ESA Style Guide
Find everything you need to know about publishing with ESA
here.
Table of Contents
Order of elements are as follows: title page; Abstract and
key words; introduction (no heading); Materials and Methods; Results; and
Discussion (or Results and Discussion); Acknowledgments; References Cited;
footnotes; tables; figure legends; and figures.
The introduction should clearly state the basis of your
study along with the background of the problem and a statement of purpose. The
Materials and Methods section should include a clear and concise description of
the study design, experimental execution, materials, and method of statistical
analysis. Results should be clearly differentiated from the interpretation of
your findings in the Results section or within the Results and Discussion. Cite
tables and figures in numerical order as they should appear in the text. Include
suggestions for direction of future studies, if appropriate.
[return to top]
The title page should include the name, complete address,
phone number, fax number, and e-mail address of corresponding author.
Include a running head of <65 characters, including author
names. Example: Smith and Jones: Biological Control of C. capitata (no
period). For more than two authors, use the senior author's name followed by et
al. Example: Smith et al.: Biological Control of C. capitata (no period).
Include the section of the journal.
The title should be concise and informative. Include either
the ESA approved common name or the scientific name, but not both of the
subject. Common names used in the title must be listed in the
ESA Common Names of Insects & Related Organisms. Do not include authors
of scientific names in the title. Do not capitalize the following words in the
title or subheadings: a, an, and, as, at, be, by, for, in, of, on, per, to, the. Insert (Order: Family) immediately
after the name of the organism.
Affiliation line includes a complete address. If
appropriate, designate current addresses for all authors by numbered footnotes
(superscripted numbers) placed at the bottom of the title page. Example:
1Department of
Entomology, University of Colorado, 345 East 7th Street, Denver, CO 78095.
Include all authors' names below the title. Footnote
numbers are placed outside commas in multi-authored articles.
Click here to see a sample title page
[return to top]
On a separate page, provide an abstract of fewer than 250
words. Give scientific name and authority at first mention of the subject
organism. Do not cite references, figures, tables, probability levels, or
results. Refer to results only in the general sense. Place three to five key
words on a line below the abstract.
Optional foreign language abstract: All articles will have
an English abstract. However, to encourage international communication, authors
may include a second abstract in a language other than English. (Spanish,
French, German, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, or Japanese are accepted.) It is
the author's responsibility to provide an accurate, and grammatically correct
non-English version. Do not repeat the keywords.
[return to top]
Heading Levels
First-level headings are centered and boldfaced on
their own line. Initial capital letters. Used to divide the manuscript into
major sections (e.g., Materials and Methods, Results).
Second-level headings are flush left, boldface, and
are also on their own line with initial capital letters. Second-level headings
are rarely used except in taxonomic articles where multilevels of headings may
be necessary.)
Third-level headings are boldfaced, paragraph
indented, have initial capital letters, and are followed by a period.
Third-level headings are used to divide first-level sections into smaller
sections.
Fourth-level headings are italicized (but not
boldfaced), paragraph indented, have initial capital letters, follow immediately
after a third-level heading or start a new paragraph, and are followed by a
period. Fourth-level headings are used to divide third-level sections into
smaller sections.
[return to top]
In-text Citation
Single Author
(Smith 1993)
Two Authors
(Smith and Jones 1993)
Multiple Citations
(Smith 1996, Smith et al. 1997, Jones 1998)
Multiple Publications by Same Author(s)
(Smith et al. 1995a, 1995b, 1997; Jones 1996)
Personal Communications
(Jones 1988; L. J. Smith, personal communication). Obtain and forward
(at submission) a letter of permission to use citations to personal
communications (from those other than authors).
Unpublished Data
(L.J.S., unpublished data) for one author or (unpublished data) for all
authors. Obtain and forward (at submission) a letter of permission to use
citations to unpublished data (from those other than authors).
In Press
(Smith 1997) for in press, cite projected year of publication.
Software
(PROC GLM, SAS Institute 1999) for software user's manual.
[return to top]
Manufacturers
In parentheses, provide manufacturer's name and location
(city, state) and model number of relevant materials and equipment. Example:
(Model 3000, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE). Use generic names when possible (e.g.,
self-sealing plastic bags).
