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A History of Entomology
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For
millions of years, insects have lived on our planet. In fact,
they have been more successful than almost any other living
thing. Many species have changed very little for hundreds of
millions of years, like the termite. The cockroach has also
remained virtually unchanged since the days of the dinosaurs
and will most likely still be around after we're gone.
William Kirby and William Spence, both beetle collectors, brought
Entomology, the study of insects, to the forefront of respectable
science during the period of 1815–1826 with their publication
of four books titled Introduction to Entomology. Since
the science of entomology became widely accepted, there are
many people who have dedicated their whole lives to the study
of it. They watch incredible feats being performed by creatures
quite unlike us.
Insects are found everywhere—in water, woods, plants, soil,
even inside the bodies of other animals. Insects are recognized
by their segmented bodies with six legs and antennae. Spiders
are not insects, as they have only two segments in their bodies,
no antennae, and eight legs. Almost 100,000 different species
live in North America alone, and over a million different species
have been identified worldwide. Many species are beneficial
to our planet, pollinating flowers, fertilizing the soil, and
providing items such as beeswax, honey, and silk. They are also
an extremely vital part of our planet's ecosystem, and if they
weren't here, perhaps we wouldn't be either.
There is a lot to be said for collecting insects, either as
a hobby or for science. New kinds of insects are being discovered
every day, mostly in the tropics. Some estimate that only half
of the insect species on earth have been discovered. Why don't
you start your collection today? Grab your net and your bug
jar and see if you can identify all the bugs in your backyard.
There's a lot to know about insects. We've had tons of fun learning
about insects and the study of entomology. What you've read
above is only the tip of the iceberg. Try using our list of
online libraries, or go to your local library and see what you
can learn. Please e-mail
the professor your ideas and let us know what you've found.
Your friends, Jessica, David, and Newton
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