Information about the Society

The Australian Entomological Society is an incorporated, non-profit association

PATRON
His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

Society Publications

(formerly Journal of the Australian Entomological Society)

The flagship publication of the Society, The Australian Journal of Entomology promotes the study of the biology, ecology, taxonomy and control of insects and arachnids within an Australian context. The Journal publishes original, peer-reviewed research articles, critical reviews, short articles and thesis abstracts in the broad area of entomology.

All original research articles, critical reviews and short articles are reviewed by at least two referees expert in the field of the published paper.
Instructions to authors can be obtained from the Blackwell Science Asia Journals webpage .

Manuscripts and other editorial correspondence should be addressed to the Chief Editor:

Dr John Matthiessen
CSIRO Entomology
Private Bag 5 Wembley
Western Australia 6913

The Journal is produced and distributed on behalf of the Society by Blackwell Science Asia and is covered by CAB Abstracts, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, Current Contents/Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences, GeoAbstracts and Zoological Record. All matters relating to subscriptions, advertisement bookings, back issues, reprints, offprints and general enquiries should be addressed to:

Blackwell Science Asia
PO Box 378
Carlton South 3053
Victoria
Email: info@blackwellpublishingasia.com
Home page: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/

NOTE: ALL ISSUES PUBLISHED FROM 1962 (VOLUME 1) TO 1997 (VOLUME 36) ARE NOW FULLY DIGITISED AND AVAILABLE ON THE BLACKWELLS WEBSITE.

This was made possible through funds generated for the Society by the International Congress of Entomology, Brisbane, 2004, with the help of Blackwells staff. Note that the first five volumes were published as "The Journal of the Entomological Society of Queensland" and subsequent volumes up to Volume 36 were published as "The Journal of the Australian Entomological Society". We acknowledge the Entomological Society of Queensland who provided permission for the early issues to be included in this package to ensure it was complete.

The News Bulletin of the Australian Entomological Society

Myrmecia is produced quarterly and includes reports on regional activities and research projects, notices, obituaries and news about members. Contributions for Myrmecia can be sent to The Editor:

Dr Aaron Simmons
Charles Sturt University
Leeds Parade
Orange, NSW 2800

Upton, Murray S. (1991) Methods for collecting, preserving and studying insects and allied forms. 4th Edition. The Australian Entomological Society Miscellaneous Publication No. 3.

Popular and comprehensive guide to all aspects of collecting and preparing insect specimens. Available from the Treasurer, $Au15.00.

The Society emblem

Myrmecia gulosa (Fabricius)

The Society's logo features the red bull ant Myrmecia gulosa (Fabricius, 1775) which was one of the first Australian insects to be formally named. The first specimen was collected in "New Holland" by Joseph Banks in 1770 and this specimen is still in good condition in the Joseph Banks Collection held in the Natural History Museum, London.

Objectives of the Society The advancement and dissemination of entomological knowledge in all its aspects, particularly but not exclusively, in relation to the Australian fauna. The objects are achieved by:

publishing a Journal, a News Bulletin and a series of Miscellaneous Publications;
organising scientific meetings of members;
awarding research grants to financial members;
awarding prizes to students for papers or essays on entomological topics;
awarding prizes for taxonomic illustrations and photographs of insects or allied forms.

History of the Society The Australian Entomological Society began on 17 August 1965 at a meeting of entomologists from all States and the Australian Capital Territory held in association with the Hobart meeting of ANZAAS. This followed three years of behind-the-scenes activity and debate among most Australian entomologists and existing entomological societies. Ian Mackerras, the first president of the AES, listed four responsibilities of the Society that, if fulfilled, would guarantee its success:

to acquire wealth,
to maintain the highest attainable standard of excellence in everything it does
to have a clear central purpose and source of inspiration
to exist, not for what it can get, but for what it can give.

The first annual general meeting and scientific session was held in Melbourne in January 1967 and was attended by 55 members and five visitors. Subsequent AGMs have been held at various places in all States and Territories but not in every calendar year. The smallest meeting was attended by 32 participants in Quindanning, south of Perth, in 1973, while the largest was in Canberra in 1990 when 330 people attended. In 1996 the AES and the New Zealand Entomological Society held their first joint annual conference at Lincoln University in Christchurch. Current plans are to hold similar joint conferences every three years. The Society was the national host for the 14th International Congress of Entomology (Canberra, 1972) and the 22nd International Congress of Entomology (Brisbane, 2004).