Entomology

Entomology is the study of insects. The word comes from Ancient Greek, where ἔντομον means "insect" and λόγος means "study." People who study insects are called entomologists.

In the past, entomology also included the study of other small animals like spiders, millipedes, and crabs, but today it mainly focuses on insects. Over 1.3 million types of insects have been identified by scientists.

This field helps us understand how insects live, their roles in nature, and how they affect our world. Insects are very important because they help plants grow by spreading pollen and they are a food source for many other animals.

Diversity of insects from different orders

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of entomology.

Entomology has been part of human life since ancient times, especially in farming and beekeeping. Early thinkers like the Roman writer Pliny the Elder wrote about insects, and scientists like Jan Swammerdam studied how insects change during their life cycles. In the 1600s, books began to describe insects more scientifically.

As people started collecting insects, they formed groups to share their findings. In the 1800s, entomology grew quickly, with famous thinkers like Charles Darwin studying insects. Today, many people enjoy learning about and identifying insects, especially butterflies and dragonflies. Identifying insects can be tricky because there are so many different kinds, but scientists use special tools and methods to help.

Applications

Pest control

Further information: Insect pest control

In 1994, a group called the Entomological Society of America started a new program to help people who work with bugs that can harm homes or health. This program is called the Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). To become a true expert on bugs, called an entomologist, a person usually needs advanced school learning. But with the ACE program, people can learn important skills without needing the same level of education.

There are other programs too, like Public Health Entomology (PHE), Certified IPM Technicians (CITs), and Board Certified Entomologists (BCEs). Each of these has different rules and tests to make sure people know how to handle bugs safely and responsibly.

Forensics

Main article: Forensic entomology

Forensic entomology is a special kind of science that looks at bugs found near places where something might have happened. Scientists study the types of bugs, how they live, and how they change over time to help understand more about what happened.

Medicine

Main article: Medical entomology

Medical entomology looks at bugs and other small animals that can affect our health. This includes studying how some diseases that affect animals can also make people sick. Scientists research how these tiny creatures spread diseases and work with communities to keep everyone safe.

Subdisciplines

Some people who study insects focus on just one group, like beetles or butterflies. Here are some of the special names for these areas of study:

• Coleopterology – beetles
• Dipterology – flies
• Odonatology – dragonflies and damselflies
• Hemipterology – true bugs
• Isopterology – termites
• Lepidopterology – moths and butterflies
• Melittology (or Apiology) – bees
• Myrmecology – ants
• Orthopterology – grasshoppers, crickets, etc.
• Trichopterology – caddisflies
• Vespology – social wasps

Organizations

Entomologists, the scientists who study insects, have many groups they belong to around the world. These groups can be local, national, or international, and some focus on special areas of insect study.

Some of these groups include the Amateur Entomologists' Society, the British Entomological and Natural History Society, the Entomological Society of America, the Entomological Society of Canada, the Entomological Society of Japan, the Entomologischer Verein Krefeld, and the Royal Entomological Society. There are also groups in Australia and New Zealand for people who love to learn about insects.

Research collections

Here is a list of selected very large insect collections, housed in museums, universities, or research institutes.

Asia

• Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
• Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum, Tehran, Iran

Africa

• Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Australasia

• CSIRO Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, Australia
• Lincoln University Entomology Research Collection, Lincoln, New Zealand

Europe

• Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany
• Natural History Museum, London, UK
• Senckenberg German Entomological Institute, Müncheberg, Germany

United States

• Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Bohart Museum of Entomology, Davis, California
• Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
• Entomology Research Museum, Riverside, California
• Essig Museum of Entomology, Berkeley, California
• Frost Entomological Museum, University Park, Pennsylvania
• North Carolina State University Insect Museum, Raleigh, NC

Canada

• Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario
• The Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes (CNC) at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
• Lyman Entomological Museum, Montréal, Quebec
• J.B. Wallis/R.E. Roughley Museum of Entomology, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• University of Guelph Insect Collection, Guelph, Ontario