Professor Michael E. N. Majerus (1954-2009) was a geneticist and Professor of Ecology at the University of Cambridge, an enthusiast who became a world authority in his field of evolutionary biology. He was widely noted for his work on moths and ladybirds and as an advocate of the science of evolution as well as an enthusiastic educator and the author of several books.

Mike took an early interest in lepidoptera and ecological genetics following the work of E.B. Ford, whose book Moths (in the New Naturalist series) he bought at the age of ten. Later he moved into studying ladybirds, an area which brought him widespread publicity as an expert in 2004 when the Harlequin ladybird came to Britain, causing a disaster for native species. This publicity meant that members of the public were able to be involved in effective monitoring of the spread of the Harlequin. His work on the peppered moth provided new support for the understanding of peppered moth evolution.

He was the president of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society and a Life Fellow of the British Naturalists’ Association. He received a number of awards, including the Sir Peter Scott Memorial Award in 2006, for contributions to British Natural History.

He was a good friend and supporter of the SNS. Members who attended the AGM in 2006 will long remember the wonderfully erudite and entertaining talk he gave on the harlequin ladybird.

He died on January 27th, 2009 after an unexpected and brief struggle with aggressive mesothelioma.