The Entomological Society of Ontario (ESO) is an active society, dedicated to furthering entomology through annual meetings and publications. Over the past 145 years, it has served as an association of persons interested in the science of entomology. Today, as always, members of the Society have varied entomological interests; physiology, taxonomy, ecology and pest management. Although founded by amateurs, whose active participation is encouraged today the majority of the Society’s members are professionals, sharing their interests and expertise while working either in Provincial or Federal governments, industry or universities within Ontario as well as other parts of Canada and the world.

Joining the ESO entitles you to an annual subscription of the Journal, receipt of Newsletters, and attendance at the Society’s annual meeting. It also provides an opportunity for you to meet and exchange information with other individuals involved in entomology throughout the province

The Entomological Society of Ontario (ESO) was established in 1863 for “all students and lovers of entomology who shall express their desire to join it and conform to its regulations. The society was founded by three naturalists from the Toronto and London areas and it is the oldest entomological society in Canada: and the second oldest in North America.

The original headquarters of the ESO was in Toronto. In 1872, the Society moved to London, remaining there for the next 34 years. From 1906 until today, the Society’s headquarters has been located at the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph; the library and archives are currently housed in the College at the University of Guelph.

In 1871, the first Annual Report in Injurious Insects to the Ontario Department of Agriculture was produced by the ESO. This publication provided the Society with an annual operating grant from the provincial government, continuing until 1987. The Report, combined with the annual Proceedings of the Society, constituted one of the early forms of the Canadian Entomologist; the oldest entomological journal published monthly in North America. The Canadian Entomologist remained the journal of the Society, publishing scientific studies and reports on the annual meetings, until 1951, when it was transferred to the newly-created Entomological Society of Canada.

In 1939, the ESO had 200 members and was distributing over 600 copies of The Canadian Entomologist a month. Today, the Society’s annual journal for publishing scientific work is the Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario. Papers published in the Journal are fully refereed, have world-wide distribution and are covered by all major abstracting and indexing services. Including both members and institutional subscriptions, over 600 copies of the Journal are currently mailed out each year.