Throughout history, the study of insects has fascinated great scientific minds. In the 4th century BC, the Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle provided descriptions of insect anatomy, laying the foundation for modern entomology. Pliny the Elder was added to Aristotle`s species list. The Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi published an important treatise in 1602, De Animalibus Insectis (“On Animal Insects”). With the help of the newly developed microscope, Dutch naturalist Jan Swammerdam was able to observe the tiny structures of many insect species. Modern classification of insects began in the 18th century. The French biologist René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur published in 1734 the first of six volumes of the Mémoires pour servir à l`histoire des insectes. Carolus Linnaeus wrote in Systema Naturae (10. Auflage, 1758) used his binomial nomenclature system to organize the classification of insect species. Entomology became a field of study in its own right in the early 19th century, with the publication of works such as John Curtis` eight-volume British entomology (1824–39) and the founding of entomological societies in Paris and London.
Definition name The supplement to the scientific study of insects Entomology is a branch of biology that deals with the study of insects. It includes the morphology, physiology, behavior, genetics, biomechanics, taxonomy, ecology, etc. of insects. Any scientific study focused on insects is considered an entomological study. It is believed that scientific research on insects took place in the 16th century.1 The person who studies insects scientifically is called an entomologist. Insects are a group of arthropods characterized by a pair of antennae, three pairs of oral organs, spirals and tracheas involved in breathing, etc. These organisms form the class Insecta of the phylum Arthropoda. Examples of such organisms are bees, wasps, ants, beetles, butterflies, moths, dragonflies, fireflies, flies, termites, grasshoppers, crickets, etc. As this group of organisms includes a large number of species, entomology has been divided into several sub-zones depending on the type of insects studied. These subfields are as follows:1 These sample sentences are automatically selected from various online information sources to reflect the current use of the word “entomology”.
The views expressed in the examples do not represent the views of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us your feedback. Entomology, a branch of zoology that deals with the scientific study of insects. The Greek word entomon, meaning “notched,” refers to the segmented body plane of the insect. The zoological categories genetics, taxonomy, morphology, physiology, behaviour and ecology are included in this research area. Also included are the applied aspects of economic entomology, which includes the harmful and beneficial effects of insects on humans and their activities. Entomology also plays an important role in biodiversity research and environmental quality assessment. You are in a land rich in botany and mineralogy, rich in zoology and entomology. My readers may judge differently the comparative value of the insignificant discoveries that entomology owes to my work. Add entomology to one of your following lists or create a new one.
The following curious account of wild bees is mainly abridged from Kirby and Spence`s very interesting work on entomology. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia articles on entomology Entomology (from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (entomon) `insect` and -λογία (-logia) `study of`[1]) is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past, the term “insect” was less specific, and historically, the definition of entomology also included the study of animals from other arthropod groups, such as arachnids, myriapods, and crustaceans. This broader meaning can still be found in informal use. “Entomology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entomology. Retrieved 7 December 2022. Subscribe to America`s largest dictionary and get thousands of other definitions and an advanced search – ad-free! The first entomological work related to the naming and classification of species followed the practice of maintaining cabinets of curiosities, especially in Europe. This mode of collection led to the formation of natural history societies, exhibitions of private collections and journals to record communications and document new species.
Many collectors came from the aristocracy and a trade was created involving collectors from all over the world and dealers. This is called the “era of heroic entomology.” William Kirby is widely regarded as the father of entomology in England. In collaboration with William Spence, he published a definitive entomological encyclopedia, Introduction to Entomology, which is considered the basic text of the subject. He also helped found the Royal Entomological Society in London in 1833, one of the first such societies in the world. Earlier predecessors, such as the Aurelian Society, date back to the 1740s. In the late 19th century, the growth of agriculture and colonial trade spawned the “era of economic entomology,” which created the professional entomologist associated with the rise of university and biology education. [7] [8] Like some of the other fields classified in zoology, entomology is a taxa-based category; Any form of scientific study that emphasizes insect-related research is, by definition, entomology. Entomology therefore covers a sample of subjects as diverse as molecular genetics, behavior, neuroscience, biomechanics, biochemistry, systematics, physiology, developmental biology, ecology, morphology and paleontology.
