Entomology is the study of insects, with various branches such as forensic and agricultural entomology. Entomologists study behavior, morphology, nutrition, ecology, and evolution of insects. They also use insects as tools in forensics and genetic engineering. Entomologists can specialize in specific subsets of the field, such as butterflies or bees. To become an entomologist, one should gain a solid scientific foundation and pursue graduate and postdoctoral work.
An entomologist is a zoologist who focuses specifically on the study of insects. Since the insect world is vast and incredibly diverse, most people in this field focus on a specific order or family of insects. Careers in entomology are incredibly varied, ranging from forensic entomology to agricultural entomology. Numerous colleges and universities around the world offer entomology training to people interested in this field of study.
Entomology is a very ancient science. Humans have been interested in the insect world for centuries, thanks to agricultural pests and domestic invaders of the insect variety. Early entomologists probably learned how to identify potential crop pests and treat unwanted insect infestations, and entomology was even involved in forensics at a fairly early state in human history. Many prominent scientists, including Charles Darwin and EO Wilson, have also studied insects.
There are a number of branches within entomology. Entomologists can examine the behavior, morphology, nutrition and ecology of insects. They can also study the ways insects interact with other animals and agricultural sites; such a person might look to insect vectors of disease in humans, for example, or the impact of locusts on crops in the Middle East. Entomologists are also active in fields such as paleontology, learning about the evolution of insects, and in forensics, using insects as tools to learn more about crime victims.
The study of entomology can provide interesting clues about the history of life on Earth and can also be used to make projections about the future. Entomologists can participate in a wide range of projects, ranging from genetic engineering of insects that attack crop pests to analyzing the role insects play in the life cycles of many plants.
An entomologist who focuses on butterflies is known as a lepidopterist, while one who studies bees is called an apiologist. A beetle studies beetles, while myrmecologists observe ants. There are many other broad fields like these within the study of entomology, and a person may choose to focus on a specific subset of a field, such as bees or dung beetles.
If you are interested in a career as an entomologist, you should start by gaining a solid scientific foundation. If there is a particular subfield of entomology that interests you, try to get training in that field. Some accept interns, for example, while schools that offer entomology tend to have several focused programs available. Typically, entomologists attend both graduate and graduate institutions, and many of them also pursue postdoctoral work. This field is incredibly vast and interesting and you are unlikely to get bored as an entomologist.
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