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Autobiography
	Dipl.-Kfm. Thomas Josef WITT was born in Bad Reichenhall at 12.9.1947. In Munich he attended the Oskar von Miller Gymnasium and later studied economics at the Ludwig Maximilian University.
Years of study Since 1962, as a schoolboy, WITT has started observing, catching, keeping and collecting of Palearctic butterflies (Rhopalocera), sphinx moths (Sphinges) and 'silkworm-like' moths (Bombyces) sensu SEITZ I and II. Starting his collection in the vicinity of Munich, soon he and his friend by this task, Peter ZELLER (who then tragically died in an accident at his mid-20es in Nepal), have regularly inspected interesting biotopes at foothills of Alps and in Bavarian mountains. Soon WITT became a Member of Entomological Society of Munich and got into contact with many lepidopterologists and employees of Bavarian State Collection for Zoology, Munich. He had spent a large portion of his free time in Lepidopterology Section of the Institute, where he was glad to provide his help as a volunteer, working together with custodians of that time Franz DANIEL (1895-1985), Josef WOLFSBERGER, Dr. Wolfgang DIERL, Leo SHELJUZHKO and with Director of the Institute Dr. Walter FORSTER (1910-1986) (Obituary see WITT 1988). He had also opportunity to communicate with many native and foreign scientists, who have visited the Institute. Since 1970 until 1997 he has been in charge of booking-office at the Entomological Society of Munich. He had especially strong learner-teacher connection with specialist on Zygaenidae Dr. Karl-Heinz WIEGEL, Munich and specialist on Bombyces and Sphinges Franz DANIEL (Obituary see WITT 1987a), who both included him intimately to his work. Goal-setting and specialization The productive cooperation caused DANIEL, who initially thought to bequeath his collection to the Zoological State Collection, to change his mind, already during his life leaving it to WITT, whom he considered as a successor of his studies. Thus, WITT defined the goal of his lepidopterological activity: study of systematics and taxonomy of "Bombyces et Sphinges sensu SEITZ II" under synthetical approach to the their habitus, morphology, geographic distribution, biology, behavior and some other characteristics. Previously united by SEITZ under “Bombyces and Sphinges”, these families are not any more considered as a unit, being positioned among different taxonomic groups. Now they belong to either Macro- or Microlepidoptera. Systematic list of the families (after FLETCHER & NYE (1975-1984)), includes the following ones in an alphabetical order: Arctiidae, Axiidae, Brahmaeidae, Bombycidae, Callidulidae, Camptolomidae, Cossidae,Cyclidiidae, Dilobidae, Drepanidae, Endromidae, Epicopeidae, Epiplemidae, Epipyropidae,Eupterotidae, Hepialidae, Heterogynidae, Lasiocampidae, Lemoniidae, Limacodidae, Lymantriidae, Megalopygidae, Nolidae, Notodontidae, Psychidae, Saturniidae, Sesiidae, Sphingidae, Syntomidae, Thaumetopoeidae, Thyatiridae, Thyretidae, Thyridae, Uranidae, Zygaenidae. WITT started a systematic study of the literature on these lepidopteran families, making species cards. DANIEL started monitoring the literature since the appearance of SEITZ Supplement Volume in 1933, putting it in his card index. WITT took this card index and re-sorted it in accordance to author-symbol method, developed by WIEGEL (WIEGEL 1969, Nachrichtenblatt d. Bayerischen Entomologen 18:106-112), and used in his collection. Since 1972, the year when DANIEL stopped his research activity due to the age and gave his collection to WITT, the latter alone has been carrying out the task of systematizing the literature. Cataloging had followed constantly the author-symbol scheme and since 1993 is being supported by specially developed computer software. Therefore, the literature on mentioned families since 1933 until nowadays is substantially systematized. Systematics and corresponding arrangement of species have initially followed the work of SEITZ. However, there have been constant changes due to the new data. WITT collection followed them, as far as possible rearranging material according to modern systematic views, suggested in articles, revisions, monographs and catalogues. Modern state of knowledge on the subject of study The result of the mentioned activity is not only in making the collection of Lepidoptera, which is catalogued for users. The true result, which is in fact a recording of what is known about mentioned lepidopteran families to-date, consists of two components: Collection of lepidopteran specimens (slide preparation), their conservation and openness to new materials. Various computer based catalogues serve to estimate the slides' collection: Catalogue of genital specimens: about 15.000 microscopic specimens of orders Rhopalocera and Heterocera are distributed among four cabinets under criteria: current