of 8

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