Entomology

entomology (from the Greek éntomos, "insect", and logos, "science") is the scientific study of insects. Of about 1.3 million described species, insects make up more than two-thirds of all known living things and, furthermore, they have a long fossil history, dating back to the Devonian, some 400 million years ago. of years. They have many forms of interaction with humans and with other forms of life on Earth; It is thus that entomology constitutes an important specialty within zoology. Entomology often includes the study of other arthropods, such as arachnids, crustaceans, and myriapods, even though this extension is technically incorrect.

History of entomology

Entomology has its roots in almost all cultures since prehistoric times, mainly since the advent of agriculture, (the study of pests and the keeping of bees, etc.). Scientific study began in the 16th century.

Entomologist William Kirby is considered the founder of entomology. In collaboration with William Spence he published an encyclopedia of entomology Introduction to Entomology , considered to be the fundamental text. He also helped found the Royal Entomological Society in London in 1833, one of the first societies of its kind in the world. Prior to this, the Aurelian Society was founded in the 1740s.

Entomology developed rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries and was studied by a large number of distinguished scientists. They include Charles Darwin, Jean Henri Fabre (considered by others to be the father of entomology), Vladimir Nabokov, Karl von Frisch (winner of the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physiology), and Pulitzer Prize winner E. O. Wilson.

Applied or economic entomology

Applied entomology is the study of insects of interest to humans, either for the products they provide or for the impact they cause on human property. Insects are of special interest:

• Honey, wax, propole, pollen and other resources (apiculture), apitherapy.
• Disease transmitters in plant plantations, animals and men.
• Crop plates, stored materials, building structures, objects of heritage value.
• Controllers of other pests.

Forensic Entomology

Forensic entomology is based on the ecological succession of arthropods that settle in a corpse to estimate the date of death and possible transfers of the body. It is especially useful on carcasses several days, weeks or months old.