Martynova was born Olga Mikhailovna Aleksandrova in Saint Petersburg on 19 July 1900. At university she became interested in freshwater insects, taking part in a scientific expedition to
Karelia where she met her future husband and scientific partner, Professor
Andrey Vasilyevich Martynov (1879-1938). During
World War II, Martynova was part of the team responsible for moving the
Soviet National Academy of Sciences' insect collection to the copper mines at Kargala for protection, and she helped monitor and protect the collection remaining in the Academy building in
Moscow from incendiary bombs during air raids. Martynova died on 18 February 1997. •
Narynia Martynova, 1967 (order
Entomobryomorpha). •
Proraphidia Martynova, 1947 (order
Raphidioptera). == Selected works ==