The Royal Entomological Society is delighted to congratulate Prof. Laurence Mound Hon.FRES, the globally renowned thripsologist, on his appointment as Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours 2024. This prestigious recognition celebrates his outstanding contributions to entomology, particularly in the study of plant-feeding insects.
Laurence Mound has dedicated his career to understanding thrips, describing over 640 species and 90 genera, and mentoring students and researchers from around the world. For more than 25 years, he has been based at the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC), where he continues his pioneering work on thrips taxonomy, systematics, and ecology.
His long-standing association with the Royal Entomological Society was recognised with his appointment as an Honorary Fellow in 2021. Among his many contributions to the Society, Laurence played a key role in modernising RES publications, transforming them into a thriving portfolio of internationally respected journals, now published by Wiley.
Prior to his move to Australia, Laurence headed the Department of Entomology at the Natural History Museum (1981–1992) and was instrumental in organising the International Congresses of Entomology between 1976 and 1992. His relocation to Australia was undoubtedly a loss for the UK but a significant gain for Australian entomology.
To learn more about Laurence Mound’s career and achievements, you can read ANICdotes Issue 19 (2021), p.6 here.
This announcement follows the recognition of two RES Fellows in the New Year Honours, with Professor Lin Field Hon. FRES receiving a CBE and Professor Rosemary Collier FRES awarded an OBE for their contributions to crop protection and horticultural science. Read more here.
The Royal Entomological Society warmly congratulates Laurence Mound on this well-deserved honour.
