author
William A. (William Albert) Riley
b. 1876
An early 20th-century entomologist and parasitologist, he wrote practical, science-focused books that helped explain how insects and parasites affect human and animal health. His work is especially remembered for making medical entomology easier for students and general readers to grasp.
1 Audiobook
Handbook of Medical Entomology
by William A. (William Albert) Riley, O. A. (Oskar Augustus) Johannsen
About the author
William A. Riley, also listed as William Albert Riley, was born in 1876 and built his career around entomology and parasitology. Library and catalog records connect him with Cornell University’s Department of Entomology, where his teaching helped shape some of his best-known books.
His books include Notes on Animal Parasites and Parasitism (1912) and, with Oskar A. Johannsen, Handbook of Medical Entomology (1915). Those works focused on parasites, disease-carrying insects, and the links between animal life and public health, giving readers a clear introduction to subjects that were becoming increasingly important in modern science and medicine.
Riley was also active in the professional world of parasitology; records of the American Society of Parasitologists list him among its past officers, including service as president in 1931. While detailed biographical information is limited in the sources I found, his publications show him as a careful teacher and scientific writer whose books were designed to be useful, direct, and grounded in observation.