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An entomologist is a scientist who studies insects. Entomologists have
many important jobs, such as the study of the classification, life cycle,
distribution, physiology, behavior, ecology and
ANZSCO ID: 234521
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become an entomologist, you would need: be able to think through and solve
problems have an interest in science,
natural resources and the environment be able to make accurate
observations be a strong communicator be organised, with supervisory
ability enjoy being part of a team.
population dynamics of
insects. Entomologists also study urban pests, forest pests, agricultural
pests and medical and veterinary pests and their control. These scientists
may work with beneficial insects like honeybees, silkworms, ladybird beetles
and parasitic wasps. Entomologists are researchers, teachers and consultants
and can work for private companies, universities or government agencies.
Duties and Tasks
Professional Entomologists can be employed to teach about insects; work
as extension entomologists (public educators who provide information on
insects and their management in agricultural and urban environments); raise
bees; enforce quarantines and regulations; perform insect survey work;
consult on integrated pest management topics; sell insecticides; control
pests; and conduct research on insect classification, taxonomy, biology,
ecology, behavior and control. The greatest number of entomologists are
employed in some aspect of economic or applied entomology that deals with
the control of harmful insects. There also are tens of thousands of amateur
entomologists and hobbyists who study insects without pay and who provide
valuable information on insect distributions, seasonal activity patterns,
identification, life cycles and behavior.
Entomology careers in research involve studying and understanding the
anatomy, habits, life histories, physiology and classification of insects
and investigating various types of chemical and biological controls.
Increasingly, basic information is required to supply answers to complex
questions and problems involving insects.
Many entomologists are involved with research in integrated pest
management [IPM]. IPM uses all suitable pest control techniques to keep
pests below economically injurious levels. Each pest control technique must
be designed carefully so it is environmentally sound and is compatible with
producer and user objectives. But IPM is more than chemical pesticide
management — it also includes biological, cultural and sanitary control
practices. Once sound, reliable information on insect control is gathered
from research, the results are given to farmers and other people who deal
with insect pests.
Working conditions Many entomologists work for government agencies. For
example, Regulatory Entomologists help prevent the entrance of harmful,
destructive pests from foreign countries. Both federal and state governments
have set up plant and animal quarantine agencies. All plants, fruits,
vegetables, artifacts, baggage and animals are examined at international
ports of entry, and these inspections are performed under the supervision of
trained entomologists and other scientists. Entomologists also impose strict
quarantines in areas where introduced insects have established a foothold.
In some cases, roadblocks and inspection stations are erected to prevent the
spread of pests. Most states have laws and regulations requiring the
inspection of nursery stock, many types of agricultural produce, logs and
bee hives. Many states also have laws regulating the activities of pest
control operators (exterminators) and pesticide applicators. Entomologists
help enforce those important laws and provide technical information and
counsel for those in this type of insect control work. Materials sourced from the
About BioScience Education and training
requirements Universities are also significant employers of graduates
with entomology training because this branch of biology is significant in
many disciplines including ecology and evolutionary biology, genetics,
veterinary, agricultural and medical fields. Entomology can be useful for
teachers seeking employment in schools, employment as advisors and trainers
in larger urban pest control companies, and advisers in pest control in
agricultural and veterinary settings. Entomologists also work as consultants
to the agricultural, natural resources and mining sectors. A knowledge of
entomology is especially useful for environmental impact studies because
insects are important bio-indicators.
Employment Opportunities
Industry
Crop monitoring and Integrated Pest Management IPM companies employ entomologists as “crop scouts” to identify pests in
crops and provide recommendations for management. They may also give
workshops to growers to teach them about IPM approaches and also conduct
research towards the development of economic thresholds for pest insects in
a variety of commodities.
Entomologists are employed in the biological control industry to rear and
release biological control agents primarily for growers.
Research and development companies interested in products for pest control
in urban environments often employ entomologists as part of teams to develop
effective approaches to prevention and control of pest establishment in
urban structures. Pest control operators may also employ entomologists to
assist in the accurate identification of insect pests and recommend ways to
manage pests.
Entomologists are employed by the pesticide industry to help develop and
test new insecticidal products through laboratory, glasshouse, and field
bioassays.