[return to top]
All data reported (except for descriptive biology) must be
subjected to statistical analysis. Descriptive biology should include
information such as sample sizes and number of replications. Authors are
responsible for the statistical method selected and for the accuracy of their
data. Authors should be able to justify the use of a particular statistical test
when requested by an editor. Results of statistical tests may be presented in
the text, in tables, and in figures. Statistical methods should be described in
Materials and Methods with appropriate references. Experimental designs should
also be described fully in Materials and Methods. Descriptions should include
information such as sample sizes and number of replications. See specific
section in this style guide for suggestions on formatting statistical results.
Only t-tests and analyses of variance require no citation. Cite the
computer program user's manual in the References Cited.
Probit/logit
When presenting results of probit/logit analysis, these
columns should be included in tables (in this order, left to right); n, slope +
SE, LD (or LC) (95% CL), and chi-square. When a ratio of one LD versus another
is given, it should be given with its 95% CI.
Statistical tests to show what model best fits data
intended to estimate the 99.9986% level of effectiveness should be presented to
justify use of any model, including the probit model. Thus, we do not recommend
use of the Probit 9 without tests to show that the probit model fits the data.
Analysis of Variance or t-test
When presenting the results of analysis of variance or a
t-test, specify F (or t) values, degrees of freedom, and
P values. This information may be placed in parentheses in the text.
Example: (F = 9.26; df = 4, 26; P
< 0.001). If readability of the text is affected by the presence of repeated
parenthetical statistical statements, place them in a table.
Regression
In regressions, specify the model, define all variables,
and provide estimates of variances for parameters and the residual mean-square
error. Italicize variables in equations and text.
Variance and sample size
Include an estimate of the variance and sample size for
each mean regardless of the method chosen for unplanned multiple comparisons.
At the beginning of the manuscript, authors should state
clearly the goals of their model construction and analysis. Evaluation by
reviewers depends upon these goals and the type of model. Authors should attempt
to describe the main conclusions, limitations, and sensitivity of results to
assumptions. For stochastic models, describe the variability in the results.
[return to top]
The following guidelines pertain to any mathematical model
calculated for purposes other than statistical analysis. Authors must adequately
describe both model structure and model analysis. Authors must explain and
justify original equations and computer programs or justify the selection of a
published software package used in the computation of models. Model structure
and steps in the analysis must be described in the Materials and Methods
section. Without presenting extensive computer code, the text must permit an
understanding of the model that would allow most mathematically inclined
scientists to duplicate the work. Present all equations that represent the
biology of the system being modeled. Unless their derivation is self-evident,
show how the equations were derived and mention the underlying assumptions.
Express how the equations are solved over time and space. Provide references for
standard techniques (e.g., matrix manipulation, integration). Define all
variables and parameters in each equation and describe their units (e.g., time,
space, and mass). In the Materials and Methods or Results section, present the
range of parameter values included in the model, and describe the uncertainty in
or range of validity of these values.
[return to top]
Equations
Consult Mathematics into Type for correct formatting
of equations and mathematical variables. Italicize all mathematical variables.
Center more complex equations on a separate line.
|
R = A barrtype +
Blog
10 (f)
(2)
|
[
return to top]
Authors must state why the model did not require testing
(e.g., theoretical study), why it cannot be tested (e.g., lack of data), or how
it was tested. Data used for testing must be independent of data used to build
or calibrate the model. Describe the data and procedures in Materials and
Methods. Authors should be aware that the testing of models is an important step
that should be a part of most studies.
[return to top]
For models solved or simulated by computers, mention the
programming language and computer used. Describe the important numerical methods
used in calculating the model (e.g., integration and random number generation).
Mention how the program's logic and algorithms were tested and verified. When
published software is computed, provide a reference and state which procedures
were used. Discuss in any section of the manuscript the limitations of the
published software. Original computer programs should be made available at the
request of reviewers and readers.
[return to top]
Inclusion of a GenBank/EMBL accession number for primary
nucleotide and amino acid sequence data is a criterion for the acceptance of a
manuscript for publication. Sequences from new species and new genes must
indicate the proportion of the gene sequenced and should include data from both
strands. The accession number may be included in the original manuscript or the
sequence may be provided for review and an accession number provided when the
manuscript is revised. A manuscript will not be accepted for publication until
the accession number is provided.
