Hobbies And Interests
Anatomy of an Insect
The head of the insect usually has multiple pairs of eyes, the antennae and the mouth. The mouth parts that an insect has determine how the insect will feed itself. Grasshoppers are able to chew while butterflies have a coil tongue, which is useful for picking up and ingesting food. The antennae is the nose to an insect as it enables the insect to pick up smells. The legs are attached to the thorax, or the chest of the insect, and are used for jumping, walking, running, digging, and landing. Many insects have not one, but two pairs of wings, which can be covered in scales or smooth. The abdomen is the lower base of the body and is segmented. It also contains the reproductive organs.
Insect Classification
Within the division of the animal kingdom, insects are categorized as the phylum Anthropoda along with spiders, centipedes, millipedes and crayfish. Insects are members of the class Insecta. Insects are classified as having a body that has three different regions; the head, thorax and abdomen. Some insects are winged while some are not, and they are further classified by the way the way they go through metamorphosis.
Integrated Pest Management and Farmers
Farmers are especially vulnerable to the effects that insects can have on their surroundings. If not carefully monitored, insects can ruin crops and cost farmers enormous losses. There are many ways that farmers use to control the pest population on their farm. Some of these include insect baits or crop bagging, which is the covering of fruits and vegetables with paper or plastic to keep out unwanted pests. Others include growing plants that are known to ward of certain insects. Irrigation and compost are also used frequently to keep plants and crops healthy so that they are less vulnerable to insects.
Entomological Society of America
The Entomological Society of America, or ESA, is a non- profit society that is overseen by a board of members at the headquarters near Washington D.C. The society hosts an annual meeting, which attracts thousands of entomoligists from around the world. The meeting gives attendees the chance to present discoveries and opinions in front of a peer group. There are also seminars and the potential to meet possible employers.
Careers in Entomology
There are a variety of careers available to entomologists. Teaching and research offer the opportunity to study insects and share information with others through journals or within the classroom. Gardening and pest control experts require vast knowledge in insect studies to create pest control methods that save crops, flowers and homes from insect damage. Videographers and photographers have the opportunity to travel worldwide while trying to capture insects, their habitats and habits in action.