Wendy Duggar, age 16, of Hope Hull, Alabama, for her question:
What is the science of entomology?
The ancestor words of "entomology" mean "cut almost in two." This does not help us to pin down its specific meaning. What's more, it is easy to confuse it with several sciences.. Etymology, ecology, and ethnology sound a bit like entomology. However, only two of the four are remotely related.
The science of entomology is a branch of biology, the master science of all living things. The origin of the word "entomology" was a Greek word meaning "cut or sliced almost into two parts," and it is hard to think of a plant or animal to which this could apply, but the Greeks thought of one. They observed the slender waist of a bitsy bug and used their word for cut to name it. We borrowed this word to coin entomology, the branch of biology that encompasses the vast hordes of insects.
The different insects on this planet outnumber all the other animal species by far. More than half a million of them have been named and classified, but some entomologists estimate that this is only a small percentage of the total. All of them belong in the Insecta Class of the Arthropoda Phylum. Insecta is subdivided into about 25 different orders. A student entomologist can accumulate a large bug collection on a few field trips, but sorting the specimens into their proper classifications requires some study. A career in entomology requires a bachelor's degree, and specialized careers such as research and teaching require a master's or doctorate degree.
The field of entomology is immense for several reasons. There are vast numbers of insects; they are found almost everywhere; and though all of them are bitsy creatures, the differences between them are astonishing. Such a multitude of creatures must, of course, affect and influence a multitude of other living things that share our planet. An entomologist must have a general knowledge of all these aspects, but he cannot become a specialist in all of them. He may select one aspect of insect life or one group of insects as his own field; or he may specialize in the interrelationships of insects with other living things which delves into the fascinating new science of ecology.
The study of insect biology is big enough to occupy several lifetimes. It includes their body structures, their life histories, and perhaps their behavior patterns. The study of insects in their environment probes the role they play with plants and other animals in the balance of nature. This corner of ecology also siders the ways insects affect human lives. Researchers in this area seek methods to control insects that destroy crops and those that carry germs. Others seek ways to help silkworms, honeybees, and other insects that are useful to mankind.
Most bug experts work in applied or economic entomology. In recent years some of these researchers have launched a lot of new chemicals to control the population of insect pests. These insecticides certainly kill bugs. Unfortunately, the sprays and powders spread far and wide, and many desirable creatures are destroyed or harmed. Entomologists interested in ecology now warn people to use these powerful, sneaky insecticides with great caution and never lavishly.