CSIR/O Division of Economic Entomology (1928 - 1949)

Summary

The CSIR's Division of Economic Entomology was established in 1928 and precedes the current Division of Entomology, which was formed in 1950.

Details

From "CSIRO research for Australia" (1962) pdf page 15:

"C.S.I.R.O. inherited an interest in entomological research from its early predecessor, the Institute of Science and Industry. The Division of Economic Entomology was set up in Canberra under Dr. R. J. Tillyard, F.R.S., soon after the Council was established.

Early work in the Division was concerned largely with the sheep blowfly and with biological control of plant and insect pests by the importation of beneficial insects. Both projects are still continuing. A great deal has been learned about the sheep blowfly. Efficient control is now possible by a simple surgical technique involving the removal of the loose skin from around the sheep's crutch (the Mules operation) and by fleece sprays which can give good protection for several months.

The pest-status of a number of insects has been reduced substantially as a result of biological control. These insects include the greenhouse white fly, the woolly aphid, mealy bugs, the green vegetable bug, and various scale insects. An intensive effort to control the Queensland fruit fly by biological control methods is now in progress.

In 1934 Dr. A. J. Nicholson became Chief of the Division,
an office he held until 1960 when Dr. D. F. Waterhouse
succeeded him."

Related entries

Timeline

 1928 - 1949 CSIR/O Division of Economic Entomology
       1950 - CSIRO Division of Entomology

Published resources

Books

• CSIRO, CSIRO research for Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Canberra: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation, 1962), 64 pp, https://www.eoas.info/bib-pdf/ASBS15940.pdf. pdf pages 14-15. Details
• Fuller, M. E., The insect inhabitants of carrion : a study in animal ecology (Melbourne: H. J. Green for Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, 1934), 62 pp, https://doi.org/10.25919/dbrb-zx18. Details
• Schedvin, C.B; Trace, K., Historical Directory of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 1926-1976 (Canberra: CSIRO, 1978), 101 pp. https://csiropedia.csiro.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/csiro_historical_directory_1926_1976.pdf. Details

Journal Articles

• Deveson, E. D., 'The Search for a Solution to Australian Locust Outbreaks: how developments in Ecology and Government Responses Influenced Scientific Research', Historical Records of Australian Science, 22 (1) (2011), 1-31, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR11003. Details
• Tillyard, R.J., 'Scientific papers from the Division of Economic Entomology published elsewhere than in the Council's publications', Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (1932), https://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/339951?index=1. Details

Reports

• Dickson, B.T., The work of the Division of Economic Botany for the year 1928-29 (Melbourne: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Australia), 1929), 32 pp. https://doi.org/10.25919/jzrg-yf83. Details
• Highley, E. (editor), A list of the publications of R.J. Tillyard, Chief of the Division 1928-1934 (Canberra: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation, 1984), 8 pp. https://doi.org/10.25919/y7w1-4924. Details
• Tillyard, R.J., The work of the Division of Economic Entomology for the year 1928-29 (Melbourne: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Australia), 1929), 19 pp. https://doi.org/10.25919/2k6y-h875. Details

Resources

• Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1471723. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Primary description of agency CA 4467; CSIRO, Division of Entomology. Registration of entity: 7 December 1987', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%204467. Details

Theses

• Alvarez, Amaya Jane, 'Writing about Women in the History of Science: a Study of Women at the CSIR 1930-1950', Minerva-Access, Digitised Collections, MA thesis, University of Melbourne, 1993, vi, 96 leaves, bound ; 31 cm pp. https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/items/76988996-82dc-569a-bc97-e4f20bddd219. Details