Entomology/Introduction

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What are insects?
• Common insects
  • Lepidoptera
• Other insects
• What are arachnids?
• Common arachnids
• Other arachnids

Introduction

Entomology is the study of insects. Entomology Departments sometimes include scientists that study arachnids, but those are not insects. Insects are six-legged, which arachnids have 8 or more legs.

Insects and arachnids both belong to the Phylum Arthropoda, which also includes crustaceans (including shrimps and crabs), along with some other small groups. The Arthropoda are jointed leg animals with an exoskeleton. Entomology is concerned with the life history, biology, behavior, and ecology of insects. It is one of the few biological disciplines that includes study of both the organism in the environment and how to control them (e.g. agriculture).