number of specimen – species or definition – location – preparator – number given by preparator. Catalogue of alcohol specimens under criteria: current number of specimen – species or definition – location - collector Catalogue of specimens in collecting bags under criteria: current number of specimen – species or definition – location – collector Catalogue of types under criteria: order – number of family – family – genus – species or definition – holotype, lectotype, neotype – paratypes, cotypes, syntypes loan exchange Correspondence Databank consisting of published and unpublished literature citations, morphological studies, pictures and handwritten notes in a form of computer maintained library cards, constantly renewed and connected by author-symbol method with actual library: Obtaining of the relevant literature in the form of journals, periodicals, book series, separate publications, special publications and copies Evaluation and input of data in the computer data bank Organization of an author catalogue in the form of catalogue cards in which each publication connected with its library code Organization of species catalogue in the form of catalogue cards in which each taxon assigned to its own card Data connection by putting information on species list using author symbol Addition personal observations, notes from discussions, pictures etc. to species cards Sorting and maintaining of species cards as far as possible in accordance to actual systematics State of knowledge on different families and genera is very different. Notes on that along with current and planned research projects, activities of the corresponding scientists etc. are provided in the Introduction chapter to each particular family. Geographic limits While DANIEL has primarily worked with Palearctic fauna and partially with that of oriental region, WITT added a Nearctic region to the list. Since the beginning of 90th, the data from South America and Africa has also being collected. Historic limits, of course, hinder the systematic study and understanding of families.Sphingidae and Hepialidae has been long collected worldwide, and in all the families there are groups or genera, for which the attempt to produce a document on their world distribution was undertaken, for example, for genera Utetheisa HÜBNER (Arctiidae), Phyllodesma HÜBNER (Lasiocampidae) und Furcula LAMARCK (Notodontidae). Anyway, the widening of geographical borders of studies should be a long-term goal. The materials from South-America were steadily increasing with the result that a separate project was launched"Südamerika" The material from Africa also steadily was increasing by taking part in the results of expeditions to Congo, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Southafrica and Madagascar. The results of the Sahara-crossing lepidopterist Harald Sulak from Mauretania and Mali close the gap of knowledge of the distribution in the West as well as the results of lighttrapping by Dr.Günther Müller from the Eastern region of Egypt to the border of Sudan bring new knowlwdge. Cooperation with specialists Working on such a big number of very heterogenous lepidopteran families in the form, which has been practiced by DANIEL, is no longer possible. Problem statements and methods for different families, along with a lavish quantity of new publications, are more than one specialist can deal with. A rare day with an immense material coming from expeditions elapses without a discovery of new species for the region, previously unrecorded sex for the species, new population, which can be considered as subspecies or new species, or obtaining a new information, which can be a corner-stone in understanding of the problem, on which colleagues are working and should be informed on. The new species in the literature is quite often based on few specimens, whereas more extensive series from various regions, which could greatly improve the description, are available. Therefore, WITT has looked and is looking now for the contacts with lepidopterologists, who devoted themselves to the study of families, represented at the Museum. Past years brought contacts with a number of qualified specialists, who accomplished the study of an immense new material on certain families. Regular cooperation, experiences exchange and co-authorship in publications brought to the Museum so-called "corresponding scientists". Personal publications Keeping in mind mentioned above, we understand, why publications of WITT (see Autobiography) are not defined by the specialization, but filled with a rich data on different families or represent an attempt of outlining a general picture. We should mention some projects of particular importance:"Bombyces et Sphinges of Western Palearctic", series "Moths of Vietnam with special reference to Mt.Fan-si-pan" as well as publication within the framework "Insects of Israel".