Henry Bates

Henry Walter Bates (1825–1892) was a self-taught English naturalist and explorer primarily known for his extensive entomological work in the Amazon and his pioneering discovery of 

Batesian mimicry. 

Amazon Expedition (1848–1859) 

• The Journey: At age 23, Bates traveled to the Amazon with fellow naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace to investigate the origin of species. While Wallace left after four years, Bates remained for 11 years, exploring 1,400 miles of the river basin.

• Prodigious Collection: He sent back over 14,700 animal species (mostly insects) to England, of which approximately 8,000 were new to science.

• Literary Work: Upon his return, at Charles Darwin's urging, he wrote The Naturalist on the River Amazons (1863), which Darwin hailed as the "best book of Natural History Travels" ever published in England. 

Key Scientific Contributions

• Batesian Mimicry: Bates observed that certain harmless butterfly species (the mimics) evolved to resemble toxic or unpalatable species (the models) to avoid predators. This provided critical visual evidence for natural selection, supporting Darwin's theories.

• Evolutionary Ecology: His findings on how species adapt to their environment through warning signals helped lay the groundwork for the field of evolutionary ecology.

• Systematics: He later became a leading authority on beetles (Coleoptera) and served as the Assistant Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society for 28 years. 

Later Life and Recognition

• Honors: He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1881 and served twice as President of the Entomological Society of London.

• Local Collaboration: Unlike many explorers of his era, Bates extensively collaborated with and learned from indigenous guides, whose knowledge was essential to his survival and success in the rainforest.