Entomologist

Working Schedule

Entomologists work full-time, sometimes in offices or labs, other times outdoors doing fieldwork. Occasional travel is needed, and they may be away from home some nights, weekends, or holidays. During fieldwork, they can be exposed to inclement weather or other environmental conditions. 

Typical Duties

• Develop hypotheses and run laboratory tests in controlled surroundings
• Conduct site visits to farms, wildlife areas, or research plots of land
• Observe insects in the wild; take notes on observed behaviors (such as feeding and reproduction) and characteristics; collect samples/specimens for later study
• Write up findings as scholarly articles and submit them to academic journals
• Study current industry discoveries; share findings with peers via published academic papers and conference attendance 
• Estimate insect species populations and their effects on local ecosystems, such as plant-insect interactions
• Research how human activities affect insect life; look for ways to mitigate or control pest-related problems in agriculture and other industries (including via insecticide formulations) 
• Write reports and conservation plans that feature sustainable practices
• Specialize in species such as ants, beetles, bees, butterflies, crickets, fleas, flies, ladybugs, or mosquitoes

Additional Responsibilities

• Prepare budgets for research work 
• Apply for grants, participate in professional organization activities, and contribute to the advancement of the field
• Supervise or mentor assistants and younger researchers

Entomologists study insects and their relationships with people, plants, animals, and the environment. Their work might involve investigating how mosquitoes spread diseases, finding ways to protect crops from destructive pests, studying the behavior of honeybees, or discovering how insects help keep ecosystems healthy. Some spend their days in laboratories examining insects under microscopes, while others work outdoors in forests, farms, wetlands, gardens, and other natural habitats. For anyone fascinated by the tiny creatures that crawl, fly, pollinate plants, and sometimes cause trouble, entomology offers a career filled with discovery.

A typical day might begin with checking insect traps, reviewing research data, or preparing equipment for fieldwork. Entomologists collect insects using nets, traps, aspirators, and other sampling tools, then identify and classify them based on their physical features and behavior. In laboratories, they may examine specimens under microscopes, study insect anatomy, observe life cycles, conduct breeding experiments, or test how insects respond to pesticides and environmental changes. Some investigate insect-borne diseases, while others develop methods to control agricultural pests without harming beneficial insects. They also record observations, analyze research findings, write reports, and share their results with farmers, public health officials, conservation groups, and other scientists.

Entomologists use microscopes, insect collection kits, field cameras, GPS devices, environmental monitoring equipment, laboratory tools, and specialized software for identifying species and analyzing data. They may work with biologists, ecologists, agricultural scientists, veterinarians, public health specialists, and pest management professionals. Some are employed by universities and research institutions, while others work for government agencies, agricultural companies, museums, public health organizations, or environmental consulting firms. Their research helps protect food supplies, control disease-carrying insects, support biodiversity, and improve our understanding of the natural world.

Soft Skills

• Analytical 
• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Curiosity
• Interpersonal skills
• Investigative
• Objectivity 
• Organizational skills
• Patience
• Resourcefulness
• Sound judgment and decision-making

Technical Skills

• Academic/scientific writing 
• Biology, chemistry, entomology
• Collection nets (aquatic or pond nets, sweep nets, aerial nets, etc.)
• Data analysis programs such as Genstat
• DNA analysis
• Familiarity with agriscience topics
• Familiarity with lab instruments such as microscopes, dissecting kits, centrifuges, etc.
• Geographic Information Systems like ArcGIS (for mapping insect populations and tracking movements)
• Math and statistics programs such as IBM’s SPSS
• Remote sensing technologies

• Agricultural Entomologists: Study insects that affect crops and farm production. They identify harmful pests, investigate insect damage, and develop ways to protect crops while minimizing harm to beneficial insects.
• Medical Entomologists: Study insects and other arthropods that transmit diseases to humans, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. They help investigate disease outbreaks and develop strategies to reduce the spread of insect-borne illnesses.
• Veterinary Entomologists: Study insects and other arthropods that affect the health of livestock, pets, and other animals. They investigate parasites such as ticks, mites, and biting flies and help develop methods to prevent infestations and disease.
• Forensic Entomologists: Use insect evidence to help solve crimes and investigate unexplained deaths. They examine insects found on human remains to help estimate the time since death and provide information that may assist criminal investigations.
• Forest Entomologists: Study insects that affect trees and forest ecosystems. They investigate outbreaks of destructive pests, such as bark beetles, and help develop ways to protect forests from insect damage.
• Ecological Entomologists: Study how insects interact with other organisms and their surroundings. They investigate the roles insects play in pollination, decomposition, food webs, and maintaining healthy ecosystems.
• Behavioral Entomologists: Study how insects behave, communicate, find food, reproduce, and interact with one another. Their research can help explain activities such as honeybee communication, ant colony organization, and insect mating behavior.
• Systematic Entomologists: Identify, classify, and study the evolutionary relationships of insects. They examine insect structures, genetics, and other characteristics to discover new species and understand how different insect groups are related.
• Industrial Entomologists: Study insects that are useful in commercial and industrial applications. They may work with insects used in food production, silk manufacturing, biological pest control, or the development of other insect-based products.
• Conservation Entomologists: Focus on protecting endangered and declining insect populations and their habitats. They study threats such as habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and pesticide use and help develop conservation strategies.
• Urban Entomologists: Study insects that live in or around buildings, homes, businesses, and cities. They investigate pests such as termites, cockroaches, ants, and bedbugs and help develop effective management approaches.
• Apicultural Entomologists: Specialize in studying honeybees and other important pollinators. They investigate bee behavior, colony health, diseases, and environmental threats that affect pollination and honey production.

• Agricultural companies
• College laboratories
• Consulting firms
• Government agencies
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Museums and zoos
• Research facilities

Whether we think about them or not, insects affect us all in countless ways. From our food supplies to our general health, human life is irrevocably linked to the lives and actions of insects. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough active Entomologists to meet the current demand, which places extra responsibilities on those currently working in this vital career field. 

Everyone from farms and homeowners to wildlife—and even the environment itself—relies on the diligent efforts of Entomologists to protect food sources, residential and commercial properties, and fragile ecosystems from the harmful effects of pest populations. They must also strike a balance to ensure that helpful insects such as pollinators (honey bees) and pest-eating predators (ladybugs, praying mantises) are protected and used properly. 

Think the study of insects doesn’t change much over time? Actually, there are several interesting trends in the field of entomology! 

Notably, the increase of technological tools like drones, GIS software, and DNA analysis are boosting efforts to collect data faster and more efficiently. This enables Entomologists to track insect population movements better, which is crucial for identifying areas at risk of infestation. It also helps scientists understand how climate issues affect insect behaviors. This ties into the study of insect ecology (i.e., how insects interact with their environments and how they respond to changes). 

Another trend is the ongoing development of more sustainable pest management strategies, such as using pheromones or living biological control agents (without them turning into pests themselves!). 

Entomologists most likely enjoyed being outside when they were younger, perhaps gardening or simply observing nature. They are curious-minded but equally analytical persons, who may have liked reading or watching informative videos about science, earth sciences, and wildlife or insects.