Government
"Primarily focused on malaria, AMI has recently broadened
its interests to include the arboviruses, particularly dengue and Japanese
encephalitis."
The
Australian
National Insect Collection (ANIC), based in Canberra, is a substantial
record of Australia’s insect biodiversity, maintained by CSIRO. Curators of
the different sections are world experts in their area of expertise. A
number of postgraduate research projects are based on collaborations between
CSIRO researchers and universities.
Zoos
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Read about the current pests of plants: Asian gypsy moth; Asian
longhorn beetle; Exotic fruit flies; and, Khapra beetle.
Graduates who have studied entomology at university level will be well
prepared to work with insects and arachnids important in human affairs.
Potential employers include institutions such as the Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), State Departments of
Agriculture, Health, Environment, Conservation and Land Management, and
Quarantine. Urban pest control companies, manufacturers of agricultural and
veterinary insecticides and biological control companies also employ
entomologists.
Biological Control
Urban Pest Control
Pesticide Industry
Department of Defence
The Australian Defence Force employs entomologists whose role is to protect
its personnel against vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever
and encephalitis. The Australian Army Malaria Institute carries out
surveillance and control of insects, as well as evaluation of repellents and
development of drug resistance. 
Australian Army
Malaria Institute
(Source:
Australian Biotechnology)
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Australia’s biosecurity is taking on a higher priority and the demand for
entomologists in this sector is increasing. The Australian Quarantine and
Inspection Service (AQIS) is Australia’s front-line against pest invasions.
AQIS staff carry out monitoring for accidental incursions and maintain
stringent inspections for importation of products from overseas. Staff in
Biosecurity Australia are involved in assessing the pest-related risks
associated with importations of new products and the exportation of
Australian products.
CSIRO
CSIRO is Australia’s premier government research agency. The entomology
division, 
Many public and private zoos feature insects. These employ technical
assistants who assist with rearing and teach the public all about insects.
Museums
Many museums around Australia employ professional entomologists to curate
their extensive insect collections and conduct research on the insect
evolution, biology and ecology. Some entomologists who work at museums also
provide information to the public about insect identification and biology.
Botanical Gardens
Insects are pests of many plants, so botanic gardens employ entomologists
who have a broad understanding of insect biology and ways to manage insect
pests. Some entomologists who work at botanic gardens also provide
information to the public about garden pests.
Insect Education Companies
There are several insect education companies in Australia. Typically they
are small businesses that are run by biologists who have a passion for
insects and who enjoy using them in teaching in schools.
Academic Institutions
Many universities around Australia employ entomologists with various levels
of education. They are involved in teaching about insects and conducting
research on all aspects of insect biology. Because insects have short
generation times and can be reared in large numbers, they are often used as
model organisms in genetics and other biological disciplines. Insects have
been also used as biological models for robotics and machine vision.
A Queensland scientist has spent 15 years trying to crack the code for a
vaccine and early results are promising.
(Source:
Landline 25 July 2020)
Forensic entomologists are scientists who help solve forensic investigations
by studying the life cycle of insects and arthropods found on dead bodies to
determine how long a person has been dead. They work primarily on cases of
murder and death, estimating time and location of death by observing insect
colonization on the body. By determining the time of death, forensic
entomologists play an important role in helping other forensic scientists
reconstruct the events leading up to a person's death, thereby helping to
solve the case. Forensic entomologists are often employed by academic
institutions rather than by law enforcement agencies.
ANZSCO ID: 234521
Knowledge, skills and attributes
First and foremost, it should go without saying that
forensic entomologists should be comfortable interacting with
insects. By observing mites, spiders, ticks, and other non-insect
anthropoids in the presence of human remains, a forensic
entomologist can decipher when and how the person whose remains are
left behind died. For example, a forensic entomologist knows the
presence of maggot larvae indicates a recent death as maggots appear
almost immediately after a person dies.
Second, forensic entomologists should have solid coping
skills since they will likely work in traumatic crime scenes. Beyond
the gruesome scenes, each type of insect at a crime scene with human
remains can reveal important information. Forensic entomologists use
their knowledge of species identification and growth rates to help
determine the time and manner in which a person died. For example,
deceased individuals release a specific chemical that certain types
of insects can detect at different stages, which helps forensic
entomologists determine the current stage of decomposition.
