Entomology Information
Entomology is the scientific study of insects. According to the Entomological Society of America, insects are the largest group of animals in the world. Entomologists study all types of insects, from butterflies to beetles, and identify how insects interact with the environment. The field of entomology has a variety of educational and career opportunities in many different work settings.
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Study of Insects
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Entomologists study insects, including their interactions with the environment. More than 1 million species of insects have been identified by scientists, but entomologists estimate that there may be 30 million more insect species that remain unknown. The incredible diversity of insects and their ability to survive in nearly every type of ecosystem makes them of great interest to scientists. Studying insects reveals a lot about the physiology of humans and other animals. The science of entomology is also important for its contributions to our understanding of biodiversity and evolution.
Relationship of Insects to the Environment
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In addition to studying insects themselves, entomologists examine the ways in which insects interact with their environments and with human beings. On this broader scale, entomology is important for identifying patterns of insect populations that might signal the spread of disease or susceptibility of crops to pests. Entomologists also study insects that are disappearing due to habitat loss, raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity.
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Education
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Many colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate programs in entomology. Students in such programs learn about insect structure, physiology, ecology and toxicology. They seek to understand how insects impact the environment, how changing environments affect insects, and the significance of human-insect interactions. An undergraduate degree with a focus on entomology represents preparation for a career or for graduate studies in entomology, veterinary medicine or agricultural studies.
Careers in Entomology
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Entomology offers a variety of possible career paths, including jobs in the government, agriculture, education and pest management. Managing and controlling insect populations is one important role played by entomologists in an applied setting. Other entomologists work in basic science, performing research and fieldwork to understand more about insects themselves. Those with a doctorate degee in entomology work as college professors as well as professionals in research, business or industrial settings.
Forensic Entomology
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Forensic entomology is a sub-field of entomology that uses evidence involving insects to investigate crimes. In 2007, Popular Science Magazine cited forensic entomology as the ninth-worst job in the broader field of science. The context, however, was the magazine's annual salute to "the men and women who do what no salary can adequately reward."
Forensic entomology, as the article illustrated, is an interesting and important field in legal cases. Forensic entomologists study maggots and other insects to make post-mortem decisions about crime scenes and time of death.
"Just way too cool" is how Neal Haskell, the forensic entomologist interviewed for the article, characterized the career. "I´ve done an awful lot of neat things in my life," he said. "But this maggot work and getting the bad guys off the street is the neatest."
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References
- Photo Credit insect image by Sergey Baranov from Fotolia.com butterfly image by pearlguy from Fotolia.com
