Juan (Jean) Brèthes, also known as Frère Judulien Marie (24 February 1871 in Saint-Sever, Landes – 2 July 1928 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine scientist, naturalist, entomologist, ornithologist, zoologist and geologist. He was the first entomologist of the National Museum, today known as the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences. He was a collaborator of Florentino Ameghino, and translated several of his works into French. He systematized a number of Latin American insect species. He contributed to agricultural pest management before the development of modern insecticides.
His arrival in Buenos Aires Juan Brèthes was born on February 24, 1871 in Saint Sever sur l'Adour (Landes) in southwestern France, to Jean Brèthes and Claire Tauzin. He was their third son. His father worked as a planter, and from his childhood he became familiar with the insects that caused the gills of the wood. At an early age he joined the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as Brothers de La Salle. With them he learned Latin and acquired an education related to his future activities. In 1890, at the age of nineteen, he arrived in Buenos Aires as a member of a contingent of Brothers who had the mission of serving as a teacher and educator in different environments. Between 1892 and 1899 he worked as a teacher of the preparatory classes to enter the baccalaureate of the Colegio del Salvador. At the beginning of the 20th century he joined the faculty of the recently completed La Salle School. One of his first activities was to create the Museum of Natural Sciences of the School. With his own contributions and from the students, he gathered pieces, achieving the value of the collection and laying the foundations for the realization of a museum that continues to this day. He directed it until 1907, his successor being Brother Esteban Fournier.
His first steps Source: Beginning in 1897, Brother Judulien went every Thursday to the National Museum of Natural Sciences, requesting help to classify the insects he had kept in a box shaped like a book. In those years, he donated insects and arachnids to the National Museum, which he collected in his research. The contributions of Brèthes can be seen in the "Notes Fitoteratológicas", published by Ángel Gallardo in 1899.
Collaboration with Jean H. Fabre Brèthes collaborated with Jean H. Fabre, a naturalist, humanist and entomologist, as well as a personal friend of Charles Darwin, despite his conviction that he was opposed to the theory of evolution. Their collaboration began at the end of the 19th century, when Fabre asked for his help to study the South American beetles. In his most recognized work, "Souvenirs Entomologiques", Fabre gave a recognition to Brèthes.
Collaboration with Florentino Ameghino In 1902 Florentino Ameghino agreed to the direction of the National Museum of Sciences in Argentina. In recognition of the work developed by Brèthes, Ameghino offered Brèthes the opportunity to take charge of the entomological section, thus making Brèthes the first official entomologist of the museum (previously the task was in charge of the same Carlos Berg, director of the institution). Brèthes served in this position for 26 years, until the time of his death. Ameghino reported "... as far as insects are concerned, a few days ago the manager of the entomological section, Mr. Brèthes, took possession of his job. Now he is taking knowledge of the collection, which is in a state that you could not imagine ..." During the direction of Ameghino the Museum published a number of important and foundational works. Brèthes assisted on a number of these publications. Over the years, remembering those times he would write: "... Ameghino made known his "Recherches de Morphologie Phylogénétique sur les molaires supérieures des Ongulés", a work that occupies the whole volume referred to. It was a work that saw the light in ten months While the first notebooks were being printed (I was in charge of the drawings illustrating the work), the manuscript was followed and the corrections were accompanied: thus with a parallel and multiple work, Ameghino carried out his fruitful and tireless task ...". Brèthes was also in charge of making the microscopic preparations and of translating the works into French, among them a work of capital importance: "My Creed". Brèthes' ties with Ameghino became very close. "... The ten years that I have lived in daily contact with Florentino Ameghino, from 1902 to 1911 when he died, allowed me to appreciate the intimate depths of this great man. And to express my thought in one word, I will say that he was a superior man ..."
Collaboration with Felix D'Herelle At the beginning of the 20th century grasshoppers were devastating crops. Ángel Gallardo proposed to bring the specialist Félix d'Hérelle to Argentina so that he could direct the Bacteriological Section of the Entomological Institute and develop a locust parasite coccobacillus, however, the desired results were not obtained.
Personal Life By 1902, he had definitively left his habits and his scientific activities were advancing steadily. His decision did not mean in any way a rupture or estrangement, the Order in which he professed did not imply the ecclesiastical vote, and Brèthes kept unchanged the principles and values that had led him to exercise the ministry. Therefore he continued practicing as a professor of Natural Sciences in the school of Salvador with his former Brothers. However, it was difficult for the young scientist to take such an important step, says Dr. José Liebermann "... The beginning was hard for Bréthes; he was received as a public translator, and he had to give lessons and dedicate himself to various activities ... " Around 1902 he met his later wife, Leontina Rossi Belgrano, an excellent draftsman and painter. The marriage took place in the Parish of Monserrat, on September 7, 1903. The family of Leontina became an important support for Brèthes who had no relatives in Argentina. In 1904 his first son was born: Juancito Julio Brèthes.
Scientific Expeditions
Shipping from Brazil In 1918, Dr. Antonio Ronna sent a batch of specimens he had found in the vicinity of San Pablo. In his honor Brèthes baptized one of the new species as Heteroscapus ronnai.
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