Entomology
Entomology is the branch of zoology devoted to insects. It examines their classification, anatomy, behavior, ecology, and evolution.
Insect: An arthropod with three pairs of legs, a body divided into head, thorax, and abdomen, and usually one or two pairs of wings. Insects are the organisms that define entomology’s scope.
Complete metamorphosis: An insect life cycle with egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. It shows how radically different juvenile and adult forms arise.
Integrated pest management: An approach to pest control that combines monitoring, prevention, and multiple control methods while limiting risks. It applies insect ecology to manage crop and urban pests.
Carl Linnaeus: A Swedish naturalist who developed a widely adopted system for naming and classifying organisms. His binomial nomenclature shaped the naming of insect species.
Ecosystem services: The benefits people obtain from ecosystem processes, including pollination, decomposition, and biological control. Insects provide services that support food production and ecosystem function.
Arthropod: An invertebrate animal with a segmented body, jointed limbs, and a hard external skeleton. Insects belong to this larger animal group.
Incomplete metamorphosis: An insect life cycle in which juveniles resemble smaller, wingless adults and develop without a pupal stage. It contrasts with the larva-and-pupa pathway found in many insect groups.
Biological control: The use of living organisms to suppress populations of pests or other unwanted species. Predators, parasites, and pathogens can regulate insect pests.
Jean-Henri Fabre: A French naturalist known for detailed observations of insect behavior and life histories. His field observations made insect behavior a subject of close study.
Food web: A network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem. Insects connect plants, predators, parasites, and decomposers in food webs.