What do you study if you are studying entomology?

The story behind the answer

Entomology is the study of insects—bees, ants, beetles, butterflies, mosquitoes, and more. The word comes from Greek: entomon (insect, literally “notched” or segmented) + logos (study). Insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth, with over a million described species, and they’re vital for pollination, decomposition, food webs, and even human health (as disease vectors). Entomologists also aid agriculture by managing pests and developing biological controls, and they contribute to forensic science by estimating time of death from insect activity.

Memory tip: think “ant-omology”—ants are insects. Don’t confuse it with ichthyology (fish), neurology/neuroscience (the brain), or anthropology (humans).