Doug Waterhouse


Dr Douglas Frew Waterhouse CMG AO ForMemRS was an Australian entomologist.
Waterhouse was the chief of the CSIRO entomology division from 1960 to 1981. He is best known for the invention of the active ingredient in Aerogard, an Australian insect repellent. He also gave his consent to the Australian Dung Beetle Project which saw the introduction of dung beetles to Australia as a fly control measure. While this was a risky decision because of the threat that the dung beetles could themselves become pests or disrupt the delicate ecological balance, it proved very successful and reduced the population of bush flies by 90%.

Early life

Waterhouse was born to Eben Gowrie Waterhouse and Janet Frew Waterhouse in Sydney in 1916. He grew up at Eryldene in Gordon, a northern suburb of Sydney. The house is now preserved by a trust and open to the public.
Douglas was introduced to entomology by his uncle Athol, who would take him on butterfly collection trips. His early schooling was at Brisbane Church of England Grammar School.

Career highlights