C. L. Marlatt

Born in Atchison, Kansas, in 1863, Charles Lester Marlatt studied at Kansas State Agricultural College, earning bachelor's and master's degrees before beginning his career in entomology. He later joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Entomology, where he became known for combining field knowledge, scientific writing, and public service.

Marlatt wrote on a wide range of subjects, from insecticides and scale insects to house ants, cockroaches, and the famous periodical cicada. His books and government bulletins were meant to be useful as well as informative, helping farmers, gardeners, and households deal with real-world pest problems.

He is also remembered for his role in early plant quarantine efforts in the United States. That practical, problem-solving approach runs through his writing: clear, observant, and closely tied to the needs of everyday readers and growers.