Elton N. Woodbury (1913–1995) had a fascination for butterflies ever since, as a preschooler, he and a friend encouraged the friend’s younger sister to sample a yellow sulphur butterfly—hoping to discover whether it tasted buttery. The toddler ran screaming to her mother, and, despite being punished, young Elton developed his interest into a lifelong study.

He earned his bachelor degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and his PhD from Ohio State University, as a prelude to a long research career with the Hercules Corporation. A member of the Lepidopterists’ Society and American Entomological Society, he served as a chairman of the eastern branch of the Entomological Society of America. Woodbury also contributed to various nature magazines, and authored several books,including Butterflies of Delmarva.