George Basil PopovMBE (1922, inIran – 22 December 1998, inLondon), was a Russian-British entomologist born in Iran, his father having been employed there by theImperial Bank of Persia. Popov became an authority on theDesert locust.
George Popov was appointed to the Middle East Anti-Locust Unit byBoris Uvarov in 1943. His interest in migratory locusts and other grasshoppers (acridology) saw him visitSocotra (an expedition for Desert Locust Survey Nairobi),Eritrea,Mauritania,Niger,Senegal,Somalia,Sudan,Tanzania,Iran,Oman,Saudi Arabia,Pakistan,Bangladesh andRussia. His base was at the Anti-Locust Research Centre in London, working from there until his retirement in 1984. After retirement he remained active, embarking on programs for theFood and Agriculture Organization and others. Popov's knowledge of theArabian Peninsula led to his receiving the Lawrence of Arabia Memorial Medal (1995) from theRoyal Society for Asian Affairs.[1][2]
In 1957 Popov undertook a study on the locusts of Socotra. This led to his paper on the saltatorial Orthoptera of Socotra, and the first systematic description of its vegetation.[3] The many botanical specimens collected during his studies of locusts were donated to theBritish Museum between 1966 and 1997.
A species ofgecko,Pristurus popovi, is named in his honor.[5]
