WILDING, Richard

Born at Croston, near Preston. Became interested in entomology at an early age. Collected both Lepidoptera and Coleoptera but the latter were always his main interest. Philip Harwood said of him that he was indefatigable worker and that he was indebted to him for such rarities as Aegialia rufa, Leiodes ciliaris and L. furva (EMM.,86, 1950, p.95). Wilding’s records are included in Willoughby Ellis (1889) and Sharp (1908). He wrote 8 notes in EMM. between 1884-88 but after that appears to have published most of his material through the LCES. Wilding’s collection amounting to some 10,000 specimens in 34 wooden store boxes, was purchased by Liverpool Museum for £75 after his death (50.36). It includes material from Bennett, Kinder, Newbery, Collins, J.J.Walker, Tomlin, Hallett, Bullock, M.L.Thompson and Harwood. The Museum also possesses a folder of ms material associated with it including a letter from R.W.Lloyd to Wilding’s daughter, Mrs Pritchard, asking about her father’s death, and a portrait. There are also beetles collected by him in the Kidson Taylor collection at Manchester. Member LCES from 1881 (Council 1890,; Vice President 1901,1904,1905; President 1914, 1919, 1924, 1927, 1932-34, 1946). (MD 12/04)