E. A. (Ernest Adna) Back

Ernest Adna Back (1880–1959), often published as E. A. Back, was an American entomologist whose work is closely tied to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Surviving bibliographic records show him as the author or coauthor of government publications on insect pests and related agricultural problems, including work preserved by the Biodiversity Heritage Library.

He also wrote practical books for general readers. One example is House Ants, which reflects the straightforward, problem-solving style that made early USDA science useful beyond the laboratory. His writing centered on real-world insect issues that mattered to households, agriculture, and food storage.

Reliable biographical detail available online appears limited, so many personal facts about his life are not easy to confirm from accessible sources. What is clear is that his published work helped document and explain insect control at a time when applied entomology was becoming increasingly important in American public life.