Society history: what has happened so far

The Entomological Society of Stuttgart 1869 e.V. is one of the oldest scientific societies in Germany. Its history is closely intertwined with broader historical events, reflecting moments of progress and crisis, loss and renewal, scientific curiosity, and community engagement. The story of the society mirrors political upheavals as well as social developments, from the founding period to the present day.

1. 19th Century

   

   
   It all began in 1869, when a group of men in Stuttgart came together to establish the Entomological Society of Stuttgart, which was sometimes mockingly called the “Mucken Club.” Among them were the renowned lepidopterist Dr. Ernst Hofmann (1837–1892), a scientist in the entomological department of the then Royal Natural History Cabinet and editor of Die Großschmetterlinge Europas and Die Raupen der Großschmetterlinge Europas; Dr. med. Wilhelm Steudel (1839–1923), a surgeon in the Stuttgart city administration; and Josef Trinker, a goldsmith and jeweler. They shared a deep passion for insects and a desire to exchange knowledge about them in a social setting. In the early days, members met on Friday evenings in local inns and spent Sundays and holidays collecting butterflies, beetles, and other insects in nature. Rapid membership growth soon necessitated the creation of formal structures. The first statutes were adopted, and Wilhelm Steudel was appointed the first chairman and later became the society’s first honorary chairman. By the end of the 19th century, the first society albums with drawings and poems were created. From its founding, the society maintained a close, documented connection with the Natural History Museum of Stuttgart and its predecessors, the Royal Natural History Cabinet and later the Württemberg Natural History Cabinet.
   
2. 1900s–1910s

   
   In 1903, under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Max von Sußdorf (1855–1945), one of the leading German-speaking experts in veterinary medicine, the society’s library was transferred to the new building of the “Royal Natural History Cabinet” on Archivstraße in Stuttgart, despite concerns over possible fire risks. That year’s annual general meeting was held in Nürtingen and remained memorable to participants as a “celebration for nature enthusiasts.”
   
3. 1920s

   

   
   In 1925, Prof. Dr. Erwin Lindner (1888–1988) began his tenure as chairman of the society, a position he held for 20 years before becoming honorary chairman. Prof. Lindner was a pioneer in the study of Diptera, and his twelve-volume work Die Fliegen der paläarktischen Region is regarded as the first modern identification guide for flies.
   

   

   
   In 1928, some former members acquired an abandoned vineyard near Markgröningen, called the Rotenacker, and formed the Rotenacker Society, the first precursor to today’s working groups. Under the motto “How comfortable I am on the weekend,” they immediately began building a small hut and restoring dry stone walls. Led by Karl Graf, Arthur von der Trappen, and Karl Koch, they created structures with rudimentary means that have endured for over 100 years.
   
4. 1930s

   

   
   Even as construction of the hut was ongoing, members remained devoted to their primary passion. The first documented night-lighting event at Rotenacker took place on June 7, 1930. In 1931, the interior of the hut was completed, only for members to immediately begin their next project, the small observation hut “Pavillon Excelsior.”
   
   
5. 1940s

   When World War II broke out in 1939, many members were drafted into military service, and some never returned. Those who remained met every Thursday despite blackout regulations. In the first year of the war, 50 meetings were still held, featuring lectures, observation discussions, and exchanges of small collection treasures. For many, this provided a sense of normalcy in a difficult time. By the end of the war, nearly all society albums—with one exception—containing member lists, drawings, poems, and documentation were lost to fire, erasing a significant portion of the society’s memory. Yet the society itself survived, a quiet testament to communal spirit and the enduring power of a passion for nature. The 80th anniversary was celebrated in 1949 at the “Spitta-Ecke,” attended by many well-known entomologists.

   

6. 1950s

   

   
   The war ended on September 2, 1945. Stuttgart lay in ruins, but society members quickly resumed activities. During the currency reform, when old money became worthless and many associations lost their reserves, then-chairman Otto Reck (1901–1958) wisely preserved the society’s assets, allowing books to be purchased, meetings held, and excursions organized. Membership slowly recovered, meetings resumed in simple venues, and the library was gradually replenished. In 1953, a hornet colony settled in the Rotenacker hut. Remarkably, the nest was “successfully combated with water,” and members humorously counted “about 360 casualties.” In 1958, Prof. Dr. Karl Wilhelm Harde (1922–1982) became chairman, with a particular interest in beetles. His works Die Käfer Mitteleuropas and Der Kosmos Käferführer remain essential in any entomological library. That same year, the Southwest German Coleopterists’ Working Group was founded, initially independent of the society but later incorporated.
   

   

7. 1960s

   H. Pfeiffer became chair of the Rotenacker Society in June 1965. At that time, the society had only seven members, prompting discussions about full integration into the Entomological Society.

   

   
   In 1966, the society reached another milestone when Dr. K.-W. Harde realized a long-held vision: the first issue of Mitteilungen des Entomologischen Vereins Stuttgart was published, quickly gaining recognition beyond the society. Members celebrated the opportunity to see their work in print, and the publication continues annually, a shining example of a 1960s idea becoming a core element of the society’s work.
   
8. 1970s

   Als Nachfolger von Rudolf Hürttle übernimmt Hein mit großem Einsatz die Betreuung des Geländes und der Hütte bis 2009.

   

   
   After lengthy negotiations and under pressure from second chairman L. Schnell, the Rotenacker Society was incorporated into the Entomological Society of Stuttgart 1869 e.V. following a general assembly resolution in October 1970. The property transfer was officially recorded in the Markgröningen land register on November 26, 1971. Rudolf Hürttle was elected “hut warden” at the subsequent general assembly.
   
9. 1980s

   

   
   In the early 1980s, the property became part of a newly designated nature reserve. The society continues to manage it in accordance with conservation regulations. New species protection laws, which made collecting and exchanging insects more difficult, also influenced society life. Under Dr. Wolfgang Schawaller, the society focused on meetings, excursions, and increased publication activity.
   
10. 1990s

    The year 1990 marked a turning point for Germany and the society. Letters soon arrived from the new federal states, as nature enthusiasts previously isolated sought membership. The expansion was welcomed, and many veteran members saw it as a symbolic moment. The society had evolved from a regional butterfly enthusiasts’ society into an organization with impact across borders.
11. 2000s

    

    
    Alongside numerous meetings, such as the Coleopterists’ Meeting in Beutelsbach, a new working group was established in 2005: the Wild Bee Register. It quickly became an important platform for documenting wild bees in Baden-Württemberg.
    
12. 2010s

    From 2012 to 2019, Dr. Karin Wolf-Schwenninger chaired the society, expanding working groups and public outreach. In 2014, the Southwest German Coleopterists’ Working Group was fully integrated as the Coleoptera Working Group, with annual meetings becoming a fixture in the society calendar. After Dr. Wolf-Schwenninger stepped down, Prof. Dr. Lars Krogmann, a Hymenoptera specialist, became chairman and in 2021 was appointed Scientific Director of the Natural History Museum of Stuttgart.
13. 2020s

    

    
    Since 2021, Dr. Hossein Rajaei has led the society, preserving tradition while emphasizing contemporary issues such as biodiversity and citizen science. Under his leadership, a new working group, Bunte Wiese Stuttgart, was integrated to focus on species diversity, public engagement, and networking around insects and conservation. The launch of the Stuttgart Entomologists’ Days in 2023 represented a natural evolution of the society’s scientific and networking activities.
    

List of society presidents since 1925:

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