Biodiversity Explorers >
Coaton, William Geoffrey Harrower (1911-1983)
Studied the taxonomy and distribution of termites
at the Plant Protection Research
Institute.
Collected and studied termites. Published a total of 53 scientific
papers. Famous for his intensive quarter-degree sampling of southern African
termites. "Bill organised his major field expeditions along almost military
lines and they were planned down to the last detail. They nearly always
consisted of two vehicles, in case of breakdown, which for the remoter regions
were often equipped with four wheel drive and long range fuel tanks. Expeditions
were completely self contained carrying additional fuel, spare parts, food and
gear. For the uninhabited areas, dumps of fuel were often deposited at
pre-arranged points along the route beforehand. Expeditions lasted from 5-6
weeks each and thousands of kilometres were traversed at a time. Bill and his
companions generally drove from dawn to dusk, stopping every 16 km (quarter
degree) to sample for termites, and they camped out at the end of each day. Two
such expeditions were mounted annually over a score of years." A total of
33400 colony samples were collected during these surveys.
"Bill was a gifted writer of reports and memoranda and coupled with an
aura of precision in all matters, could always be relied on to present a
flawless case and brilliantly argue his point of view - an attribute that often
enabled him to deal productively with government red tape. A salvo of memos from
Bill Coaton generally produced the desired result! He was a perfectionist in his
work and meticulous in his preparation of material and in the arrangement of his
collection and laboratory."
Wife = Hetty. Had three daughters, a stepdaughter and stepson.
Chronology
Date |
Age |
Event |
30 Aug 1911 |
|
Born in Wellington. |
1929 |
|
Matriculated from Wellington Boys' High School |
1932 |
|
Graduated with B.Sc from University of Cape Town. |
1933 |
|
Completed M.Sc at University of Cape Town. |
1934 |
|
Studied and wrote examinations for all entomology undergraduate courses
at University of Pretoria. |
Jul 1935 |
|
Appointed to the South African Department of Agriculture where
he worked the rest of his life. Was initially posted to Locust Research
Institute. |
1936 |
|
Transferred to the Division of Plant Industry, later called the Division
of Entomology and carried on the work started by C. Fuller on termites.
Initially, most of his work on termites was concerned with economic aspects. |
c1939 |
|
Started a lifelong correspondense with Prof. Alfred Emerson of the
University of Chicago. |
1940 |
|
Fought in Second World War, in Madagascar and the Western Desert as part
of the 7 and 12 S.A. Motorized Brigade (6 S.A. Armoured Division). |
1943 |
|
Posted to 22 Air School SAAF at Bloemspruit,
Bloemfontein. |
1944 |
|
Rejoined the Division of Entomology. Remained with the SADF reserves
until 1976. |
1948 |
|
Awarded Ph.D degree by the University of Cape Town. |
1957 |
|
Seconded to the Department of Forestry in Zambia to help with problem of
termites attacking Eucalyptus plantations; also found time to collect in the
Southern Province and the Copperbelt. |
1957 |
|
Appointed Head of the National Insect Collection as part of the
restructuring of the Division of Entomology which was renamed to Plant
Protection Research Institute (PPRI). |
1958 |
|
Travelled on a Nuffield Foundation Fellowship to study termites in the
Emerson Collection in Chicago and the British Museum (Natural History)
collections, curated by W.V. Harris, in London. Returned with named reference
collection. |
1959 |
|
Started his huge survey of the termites of Southern Africa, attempting
to sample every quarter-degree square; assisted by Koos Sheasby, William Mohale,
and later by G.F. Pretorius. |
1976 |
|
Reached retirement age. Reappointed on a temporary basis to his previous
post. |
1982 |
|
Retired in February from the PPRI after 46.5 years service. |
28 Sep 1983 |
|
Died. |
Specimens
Housed in the National Collection of Insects, Pretoria.
References
- Obituary: J. ent. Soc sth. Afr. (1984) 47: 195-202.
Text by H. Robertson |