Overview

At its most basic level, entomology is the science that deals with the study of insects and related animals. Insects are members of the animal class Insecta, by far the largest group of animals in the world. While more than one million different species of insects have been identified, some experts believe that there may be as many as 30 million different species of insects in the world that have not been discovered and identified yet.

All adult insects have a hard shell called an exoskeleton that is divided into three sections: (1) the head with one pair of antennae, (2) the thorax with six legs, and (3) the abdomen that contains the guts and reproductive organs. Some insects also have two pairs of wings on their thorax. Please click here to view a diagram of an insect.

Insects have been around for a very long time, roughly 350 million years, while modern humans (modern homo sapiens) have been around for only about 200,000 years. In that time, insects have settled into nearly every environment on the planet—from our homes, gardens, schools, and offices to the jungles, deserts, caves, and bodies of water. They can even be found in unexpected places like the frigid North and South Poles and the highest mountaintops.

Considering that there are a lot of insects found nearly everywhere on the planet, it's no wonder some people devote their lives and careers to studying insects and their relationships to the environment, humans, and other organisms. Every year, these scientists, called entomologists, make great contributions to many fields of science. 

Please select from the following categories:

Education and Careers
Information on obtaining an education in entomology and careers in entomology, including a listing of colleges and universities that offer entomology degree programs, our Discover Entomology brochure, interviews with entomologists about their careers, and a listing of ESA and Entomological Foundation scholarships.

Entomological Information
Information on entomology, including the Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms; Datebook, a listing of entomological-related meetings, conferences, and events; the entomological buyer's guide; frequently-asked questions in entomology; links of entomological interest; position papers; and press releases.

Systematics Resources
Comprehensive information on systematic and taxonomic literature and resources.

Media
Including press releases and media request information.

Contacts
Who to contact for more information on entomology