GenBank may be contacted at their website at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/submit.html. The EMBL Data Library may
be contacted at their website at
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/embl/Submission/index.html.
[return to top]
Follow the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature,
4th ed., for taxonomic style. Center the heading that indicates the name of the
taxon in bold type. Center figure numbers in parentheses under the main heading;
do not use bold type. Start all synonomies at the left margin with runovers
indented. Include authors and date. References must appear in References Cited
section. Use telegraphic style throughout descriptions.
For Journal of Medical Entomology Authors only:
Please refer to the journal's
Policy on Names of Aedine Mosquito Genera and Subgenera if writing about
these insects.
Taxonomy Headings
Use only acceptable 3rd-level subheadings such as:
-
Male
-
Female
-
Material Examined
-
Type Material
-
Distribution
-
Etymology
-
Biology
-
Discussion
Avoid using Description as a
subheading.
Dates
Use Roman numerals I through XII to designate month of
collection. Use arabic numerals 00 through 99 to designate collection years in
the 20th century. Do not abbreviate other years, including the 21st century.
Express data in this format: day-month (use a Roman numeral)-year. Example:
2-V-97.
Locality Other than Principal Types
Start with the largest area followed by successively
smaller areas separated by colons. Capitalize countries. Arrange data for each
locality in the following order: count of specimens and sex or stage (as
applicable), city or vicinity, date, collector, and depository.
Example: MEXICO: Tamaulipas: 1 male, 1 female, Ciudad Mante, 15-III-97, K.
Haack; 5 females, Ciudad Victoria, 3-VII-99, C. Hughes, MCZ. Arrange
localities alphabetically. Use a semicolon to separate data for different
localities. Define depositories in the Materials and Methods.
Type Material
Start description with the principal type in capital
letters. Follow this immediately with count and sex of specimens (use male and
female symbols if possible), then place additional data in the order of
locality, date, additional data, and collector. Separate these items with
commas. Example: HOLOTYPE: 1 male, Locust Grove, VA, 22-X-98, on Cercis
canadensis, R. H. Foote. PARATYPES: 2 males, same data.
[return to top]
Voucher specimens of arthropods serve as future reference
for published names used in scientific publications. Although the deposition of
voucher specimens is not required as a condition for publication, authors are
encouraged to deposit specimens in an established, permanent collection and to
note in the published article that the expected deposition has been made and its
location. Authors should contact the curator of a voucher repository before
deposition concerning the procedures required for curation to ensure that the
collection will accept the voucher materials. The designation and proper
labeling of voucher specimens is the author's responsibility. When available, at
least three specimens should be deposited. Each specimen should have the
following information provided at the time of deposition:
-
Standard label data that are
required for the specimens collection (i.e., locality, date of collection,
collector, host, ecological data, whether the specimen is from a laboratory
collection, etc.).
-
An identification label that
includes the identifier and date of identification.
-
A label that designates the
specimen as "voucher."
[return to top]
Place the acknowledgments after the text. Organize
acknowledgments in paragraph form in the following order: persons (omit all
professional titles and degrees), groups, granting institutions, grant numbers,
and serial publication number.
For research articles that involved the use of humans or
animals, the Entomological Society of America requires that the following types
of notification, as applicable, be included in the acknowledgement section of
the article.
Humans. All human subjects work should reference
approved Internal Review Board protocols or compliance with Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act information policies for their organization,
if the protocols are not available.
Animals. All studies should reference an approved
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocol or similar documents from
their institutions. For trapping/collecting wild animals/birds, reference to
collecting permits at the national or state level should be referenced.
Pathogens. Reference should be made to Biological
Use Authorization approved by an institutional Environmental Health and Safety
committee or similar body.
Sample notification: The collection and infection of
wild birds with encephalitis viruses was done under Protocol 11184 approved by
the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of California,
Davis, California Resident Scientific Collection Permit 801049-02 by the State
of California Department of Fish and Game, and Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit
No. MB082812-0. Use of arboviruses was approved under Biological Use
Authorization #0554 by Environmental Health and Safety of the University of
California, Davis, and USDA Permit #47901.
