Entomology

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rect 999 0 666 232 Head louse rect 999 232 666 470 Silverfish rect 999 696 666 470 Chrysopa perla rect 999 928 666 700 European stag beetle rect 999 1160 666 930 Northern harvester termite rect 999 1392 666 1160 Dichrostigma flavipes |} Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term ''insect'' was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arachnids, myriapods, and crustaceans. This wider meaning may still be encountered in informal use. The field is also referred to as insectology in American English, while in British English insectology implies the study of the relationships between insects and humans.

Like several of the other fields that are categorized within zoology, entomology is a taxon-based category; any form of scientific study in which there is a focus on insect-related inquiries is, by definition, entomology. Entomology, therefore, overlaps with a cross-section of topics as diverse as molecular genetics, environmental archaeology, behavior, neuroscience, biomechanics, biochemistry, systematics, physiology, developmental biology, ecology, morphology, and paleontology.

Over 1.3million insect species have been described, more than two-thirds of all known species. Some insect species date back to around 400million years ago. They have many kinds of interactions with humans and other forms of life on Earth. For example, species such as ''P. pyralis'' conduct bioluminescent reactions in their light-emitting organs, which have been the subject of much research, especially in recent years. Provided by Wikipedia