Entomology Undergraduate Degrees Overview

What is Entomology?

Insects are the earth's most diverse forms of life. Almost half of the species of all living organisms and over 70 percent of all animal species belong to the group we call insects. They play critical roles in disease transmission (including malaria, sleeping sickness, plague, among others) and in agriculture (both beneficially and as formidable competitors). Many entomologists deal with these aspects of insect biology while others focus on insects as useful models for many areas of general biology, including genetics, systematics, population ecology, and behavior.

About the Department

The Department of Entomology was established in 1909 with a single faculty member in economic entomology. Its greatest growth occurred after World War II, when it undertook the basic entomological research previously carried on by the Zoology Department. The Entomology Department now fosters both basic and applied research and attempts to meet the demands of technically oriented agriculture and emerging challenges with invasive species.

The department occupies eight floors of the north tower of Russell Laboratories and much of the third floor of the nearby Stock Pavilion. Research laboratories are modern and extensively equipped. Campus libraries are excellent; Steenbock Memorial Library is adjacent to Russell Laboratories. Also adjacent is a high-voltage electron microscope facility. Nearby is the Biotron, which provides selective control over physical conditions and permits duplication of environmental conditions almost anywhere on earth. Ten experimental farms offer various conditions for field research. For the systematist, the departmental insect research collection (WIRC) contains nearly three million specimens. The departmental computer facility is located on the fourth floor. In addition individual labs are equipped with personal computers, and the Division of Information Technology is equipped with two large-scale digital computer systems and a variety of sorting and tabulating equipment. Located nearby in the Animal Sciences Building are complete statistical consulting services, as well as mainframe computing services.

To learn more about the current research within the department, please visit our Faculty, Staff and Affiliates webpage.