Here he met Samuel S. Haldeman, who kindled Rathvon's interest in natural history.

He struggled with feelings of inadequacy within the scientific community, and felt that his lack of formal education made him unqualified.

He argued for using integrated pest and crop management techniques, emphasizing the importance of growers differentiating between beneficial, detrimental, and neutral insects.

[2] Later in his scientific career, Rathvon became Professor of Entomology at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and editor of the agricultural periodical Lancaster Farmer.

[5] Almost 6,000 of Rathvon's specimens are housed at the North Museum of Nature and Science in Lancaster.

[3] The subspecies Nebria gebleri rathvoni was also named in his honor by John Lawrence LeConte.