Studying Entomology
You can use these ideas to discuss entomology in your classroom.
By Lynsey Peterson
Biology can be a very broad subject. Considering that all of life is fair game, there’s plenty to work with. When studying different species of organisms, it’s important to note that insects account for the majority of the biodiversity on Earth. There are over 750,000 species of insects, about three-fourths of all animal species. Entomology is the study of insects, though it is sometimes expanded to include other invertebrates. Because insects make up such a large proportion of life on Earth, their study is of great importance.
Insects are arthropods that have a hard exoskeleton and are characterized by three body segments and six segmented legs. Most insects also have two pairs of wings and are usually able to fold these wings flat against their bodies. Most also have a pair of antennae and compound eyes. There are 32 orders within Class Insecta. The most common include Diptera (flies), Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets), and Coleoptera (beetles). The variations among orders represent amazing evolutionary adaptations to a variety of environmental conditions.
Having students collect insects is a fun way to learn more about the most prolific class of animals. When working on the assignment, students will often find interesting species that they have never noticed before. Sweep and butterfly nets are helpful for catching insects, but are not required. Kill jars quickly and painlessly kill the insects and begin the preservation process. All that’s needed is a glass jar, cotton balls, and nail polish remover (ethyl acetate). Put some polish remover on a few cotton balls and seal them in the jar along with the insect. After the insect is dead, remove it and mount it to a Styrofoam board with mounting pins. If the dead insects sit around too long between killing and mounting, they will become difficult to pin. Then, students can use field guides or dichotomous keys to identify their finds and label them on the board. Insect collection is an authentic way to assess student knowledge about the classification and anatomy of our six-legged friends.
Once students are more knowledgeable about the insect species in their area, researching more about them is a natural extension. Have each student choose a different species, or even a different order of insects. Many will choose species that they have found for their collection and with which they are now familiar. Students can research the insect’s life cycle, its ecological niche, and the impacts of the species on humans. After their research, students can create a PowerPoint presentation or Movie Maker film about their species to share with the class. Having students write notes and evaluate classmates’ work will keep everyone on task throughout the presentations.
While they are at it, students can also investigate careers in insects. Entomologists aren’t just in academia. Many students will be interested to learn about forensic entomology, notably mentioned in the CSI series. Try some of the lessons below to inspire your future E.O. Wilsons or Gil Grissoms.
Entomology Lesson Plans:
Students study biodiversity while examining insects. They research insects that already exist and how they adapt to their environment.
The Global Impact of Insect Borne Diseases & Agriculture
Students study the global impact of insect borne diseases, the appropriate use of pesticides, and the concept of human interrelations on a world wide scale. They examine how to safely apply a pesticide, according to the label.
Insects: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Students perform a series of investigations about insects. They examine live insects, explore insect-related websites, develop scientific journals and design educational brochures. They research the study of insects as a career.
Introduction to Pinning Insects
Students are introduced to how to properly pin insects by reviewing insect morphology, insect orders and recognizing that the second and third thoracic segments contain large locomotor muscles that bind to the pin.
Students discover how coroners use insect life cycles to estimate the time of death in cases. They describe how forensic entomologists combine environmental factors with insect life cycles to note the changes. Students examine an actual murder case and how the evidence was gathered to estimate the time of death.
