Jan Swammerdam was a Dutch naturalist known for making several important biological observations, particularly ones related to the categorization of insects.

Swammerdam, the son of an apothecary, was born in February 12, 1637. His father maintained a museum of curiosities as a hobby and it is likely this pastime helped shape young Jan's interest in natural history. Although he studied medicine and received a degree from Leiden, Swammerdam never became a physician. Instead he decided to pursue his interest in the natural sciences.

These interests led Swammerdam to study th life cycles and anatomies of many species of insects, particularly honeybees, mayflies, and dragonflies. He contributed to the understanding of how mayflies and dragonflies begin to grow rudimentary wings while still in the aquatic nymph stage. On a broader scale he categorized insects into four major groups, three of which are still in use today. He also demonstrated that insects...