06/03/2026
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It is with great sadness that the Australian Entomological Society acknowledges the passing of Dr Bill Humphreys.
Dr Bill Humphreys was an esteemed senior scientist at the Western Australian Museum, where he led Terrestrial Invertebrates, and remained an active Research Associate and Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia.
His pioneering study of subterranean biodiversity in Western Australia demonstrated that cave (troglofauna) and groundwater (stygofauna) communities are highly endemic, genetically distinct, and globally significant relict lineages. He described more than 100 blind subterranean diving beetle species, along with numerous other taxa.
With over 400 peer-reviewed publications, the highest H-index of any WA Museum scientist, and the 2008 Australian Biological Resources Study Eureka Award for Outstanding Taxonomic Research, he achieved exceptional scientific impact while helping embed subterranean fauna into environmental impact assessment and conservation policy.
His expertise and tireless research efforts will be greatly missed.
Vale Dr Bill Humphreys.
