Entomology is essentially the study of all things that are related to insects. There are currently around 1.3 million species of insects that have been officially catalogued, giving them the largest diversity of all life on the planet and thus making entomology one of the widest fields of study. This field is considered to be part of the larger disciplines of zoology and biology. The field of entomology encompasses the behavior, reproductive cycles, genetics, morphology, nutrition, and several other aspects of the life of these insects.
Because insects have always been one of the larger parts of Earth's life system, humans have followed this course of study for many years. Most of the early study of insects involved learning about the creatures to discover ways that they could be used to benefit humans. However, it is thought that what is considered to be the application of science towards the study of insects only began in the 16th century. Since this time, there have been a number of notable entomologists, including Charles Darwin, Vladimir Nabokov, and Karl von Frisch.
In modern times, entomology has become more popular than ever, worming its way into popular culture through the popular television program, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In addition, entomology has also played a part in popular literature. In one of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, a main character is described as being an evil entomologist. To meet the growing interest in insects and entomology, many universities have introduced programs of study and there are many international organizations to further the knowledge about these creatures.
One of the primary concerns of entomologists is the proper classification of insect species. For the majority of the insect families, identification is quite easy. However, when the classification system extends down to the species level, then the differences can be difficult to decipher. These differences are often very slight and only a trained entomologist equipped with identification keys will be able to make an accurate identification. In some cases, it will take a microscope to be able to see the small differences that separate the species. The process of being able to identify a species has become a popular hobby, with many amateur entomologists collecting butterflies and dragonflies to practice their classification skills. In contrast, professionals in the field are often specialists, concentrating on only one species or a small group of similar species.
Because of the current surge of interest in entomology, there is expected to be more experts in this field of study in the coming years than ever before. In addition, academic and professional organizations are receiving more grants to increase understanding of how the insects can improve human life.