By the time Womersley left England in 1930 he was an authority on Collembola. In Australia he became a world authority on Acarina. Continuing his research until a fortnight before his death, Womersley's most important contribution was his 1952 publication on the trombiculid of the Asia-Pacific region, the vector of scrub typhus. Womersley also contributed to the war effort by providing specialist taxonomic advice to both the Australian and United States of America armies.

Herbert Womersley was born on 10 April 1889 in Warrington, Lancashire, England. He was educated in his home town and from an early age developed a fascination for insects, possibly influenced by his father's (Fred) interest in Lepidoptera.

At 18 years of age, Womersley commenced an apprenticeship at 'Joseph Crossfield & Sons Limited' (established 1815), manufacturers of soap and chemicals. In his early twenties Womersley developed an interest in microscopy and under the guidance of Abraham Flatters (1848-1929), a renowned British microscopist, he accomplished a night course at the 'Manchester School of Technology in the staining, clearing and cutting of botanical specimens'. [1] In 1912, Womersley published his first article 'Teripineol, a new clearing agent' in the 'Micrologist'. Already a collector of Diptera, he turned his interest to Collembola, most which are more easily seen with the aid of a microscope. Womersley was able to apply his newfound skills.

In 1914 Womersley joined the Royal Army Medical Corps through the St John Ambulance Brigade in Manchester. He was placed in charge of a laboratory at Fort Chatham where duties included routine clinicopathological tests including bacteriology and routine pharmaceutical dispensing. [2]

In 1915, Womersley volunteered to join the Chemical Corps of Royal Engineers. He was transferred to one of the gas companies where duties included transporting cylinders of chlorine, phosogene and other gases into the trenches, and when the wind conditions were ideal, releasing them upon the enemy. Womersley took part in the first British attack upon the Germans using a poisonous gas at Loos, Battle for the Hohenzollern redoubt, and at Somme.Womersley was later transferred to explosives manufacture in Chester, Manchester and Dornoch working on TNT, nitroclycerine, acids and the recovery of alcohol and ether vapour in cordite stoves. He was discharged in 1917. [3]

In 1920, Womersley was appointed manager of the Fuel and Steamraising Department for Christopher Thomas & Bros Ltd (established 1745) soap manufacturers in Bristol. With his war service behind him, Womersley was able to resume his interest in entomology working on Apterygota and Diptera. He frequented the Bristol Museum and joined the Bristol Naturalists' Society where he became president for a term and made an honorary member when he departed for Australia in 1930. Womersley also promoted South-Western Union of Naturalists and served as Secretary from its inception until 1930 and became a fellow of the Entomological Society of London in 1926.

In 1930 Robin J Tillyard (1881-1937), Chief of the Division of Economic Entomology in Canberra, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CS & IR, currently Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) secured Womersley's appointment as Entomologist of Section of Pasture and Field Pests in Western Australia. At the time infestations of the lucerne flea (Sminthurus viridis) and the red-legged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor) were causing damage to Australian crops, particularly in Western Australia. Before embarking for Australia, Womersley was seconded to the British Museum from January to May 1930 for training in Museum work to compensate for his lack of instruction in university biology. In particular he was to increase his knowledge in the group Acarina of the class Arachnida and the Order Collembola. Given the time constraint, he focussed upon the family Eupodidae of the Acarina and family Sminthuridae of the Collembola. Duties included: 'complete as far as possible a catalogue of these two families, to study and collect material both in the field and museums, making both slide and spirit collections, and mounts of dissected material'. [4] In the Collembola he was to concentrate upon Sminthurus, Sminthurinus, Bourletiella and make as many microscopic mounts of as many species as possible and a special study of S. viridis L (salvia) as it reaches a large size in Australia. 'Finally under "Control measures", Womersley was instructed by Tillyard to: "Draw up a report to me on the position in England at the present time as regards the mechanical, chemical and biological methods of control in use or being studied in connection with any of the above."' [5] To facilitate the studies, Tillyard sent Womersley a collection of mites and Sminthuridae from Australia. On 6 March 1930, Tillyard offered Womersley a three year appointment with CS & IR.

Womersley and his family left for Australia, stopping in South Africa for seven weeks to study the distribution and habits of the Halotydeus. whilst he was there, Womersley observed the predation of the bdellid mites upon Sminthurus. They arrived in Perth on 25 September 1930.

Given the financial constraints due to the Depression, Tillyard was unable to meet Womersley personally so he left duty instructions in a letter. Womersley's research on mites was to be divided as follows: Distribution in Western Australia, control by natural enemies, control by sprays and dusts and control by cultural methods. [6] He was to also look into the Sminthurus problem in Western Australia and collect and study Acarines, Collembola and related insects. In addition to his formal duties he was to work on a taxonomic programme for the Apterygota.

Finances did not improve over the next three years therefore Womersley's CS & IR contract was terminated. He applied for the position of Entomologist at the South Australian Museum which became vacant upon Arthur Mills Lea's (1868-1932, see AA 867) death (midday, Monday, 29 February 1932). The committee established to make the selection of a suitable candidate included Dr Thomas Draper Campbell (1893-1967, see AA 52) as Chair and Professor Thomas Harvey Johnston (1881-1951, see AA 161). Womersley took up the appointment on 1 January 1933, at a salary of £380 per annum, less percentage reductions of 10%. The appointment was subject to the usual conditions of employment at the time as well as:

• The production of a certificate, satisfactory to the Board, regarding the health of the appointed.


• Probationary service for six months.


• That while in the service of the Board the appointee shall not possess a collection of Entomological specimens, nor collect such specimens other than on behalf of the Board.


