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 I was born on 10 September 1956 in Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia. Since an early age, I have been interested in
the wonders of nature. I was first exposed to plants and animals as
a child of about 8 years old when my parents were living on the edge
of a sandstone plateau in the lower Blue Mountains at Glenbrook, New
South Wales. After school and on weekends I used to spend most of my
time exploring the bushland nearby, seeing what I could find. Much
of what I discovered then was unexplainable to me. I remember
writing a small paper and illustrating it when I was about 10 years
old. I illustrated a number of beetles which I had found in the
neighbourhood and their food plants. Little did I realise then that
this would put me in good stead for later life when I was able to
recollect these insects and provide scientific data on them in the
scientific literature.
I guess that I was very fortunate in that in those early days, my
father was in the Royal Australian Air Force and we were posted to
various places throughout eastern Australia over a 20-year period.
At each place I made the most of it by studying the local flora and
fauna. I imagine that not many people would have had this
opportunity and I believe that it is this signigficant feature of my
life that was responsible for me getting a much broader view of
biodiversity at a younger age than most people.
 Eventually my father was transferred to Malaysia
in south east Asia, and this was one of my first most exciting times
in my life. I stayed there two times for about 3 months each. I saw
and studied many interesting plants and animals, but unfortunately
in those days I never had the knowledge to write about them.
However, by the time I first went to Malaysia in 1977 I had already
completed my Bachelor of Science degree at the University of New
England, Armidale, New South Wales. This was also an exciting time
for me but I tired of that University in the end and wanted to seek
"new pastures". However, while I was at the University of New
England, I wrote my first natural history article on beetles, two
introductory plant articles for a well known gardening magazine
called Australian Plants as well as published my first scientific
paper on jewel beetles in the scientific journal, the Australian
Zoologist. I completed my Honours degree there and then went to
Perth, Western Australia in 1979. During 1979-1980, I explored much
of the southwestern area of Western Australia and eventually wrote
numerous papers on the flora and fauna of Western Australia, for
journals in Australia as well as overseas.
Over the past thirty years I have published 3 books and almost
400 scientific papers and other articles. I have visited the
following countries: New Caledonia, the Philippines, Papua New
Guinea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Uzbekistan,
Russia, the United States of America, Germany, and Austria. I have
worked with many entomologists in the world including Dr D. Dauber
(Austria), Dr Pierre H. Jolivet (France), Dr R. Beenen (The
Netherlands), Dr David Furth (USA), Dr A. Samuelson (USA) and Dr
M.G. Volkovitsch (Russia). I have also written many papers with Mr
J. R. Turner (New South Wales) and Mr. Magnus Peterson (Western
Australia).
My main areas of research include the following: plant taxonomy
and ecology, especially of endangered species, insect plant
relationships, especially those dealing with beetles (Coleoptera),
beetle taxonomy and ecology of jewel beetles (Buprestidae),
longicorn beetles (Cerambycidae) and leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae).
 This website will introduce me and my life's
work and provide the reader with many of my research papers,
opportunity to subscribe to and submit work to my natural history
journal, Calodema, to purchase papers from that journal and
to view my website and to submit comments and requests.
Calodema is the name of my natural history journal which
publishes all kinds of research dealing with the animals and plants
of the Australian region and the Pacific but I have also recently
extended this range to South America. The journal also publishes
book reviews and other items apart from scientific papers. I welcome
scientific exchange of ideas and research as well as enquiries about
all aspects of natural history from the public. Calodema is
also the name of the genus of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae)
which is tropical in distribution and comprises some of the most
beautiful insects in the world which are highly sought after by
insect collectors.
This website will be updated and modified on a regular basis.
Please enjoy what I have to offer in terms of photography and
research and return now and again. I hope to hear from you through
the guest book or through my private Email addresses.
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