[return to top]
Cite only those articles published or formally accepted for
publication (in press). Include all references mentioned in text. Include enough
information to allow reader to obtain cited material (e.g., book and proceedings
citations must include name and location [city and state or country] of
publisher). Abbreviate journal titles according to the most recent issue of
BIOSIS Serial Sources. Citations and References should not be numbered.
References Cited: Alphabetical order
(chronological for one author or more than two authors, and alphabetical order
[by surname of second author] for two authors)
Journal Articles
Evans, M.
A. 2000. Article title: subtitle (begin with
lowercase after colon or dash unless first word is a proper noun). J. Abbr.
00:000–000.
Evans, M. A. 2001a.
Title. J. Abbr. 00: 000–000.
Evans, M. A. 2001b.
Title. J. Abbr. 00: 000–000.
Evans, M. A., and R. Burns.
2001. Title. J. Abbr. 00: 000–000.
Evans, M. A., and A. Tyler.
2001. Title. J. Abbr. 00: 000–000.
Evans, M. A., A Tyler, and
H. H. Munro. 2000. Title. J. Abbr. 00: 000–000.
Evans, M. A., R. Burns, and
A. A. Dunn. 2001. Title. J. Abbr. 00: 000–000.
In Press
Evans, M. A. 2002.
Title. J. Econ. Entomol. (in press).
Books
Burns, R. 2001. title:
subtitle. Publisher, City, State.
Evans, M. A. 2001.
Colorado potato beetle, 2nd ed. Publisher, City, State or Country.
Tyler, A. 2001.
Western corn rootworm, vol. 2. Publisher, City, State or Country.
Article/Chapter in Book
Tyler, A. 2001.
Article or chapter title, pp. 000–000. In T.A.J. Royer and R. B. Burns (eds.),
Book title. Publisher, City, State or Country.
Tyler, A., R.S.T. Smith,
and H. Brown. 2001. Onion thrips control, pp. 178–195. In R. S. Green and P.
W. White (eds.), Book title, vol. 13. Entomological Society of America, Lanham,
MD.
No Author Given
(USDA) U.S.
Department of Agriculture. 2001. Title. USDA, Beltsville, MD.
(IRRI) International Rice
Research Institute. 2001. Title. IRRI, City, State or Country.
Proceedings
Martin, P. D., J. Kuhlman,
and S. Moore. 2001. Yield effects of European corn borer
(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) feeding, pp. 345–356. In Proceedings, 19th
Illinois Cooperative Extension Service Spray School, 24–27 June 1985, Chicago,
IL. Publisher, City, State.
Rossignol, P. A. 2001.
Parasite modification of mosquito probing behavior, pp. 25–28. In T. W.
Scott and J. Grumstrup-Scott (eds.), Proceedings, Symposium: the Role of
Vector-Host Interactions in Disease Transmission. National Conference of the
Entomological Society of America, 10 December 1985, Hollywood, FL. Miscellaneous
Publication 68. Entomological Society of America, Lanham, MD.
Theses/Dissertations
James, H. 2001. Thesis
or dissertation title. M.S. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Software
SAS Institute. 2001.
PROC user's manual, version 6th ed. SAS Institute, Cary, NC.
URL Citations
Reisen, W. 2001. Title.
Complete URL (protocol://host.name/path/file.name).
[return to top]
Place tables after the References Cited section.
Double-space and number all tables. Boldface table title. Do not repeat data
already presented in text. If a table continues on more than one page, repeat
column headings on subsequent page(s).
Click here to see a sample table
Title
Title should be short and descriptive. Boldface table
number and title only. Include "means + SEM" in title if applicable. Do not
footnote title; use the unlettered first footnote to include general information
necessary to understand the table (e.g., define terms, abbreviations, and
statistical tests).
Lines
Use horizontal lines to separate title from column
headings, column headings from data field, and data field from footnotes. Do not
use vertical lines to separate columns. All columns must have headings.