• That the Board pay up to £35 towards the fares and expenses of transport to Adelaide of appointee and his with and family. [7]

As the museum Entomologist, Womersley duties were as follows:

1. Classification and arrangement of all arthropods other than Crustacea.


2. Research on collections is of outstanding importance in this section at all times, and particularly at the present, when groups little known in Australia, but of economic importance here, are being taxanomically investigated.


3. Replies to queries and identification of numerous specimens submitted.


4. Protection of collections from attacks of pests.

[8]

Womersley's research and expertise on mites was influential in investigations carried out by government departments on disease that includes the following:

• From 2 to 4 March 1942 Womersley conducted a mosquito and house fly survey at Barmera and Loveday Internee Camps for the Military. [9]


• An outbreak of dengue fever at Ceduna and Koonibba Mission Stations was reported by Dr Evelyn Freda Gibson (1908-1977, flying doctor) to the Central Board of Health. Consequently, Womersley was requested to survey for mosquitoes, particularly the Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti, a known carrier. The survey was conducted from 14 to 22 October 1942. [10]


• At the request of the Medical Directorate of the Army, Womersley was requested to 'Report on the Occurence of the Ti-tree itch-mite Trombicula samboni Wom. at Robe, South Australia.' See Board papers. The visit took place 6-8 April 1943. A second visit to the district took place from 16 to 20 April 1943 with Army Medical Corps soldiers who were experimenting with the use of chemical repellents on clothing. Womersley's role was to advise upon the best localities for the mite, to locate the adult, and to gain further information on it's habits (see AA 872/1/1). [11].

Womersley's contribution to the war effort continued by providing talks about mites and harmful insects to the Australian Women Army Service, organised by the Museum Education service. He also carried out taxonomic research in association with the officers of the Medical Directorates of the Australian Army and Air Force, the American Scrub Typhus Commission, the Research Units of the American Navy, and the British South-East Asia Command. During the war the troops in New Guinea and the Pacific Islands suffered from scrub typhus and scrub itch, caused by the mites Womersley was working on.

Womersley's research was published in papers and much sought after by the military. At the Board meeting 9 September 1943, Herbert Matthew Hale (1895-1963, see AA 124) reported that 'many requests from military and air force authorities had been received for Mr Womersley's paper on the Trombiculinae. The Chairman stated that he had authorised Mr. Womersley to send six copies to F/Lt. D. C. Swan, Directorate of Medical Services, R.A.A.F., Headquarters, Melbourne.

In a letter dated 9 June 1943 [12] by Womersley informs the Museum that 'The Trombiculinae (Acarina), Itch-Mites of the Austro-Malayan and Oriental regions' is in the printing process in the Transactions of the Royal Society Volume 67, part 1 and 50 reprints should be purchased given its medical importance. Purchased was approved at the 13 July 1944 Board meeting

The Director, Herbert Hale reported that Womersley had applied to the national Institute of Health in the United States of America for a grant to complete his research on the Trombiculid mites in the Asiatic Pacific region. Application approved. 14 November 1946. In 1947, Womersley received a grant from the United States Public Health Department to study the collections in other institutions, meet with specialists in the United States of America and England and assist in the publication of his magnum opus, 'Trombiculidae of the Asiatic-Pacific Region' , Volume X of the Records, 674 pages and 118 plates.

Womersley published 196 papers from 1912 to 1963; 150 on mite taxonomy including work on trombidiids, listrophorids, sarcoptids, phytoseiids, macrochelids and trigynaspids. He also worked on descriptions of the mites from Douglas mawson's 1911 trip to the Antarctic. For a complete list of publications see RV Southcott's 'Obituary Notice: Herbert Womersley, A.L.S. (Honoris causa), F.R.E.S.' in Records of the South Australian Museum, 1964, Volume 14, pp619-632.

Womersley retired in 1954 but was immediately appointed as acarologist, a position created specifically for him. He retired again in 1959 but became an honorary Acarologist. After his retirement in 1954, Womersley spent some time with his son John Spencer Womersley (1920-1985), Forest Botanist in the Forestry Department of New Guinea.

Womersley was involved with wildlife preservation in his state and was appointed Commissioner of the National Park and Wildlife Reserves in 1945. Rangers of the National parks formed a guard of honour at his funeral.

In the Royal Society of South Australia, Womersley held the following positions: editor from 1937 to 1943, treasurer from 1950 to 1951 and 1956 to 1959, president from 1943 to 1944, and made honorary fellow in 1962. He received the Verco medal in 1943. Womersley was also a representative on the Flora and Fauna Protection Committee that advised the Minister of Fisheries and Game from 1945.

Womersley was married twice and had two sons by his first marriage John Spencer (1920-1985) and Hugh Bryan Spencer Womersley (1922-), both botanists and members of the Royal Society. Womersley died on 14 October 1962 at 73 years of age in Adelaide, South Australia. His name in commerated in a number of taxa in the Anthropoda. See Southcott, RV, 'Obituary Herbert Womersley, A.L.S. (Hon. Causa), F.R.E.S. 1889-1962' in Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, Volume 87, pp251-252

1. Southcott, RV, 'Obituary Notice: Herbert Womersley, A.L.S. (Honoris causa), F.R.E.S.' in Records of the South Australian Museum, 1964, Volume 14, p603
2. ibid p604
3. ibid p604
4. ibid p607
5. ibid p608
6. ibid p610-11
7. see South Australian Museum Board Papers AA 298
8. ibid
9. ibid
10. ibid
11. ibid
12. ibid