Book

Author

Fuller, M. E.

Title

The insect inhabitants of carrion : a study in animal ecology

Imprint

H. J. Green for Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne, 1934, 62 pp

Url

https://doi.org/10.25919/dbrb-zx18

Format

Print

Description

Bulletin (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), no. 82.
This report has been placed on the CSIRO repository and may be made available to persons outside of CSIRO for non commercial purposes, in its entirety and without deletion of disclaimers and copyright information.

Abstract

Foreword

To solve any problem it is necessary first to understand the nature of the problem; so fundamental research must generally precede the devising of methods of controlling pests. The plan of blowfly research of the Division of Economic Entomology has provided for two main fundamental investigations, namely, an ecological study to discover the precise relations of blowflies to their environment, and an equally precise study of the factors that influence the susceptibility of sheep to blowfly strike. The fact that biological control was an important part of the Division's policy was an added reason for making the ecological investigation the first main line of research, for only by accurate comparative ecological work can one recognize whether a natural enemy is likely to be useful or not.

The results of the ecological investigations undertaken at Canberra are set out in this Bulletin. Their bearing on measures for controlling blowflies will be evident to any one who reads the text. It is hardly necessary to emphasize the fact that, although most of the work was undertaken at Canberra, the results obtained are applicable to most, if not all, the sheep-raising districts of Australia.

A. J. NICHOLSON, Acting-Chief, Division of Economic Entomology. Canberra,
May, 1934.

From '1. Introduction' page 9:
"When the Section of Blowfly Research of the Division of Economic Entomology was formed in December, 1928, the Senior Entomologist, Dr. I. M. Mackerras, prepared a plan of research, which was approved by the Chief of the Division, Dr. R. J. Tillyard, and which included an investigation of the ecology of carrion insects, both in Australia and Europe, as an essential preliminary to any organized attempt at blowfly control, and particularly biological control. Dr. E. G. Holdaway undertook the work in Erance, and the writei* was given the Australian investigation."

"This paper is designed primarily as a contribution to the study of general ecological problems. It is not proposed to deal in detail with the economic aspect of the work. This has been summarized by Mackerras (1930), and by Tillyard and Seddon (1933), who have also reviewed the results recorded here. Most of the observations and experiments have been carried out in Canberra, but information obtained in other parts of Australia has also been used.

The writer is indebted to Dr. I. M. Mackerras for guidance, for notes on his work in Queensland and North Australia, and for help and advice in the preparation of the manuscript; to Dr. M. J. Mackerras for certain observations; and to Mr. A. L. Tonnoir for the identification of many of the Diptera. Other acknowledgments will be found in appropriate places in the text."

Related entries

Corporate Bodies

• CSIR/O Division of Economic Entomology, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (1928 - 1949)

People

• Fuller, Mary Ellen (1906? - 1938)
• Holdaway, Frederick George (1902 - 1965)
• Mackerras, Ian Murray (1898 - 1980)
• Mackerras, Mabel Josephine (Josephine) (1896 - 1971)
• Tillyard, Robin John (1881 - 1937)

See also

• Nicholson, Alexander John (John) (1895 - 1969)