Jump to content

Entomology

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 64.27.4.235 (talk) at 13:30, 11 March 2008. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Template:Distinguish2 Entomology, from the Greek: entomo-/εντομο- "that which is cut in pieces or engraved/segmented", hence "insect"; and logos/λόγος, "knowledge",[1] is the scientific study of insects. At some 1.3 million described species, insects account for more than 2/3rds of all known organisms,[2]dating back some 400 million years, and have many kinds of interactions with humans and other forms of life on earth, so it is an important specialty within biology. Though technically incorrect, the definition is sometimes widened to include the study of terrestrial animals in other arthropod groups or other phyla, such as arachnids, myriapods, earthworms, and slugs.

Like several of the other fields that are categorized within zoology, entomology is a taxon-based category; any form of scientific study in which the organisms studied happen to be insects is, by definition, entomology. Entomology therefore includes a cross-section of topics as diverse as molecular genetics, behavior, biomechanics, biochemistry, systematics, physiology, developmental biology, ecology, morphology, paleontology, anthropology, robotics, agriculture, nutrition, and more.

History of entomology

Main article: Timeline of entomology

Entomology is rooted in nearly all human cultures from prehistoric times, primarily in the context of agriculture (esp. biological control and beekeeping), but scientific study began only as recently as the 16th century [3] . The list of entomologists through recorded history is enormous, and includes such notable figures as Charles Darwin, Vladimir Nabokov, Karl von Frisch (winner of the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, E. O. Wilson. Entomology has even entered popular modern culture; Gil Grissom on the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV show is an entomologist, who is played by actor William Petersen.

Identification of insects

Insects other than Lepidoptera are typically identifiable only through the use of Identification keys and Monographs. Because the class Insecta contains a very large number of species and the characters separating them are unfamiliar, and often subtle (or invisible without a microscope), this is often very difficult even for a specialist.

Insect identification is an increasingly common hobby, with butterflies and dragonflies being the most popular.

Taxonomic specialization

Part of a large beetle collection

Many entomologists specialize in a single order or even a family of insects, and a number of these subspecialties are given their own informal names, typically (but not always) derived from the scientific name of the group:

Organizations

Like other scientific specialties, entomologists have a number of local, national, and international organizations. There are also many organizations specializing in specific subareas.

Museums

Many museums contain very large and important insect collections. Here is a list of some of the most important.

Europe

United States

Canada

See also

Look up entomology in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

For further reading

  • Chiang, H.C. and G. C. Jahn 1996. Entomology in the Cambodia-IRRI-Australia Project. (in Chinese) Chinese Entomol. Soc. Newsltr. (Taiwan) 3: 9-11.
  • Davidson, E. 2006. Big Fleas Have Little Fleas: How Discoveries of Invertebrate Diseases Are Advancing Modern Science University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 208 pages, ISBN 0-8165-2544-7.
  • Triplehorn, Charles A. and Norman F. Johnson (2005-05-19). Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, Thomas Brooks/Cole. ISBN 0-03-096835-6. — a classic textbook in North America.
  • Professor Andrew Speilman. "Malaria video". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • Rob Hutchinson. "Mosquitoes video". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • University of Vermont. "Entomology Laboratory". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • Iowa State University. "Annotated Entomology directory". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • Meganeura, University of Barcelona. "Fossil Insects". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • "Goliathus (Entomology hobbyist site)". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • Linda Treadwell. "Coleoptera (Beetles)". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • "Medical Entomology images". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • University of Nebraska State Museum. "Division of Entomology". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • Graeme Cocks. "Insects of Townsville, Australia". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • Actronic. "Compendium of References on Flies and Disease". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  • USDA Collecting methods.Detailed instructions
  • Arthropa Fascinating site from France.Extensive photo album sorted by topic.
  • Virtual Insect Museum
  • Best of the Bugs Great entomology Web sites selected by entomologists.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Liddell, Henry George and Robert Scott (1980). A Greek-English Lexicon (Abridged Edition). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-910207-4.
  2. ^ Chapman, A. D. (2006). Numbers of living species in Australia and the World. pp. 60pp. ISBN 978-0-642-56850-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Antonio Saltini, Storia delle scienze agrarie, 4 vols, Bologna 1984-89, ISBN 88-206-2412-5, ISBN 88-206-2413-3, ISBN 88-206-2414-1, ISBN 88-206-2414-X
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Entomology&oldid=197466811"