Abbreviations
Use approved abbreviations. Use abbreviations already
defined in the text and define others in the general footnote. Use the following
abbreviations in tables only: amt (amount), avg (average), concn
(concentration), diam (diameter), exp (experiment), ht (height), max (maximum),
min. (minimum), no. (number), pop (population), prepn (preparation), temp
(temperature), vs (versus), vol (volume), wt (weight). Use the following
abbreviations for months: Jan., Feb., Mar., April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept.,
Oct., Nov., and Dec.
Operational Signs
Repeat operational signs throughout data field. Insert a
space on either side of sign (1.42 ± 1.36).
Spacing
Leave no space between lowercase letters and their
preceding values (e.g., 731.2ab).
Footnotes to Tables
Use footnotes to define or clarify column headings or
specific datum within the data field. Do not footnote the title; use the
unlettered first footnote to include general information necessary to understand
the table (e.g., define terms, abbreviations, and statistical tests). The use of
asterisks is reserved for statistical significance only.
Example:
Means within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly
different (P < 0.05; Student t-test [Abbott 1925]). *, P <
0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; NS, not significant).
Use lowercase italicized superscripted letters to indicate
footnotes. Footnote letters should appear in the table in consecutive order,
from left to right across the table then down the page.
[return to top]
Figures may be embedded in the manuscript text file for the
initial Version 1 submission, but for accepted manuscripts of Version 2 or
higher, figures must be attached as separate TIFF, EPS, or PowerPoint files.
For more information on preparing digital figures see the
section on
Digital Art Preparation.
For review purposes, it is acceptable to include figures,
whether in black and white or color, as part of the manuscript file, with each
figure on a separate page. Figures should be inserted in the manuscript file in
one of the following formats: TIFF, EPS, WMF, or JPEG. GIF formats, such as from
websites, are not acceptable and produce poor quality printouts because of low
resolution, even for peer review purposes. Charts from Excel and SigmaPlot
should not be inserted unless they are in one of the above formats.
Figure Preparation
Although figures of any size can be submitted, figures that
fit exactly the width of 1 column (72 mm) or 2 columns (148 mm) expedite the
publication process. Figures should be no longer than 195 mm from top to bottom.
Separate parts of the same figure must be grouped together and arranged to use
space efficiently. Wherever possible, it is best to avoid using a full page for
a set of illustrations. That is, authors should attempt to have each figure
appear separately from the others and should consider numbering illustrations as
separate figures rather than as multiple parts of the same figure.
When choosing a font size, remember that it should be large
enough so that reduction to fit the journal page will not make lettering
difficult to read. Final lettering size should be 8 or 9 point using the fonts
Arial or Helvetica or Times New Roman or Times Roman. Letter locants on figures
composed of more than one element should match those in the text (either upper-
or lowercase). Use a scale bar in lieu of magnification, and define scale in the
figure caption. Figures will not be relettered nor will flaws be corrected.
Authors are urged to refer to our Digital Art Preparation
section for detailed information and specifications for on preparing digital
art. Or, contact the publications office at 301-731-4535, ext. 3020 or
pubs@entsoc.org
with questions concerning the preparation of artwork.
Photographs
See the
Digital Art Preparation section on how to submit photographs. Remember to
scan black and white photos as grayscale and not color. For color photos, use
the CMYK color mode, not RGB. Save photos in the TIFF format.
Abbreviations and Symbols
Abbreviations and symbols in figures should match those in
the text or be defined in legends.
Figure Captions
Type all captions double-spaced on a separate page. All
captions should be in paragraph form as shown by the example below.
Fig. 1. Relationship between percentage of defoliation of oak trees and
gypsy moth population density. (A) Defoliation and egg mass density. (B)
Defoliation of egg density.
Letter locants on figures composed of more than one element
should match those in the text (either upper- or lowercase). Do not use equal
signs to define abbreviations; use commas (e.g., Ap, barometric pressure).
[return to top]
Scientific Names
Scientific names and authorities must be spelled out
(except for Fabricius and Linnaeus, which are abbreviated as F. and L.,
respectively) the first time a species is mentioned in the abstract and again in
the main body of text.
[return to top]
Use only those common names cited in the current
ESA Common Names
of Insects & Related Organisms online database, or those
names approved by the ESA Common Names Committee. Do not use any other common
name. Do not abbreviate common names (e.g., CPB for Colorado potato beetle).
