Archive of past Queensland Entomologists
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Ian Francis Bell COMMON (1917-2006)
Ian Common was born in Scotland during parents’ visit and returned with family to Australia after WW1, first to Pittsworth dairy farm and later Toowoomba. He was interested in Lepidoptera from boyhood. Matriculated at Toowoomba Grammar 1937, then attended University of Qld, gaining B.A. with Hons in Philosophy 1941 and B.Agr.Sc 1945 ( Hons. 1947). Appointed to Qld Dept of Agric. and Stock in 1944 (also part-time with CSIR Division of Economic Entomology to study clothes moth problem in Brisbane wool stores). Continued at UQ, gaining M.A in Philosophy (1946) and M.Agr.Sc.(1953). Stationed at Biloela (1944-45) and Rockhampton (1945-48); worked on cotton and tomato pests with comprehensive study of yellow-winged locust. Joined CSIRO in 1948 and moved to Canberra to pursue a taxonomic career, developing the CSIRO Lepidoptera collection to global significance and publishing widely, first on much needed revisions of economic species and later on wider taxonomic aspects of both butterflies and moths. He was a gifted illustrator. Gained D.Agr.Sc. from UQ in 1969. Retired to hometown in Toowoomba in 1982 and continued his research, especially overviews of the mega-diverse Australian Oecophoridae, for almost 20 years. Was Secretary (1942-43) and Life Member (2004-) of Ent. Soc. Qld., President (1978-79) and Life Member (1987-) of Aust. Ent. Soc., and President (1978-79) and Life Member (1987-) of the International Lepidopterists Society. Honours include Karl Jordan Medal in (1996) and Order of Australia (2001).
Biographies: Edwards, E.D. 2008. Obituary. Journal of the Lepidopterists Society 62(2): 111-113; Park, W. 2010. Beyond Adversity pp.156-157. Bigspy Publishing, Newport, NSW.