Overview
At its most basic level, entomology is the science that deals
with the study of insects and related animals. Insects are
members of the animal class Insecta, by far the largest group of
animals in the world. While more than one million
different species of insects have been identified, some experts believe that there
may be as many as 30 million different species of insects in the
world that have not been discovered and identified yet.
All adult insects
have a hard shell called an exoskeleton that is divided into
three sections: (1) the head with one pair of antennae, (2) the thorax
with six legs, and (3) the abdomen that contains the guts and
reproductive organs. Some insects also have two pairs of wings on
their thorax. Please click here
to view a diagram of an insect.
Insects have been around for a very long time, roughly 350
million years, while modern humans (modern homo sapiens) have
been around for only about 200,000 years. In that time, insects
have settled into nearly every environment on the planet—from our homes, gardens, schools, and offices
to the jungles, deserts, caves, and bodies of
water. They can even be found in unexpected places like the
frigid North and South Poles and the highest mountaintops.
Considering that there are a lot of insects found nearly
everywhere on the planet, it's no wonder some people devote
their lives and careers to studying insects and their
relationships to the environment, humans, and other organisms.
Every year, these scientists, called entomologists, make great
contributions to many fields of science.
Please select from the following
categories:
Education
and Careers
Information on obtaining an education in entomology and careers
in entomology, including a listing of colleges and universities
that offer entomology degree programs, our Discover
Entomology brochure, interviews with entomologists about
their careers, and a listing of ESA and Entomological Foundation
scholarships.
Entomological
Information
Information on entomology, including the Common Names of
Insects and Related Organisms; Datebook, a
listing of entomological-related meetings, conferences, and
events; the entomological buyer's guide; frequently-asked
questions in entomology; links of entomological interest;
position papers; and press releases.
Systematics Resources
Comprehensive information on
systematic and taxonomic literature and resources.
Media
Including press releases and media request
information.
Contacts
Who to contact for more information on entomology
