Fergus J. O'Rourke (1923–2010) was an Irish scientist whose publications included contributions to

myrmecology Myrmecology (; from Greek: μύρμηξ, ''myrmex'', "ant" and λόγος, ''logos'', "study") is a branch of entomology focusing on the scientific study of ants. Some early myrmecologists considered ant society as the ideal form of society an ...

and medical entomology. Educated at

Belvedere College Belvedere College S.J. (sometimes St Francis Xavier's College) is a voluntary secondary school for boys in Dublin, Ireland. The school has numerous alumni in the arts, politics, sports, science, and business. History Belvedere owes its origin ...

, and subsequently at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

, he graduated from University College Dublin both as a medical doctor and with a Masters in Science. He subsequently earned a PhD in Zoology. O'Rourke's 1948's survey of Irish ants built on the earlier work of Stelfox and provided an authoritative description of Irish ants. O'Rourke (1956) provided an early consideration of the importance of ants as disease vectors.Carney, P.W. (1969) 'Laboratory maintenance of carpenter ants', Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 63 (1)332-334 He was appointed Professor of Zoology at

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one ...

and was elected a Member of the

Royal Irish Academy The Royal Irish Academy (RIA; ga, Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann), based in Dublin, is an academic body that promotes study in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is Ireland's premier learned society and one its leading cultural i ...

and Fellow of the

Royal Entomological Society of London The Royal Entomological Society is devoted to the study of insects. Its aims are to disseminate information about insects and improving communication between entomologists. The society was founded in 1833 as the Entomological Society of Londo ...

Publications

*Corridan, J. P., F. J. O'Rourke and M. Verling (1969). 'Trichinella spiralis in the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Ireland', Nature, 222, p. 1191. *Griffiths, R. B. and F. J. O'Rourke (1950). 'Observations on the Lesions Caused by Cnemidocoptes mutans and their Treatment, with Special Reference to the Use of 'Gammexane' ', Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 44, pp. 93–100. *Haen, P. J. and F. J. O'Rourke (1968). 'Proteins and Haemoglobins of Salmon-Trout Hybrids', Nature, 217, pp. 65–67. *Keenan, E., E. MacWhite and F. J. O'Rourke (1944). 'An extended burial at Fassaroe, Co. Wicklow. ' Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, p. 146–54. *O’Rourke, F.J. (1970a) The Fauna of Ireland. Cork: Mercier *O'Rourke, F. J. (1970b). 'Rheotanytarsus Bause (Diptera: Chironomidae), A Genus Not Previously Recorded From Ireland, with Notes on the Question of the Species Occurring in Great Britain and Ireland', Entomologist's Gazette, 21, pp. 285–288. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1968). 'A New Host for the Metacercaria of the Fluke Bucephalopsis Gracilescens (Rudolph)', Irish Naturalists' Journal, 16. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1961). 'Presence of Blood Antigens in Fish Mucus and its Possible Parasitological Significance', Nature, 189, p. 943. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1960a). 'Zoonoses: The Diseases of Animals Transmissible to Man', Irish Journal of Medical Science, pp. 443–452. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1960b). 'The Future of Insect Control: Biological or Chemical', The Journal of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland, 5, pp. 28–41. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1956). 'The medical and veterinary importance of the formicidae', Insectes Sociaux, 3, pp. 107–118. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1952). 'A preliminary ecological classification of ant communities in Ireland', Entomologist's Gazette, 3, pp. 69–72. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1955). 'Arthropods and human health ', Irish Journal of Medical Science, 30, pp. 78–82. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1950). 'Myrmecological notes from Narvik, northern Norway',

Norsk Entomologisk Tidsskrift The ''Norwegian Journal of Entomology'' is a biannual peer-reviewed scientific journal covering entomology, and arthropodology more in general, with an emphasis on Norway. It was established in 1920 as the ''Norsk Entomologisk Tidsskrift'', obtaini ...

, 8, pp. 47–50. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1948). 'The Distribution and General Ecology of the Irish Formicidae', Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section B: Biological, Geological, and Chemical Science, 52, pp. 383–410. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1945a). 'A Further Extension of the Range of Myrmica Schenki, Emery', Entomologist's Record, VII, pp. 85–86. *O'Rourke, F. J. (1945b). 'A kitchen-midden at Dog's Bay, Roundstone, Co. Galway (note)', Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 75, p. 115–8

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orourke, Fergus Irish entomologists 1923 births 2010 deaths Myrmecologists Irish scientists Alumni of University College Dublin Members of the Royal Irish Academy People educated at Belvedere College Scientists from Cobh Academics of University College Cork