Entomology

The entomology is now a part of the science that is well established and sciences including environmental that are expanding. Although classified as a subsection of zoology , entomology is a subject deep enough to require specific qualifications. It is often seen as a branch of biology or agriculture , and is involved in areas of agriculture and conservation , ecology and land management , such as national parks.

Definition

Entomology is a branch of zoology , which involves the study of animals, which is responsible for studying insects and the way in which they interact with their environment , with other species and with human beings . It is important to remember that an animal is considered an insect when it has segmented body parts . Insects are quite remarkable creatures and exist all over the world and survive in some of the harshest environments on earth; they are believed to outnumber all other animal species combined in numerical terms .

What does entomology study

Entomology is responsible for studying everything concerning insects , the largest and most diverse group of living beings that exists, inhabiting almost every environment on the planet. Entomology as a science is responsible for using the knowledge we have about insects for the optimization , production and development of systems that benefit humans. It is a science that also studies physiology , biology, reproduction, morphology and the way insects behave.

History

Humans have always been interested in insects. Ancient cultures have examined, cultivated, and even revered them. The ancient Egyptians worshiped a large species of dung beetle that collected balls of excrement and buried them. Even before this, some of the earliest cave paintings depict bees such as the Spider Caves at Bicorp where a human figure is shown surrounded by bees as he or she collects honey from a hive. Many Roman writers spoke about insects and Aristotle and Pliny the ElderThey had a great fascination for publishing their observations of insects in natural history books.

The true scientific study of insects did not develop until the Renaissance and the Enlightenment , expanding in the 19th century . Three lines of study grew in a very short space of time: first, the researchers wanted to represent the beauty of nature by producing highly detailed sketches that were useful to researchers who wanted to understand the physiology of insects. The second group was concerned with classification , a method that is still used for division in the classification of new species. The third group focused mainly on examining thebiological processes of insects:  life cycle , reproduction , habitats and other elements.

This developed throughout the 18th century and in the 19th century most of the major universities were studying the world’s insects and the leading scientific institutes began a systematic research program. In North America and Europe , the Victorian era increased interest in insects by seeking a more academic study that led to the formalized science that we have today.

What is entomology for

The main uses that can be given to entomology are the following:

• It serves to evaluate the mechanisms , processes and tools that are needed to be able to combat insect pests in agricultural crops .
• It also works to create public health programs that reduce the transmission of diseases that are caused by the interaction between certain insects and humans.
• Production of resources such as honey or wax.
• It also serves to evaluate the pharmacological importance of certain chemical compounds that are synthesized by insects.
• Breeding and monitoring of certain types of insects for gastronomic use in multiple cultures.

Branches

Entomology has different branches in which it can be classified, among them we mention:

• General entomology: it is the branch that is responsible for the study of insects in a very general way , seen from a zoological perspective .
• Agricultural entomology : it is the part of zoology that is responsible for analyzing the insects that attack the plants cultivated by man, it is also responsible for studying the different pests , predators and parasites .
• Economic entomology : this part of entomology studies insects from the economic point of view , in order to find possible benefits and also the damages they may cause.
• Medical entomology is the part of entomology who is responsible for investigating insects that attack either directly or indirectly to the man and his animals domesticated producing in them diseases or disorders producing them .
• Forensic Entomology : study is based on the ecological process with the arthropods that are located within a body to thereby set the date of death.

Importance

They have great importance in evolutionary studies and in the protection of biodiversity , in agriculture and health . For example, multiple insects participate in the pollination of flowers, which allows us to take advantage of and facilitate the process for the massive obtaining of vegetables and fruits .

They are important because they act as environmental indicators since they provide evidence of the general health of forests , as well as changes in forest cover . The arrival of a new pest or the sudden decline of a well-established native species can indicate many things, such as the effects of deforestation or a change in tree cover types , CO2 concentration , persistent ecological problems such as drought or floods .

Featured Entomologists

Some of the most prominent entomologists in the world have been:

• Darwin R., Charles
• Maeterlinck, Mauritius
• Denbigh Riley
• Norman Malpighi, Marcello
• Fabre, Juan Enrique
• Angel Gallardo
• Fernando Lahille
• Juan Isart Sabi

Entomology books

Some recognized books that explain entomology are:

• Entomology treatise . Structure, Physiology and Development. W. Richards and RG Davies.
• Introduction to Entomology . Fidel Cabezas Melara.
• Manual of Applied Entomology .

Examples

Some examples of entomology applied to insects that determine the group to which they belong are:

• Saprophagous : They feed on dead animals.
• Dung : They feed on manure.
• Ghouls : They feed on carrion.