Give scientific name and authority at first mention of each
organism (including plants) in the abstract and again in the text.
[return to top]
Use of "Stadium," "Stage," and "Instar"
Manuscripts received for publication in ESA periodicals
refer to arthropods and the periods of time in their development in various
ways. These designations should be used consistently.
Stadium (Plural: Stadia):
The period of time between two successive molts.
Stage: One of the
successive principal divisions in the life cycle of an arthropod (e.g., egg,
nymph, larva, prepupa, pupa, subimago, and adult).
Instar: The arthropod
itself between two successive molts. For the purposes of the definition,
hatching is considered a molt.
Examples of Usage:
Nymphs feed on the underside
of leaves during the first stadium.
Larvae of some dermestids go
through an indefinite number of stadia (or have an indefinite number of
instars).
The nymphs were reared through
the fifth stadium. Immature stages (e.g., eggs, larvae, and pupae; eggs and
nymphs) are illustrated.
First instar of cerambycids
make galleries in wood.
Some 200 first-instar
spiderlings were collected. The predators fed readily on early instars of the
face fly.
[return to top]
Notes on Formatting
Capitalization
Do not capitalize the following words in titles or
subheadings: a, an, and, as, at, be, by, for, in, of, on, per, to, the.
[return to top]
Use standard abbreviations as listed in the Council of
Biology Editors' Scientific Style and Format, The CBE Manual for Authors,
Editors, and Publishers, 6th ed., or those listed in this guide. Avoid
nonstandard abbreviations.
Abbreviations for Time
Use the following abbreviations for time: h (hour), min
(minute), s (second), yr (year), mo (month), wk (week), d (day). Do not add "s"
to create plurals (e.g., wks).
Fig./Figs.
Use "Fig." if singular and "Figs." if plural (e.g., Fig. 1;
Figs. 2 and 3).
Dates
When citing dates in the text (not in tables or taxonomic
reports), do not abbreviate month, and use this format: 26 January 1997.
Metric Units
Use metric units. English units may follow within
parentheses only if they are of direct practical purpose.
Liter
Do not abbreviate "liter" by itself or when accompanied by
a numeral.
% versus percentage
Use "%" only with numerals and in tables and figures. Close
up space to numerals (e.g., 50%). Otherwise, use the word percentage (e.g.,
percentage of defoliation).
Per versus slash
Use "per" rather than a slash unless reporting measurements
in unit to unit (e.g., insects per branch, not insects/branch; but g/cm2,
not g per cm2.
[return to top]
Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence. Spell out
the numbers one through nine (10 and up are always used as numerals), unless
they are used as units of measure (e.g., eight children, three dogs, 8 g, 3 ft,
0600 hours; NOT 8 children, 3 dogs, eight grams, three feet, or six o'clock am).
This includes spelling out the ordinals first through ninth, along with twofold,
one-way ANOVA, and one-half. Ordinals from 10 and higher are numerals, such as
10th or 51st. In some cases, such as where there is a long list of items (e.g.,
8 flies, 6 mosquitoes, 4 butterflies, and 10 bees), exceptions can be made if
the editor concurs. The editorial staff will have flexibility in interpreting
the rule.
Zeros with P values
All numbers <1 must be preceded by a zero (e.g., P <
0.05).
Commas
When a number is >1,000, use a comma to separate hundreds
from thousands.
Semicolon
Use a semicolon to separate different types of citations
(Fig. 4; Table 2).
Repeating symbols
It is not necessary to repeat symbols or units of measure
in a series (e.g., 30, 40, and 60%, respectively).
[return to top]
Avoid footnotes in the text. Use unnumbered footnotes only
for disclaimers and animal use information. Place all footnotes on a separate
page after References Cited. Examples of footnotes are:
This article reports the
results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute
an endorsement or a recommendation by the USDA for its use.
In conducting the research
described in this report, the investigators adhered to the "Guide for the Care
and Use of Laboratory Animals," as promulgated by the Committee on Care and Use
of Laboratory Animals of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National
Research Council. The facilities are fully accredited by the American
Association of Laboratory Animal Care.
[return to top]