Last, objective observation and communication skills are
essential for forensic entomologists. Many agencies, including
police detectives, coroners, federal agencies, and medical
examiners, work with forensic entomologists to identify these
crucial pieces of information. They can help identify cases of
anaphylactic shock, car accidents, murder, and other types of sudden
death.
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Did You Know? The first recorded instance of flies helping out in a murder case was during the 13th century. A Chinese judge named Sung T'zu was sent to investigate a fatal stabbing in a rice field. At the scene of the murder, he asked all the workers to lay down their sickles. After a short time, several flies swarmed on one of the sickles, attracted by the smell of invisible traces of blood. Sung T'zu wrote about the case in The Washing Away of Wrongs, the oldest known book on forensic medicine, printed in 1247. He showed how thinking “outside the box” using clues from nature can help in forensic investigations. (Source: The Conversation 1 March 2022) |
Investigating insects and their effects on cadavers requires a very
specialized skill set. Below are some essential qualities and skills
of forensic entomologists:
-
Interest in insects: Forensic entomologists must be comfortable around, not squeamish around insects. Fieldwork in outdoor crime scenes involves the decomposition of human remains in various stages. As noted by entomologist George Keeney, “You can’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.”
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A degree in biology or other natural sciences: Depending on the job, a bachelor’s in biology or a related field might suffice, although many entomologists have spent years studying entomology at the undergraduate, graduate, and even doctoral levels.
-
Interpersonal and communication skills: While these skills might vary according to position, forensic entomologists, regardless of whether they are professors, consultants, or expert witnesses, will need to have strong written and oral communication skills that can serve as legal testimony.
-
Knowledge of the law: Because most forensic entomologists work directly with law enforcement officers, they should have a strong understanding of criminal law.
-
Public speaking skills: Forensic entomologists may be called upon as expert witnesses in criminal trials. They should expect to speak clearly and concisely to large groups of people.
(Source: Blog UC ANR)
Duties and Tasks
The main job duty of forensic entomologists is to find the post-mortem
interval (PMI), which is the minimum amount of time for which someone could
have been dead. To do this, they examine the species, ages and colony
composition of the insects and arthropods found on the body. They may
examine the body at the crime scene or conduct a post-mortem examination.
They may also be given specimens or photographs taken by police to examine
or visit the crime scene to search for clues.
Forensic entomologists make an accurate estimation for how long a person has
been dead because different types of insects are attracted to different
stages of decomposition. The life stages of eggs and young insects can also
give important clues. Forensic entomologists must take certain environmental
factors into account when examining bodies, such as ambient temperature,
season, time of day and the body's surroundings. All of these factors affect
a body's rate of decomposition, as well as insect growth.
Forensic Entomologist jobs as they relate to a criminal
death investigation often involve:
All evidence collected at the scene of a crime by a forensic
entomologist must be collected and stored according to strict guidelines
and protocols to ensure it can be admissible in court, if necessary. Law
enforcement officials therefore often accompany forensic entomologists
to the scene of the crime to ensure that all proper steps are taken
during the collection and preservation of evidence.
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Did You Know ? Forensic Entomologist Forensic entomologists are those involved in the branch of entomology that involves insects and violent crime or the law, known as forensic entomology. This includes three main branches: medicocriminal entomology, urban entomology, and stored product entomology. Forensic entomology is not a new science. The first recorded case of forensic entomology was in China in 1235 AD. After a person was found dead, all the peasants in the village were required to bring their farming tools to the village centre. The killer’s weapon was identified because there were flies feeding on the tiny amounts of blood attached to the tool. (Source: University of Western Australia - Centre for Learning and Teaching)  (Source: Department of Agriculture and Food, WA Government) |
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Arborist |
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Biosecurity Officer |
Coroner |
Crop Farmer |
Farmer |
Forensic Scientist |
Forester |
Grain
& Oilseed Pasture Grower |
Horticulturalist |
Park Ranger
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Police
Officer |
Material sourced from
Entomology Australia - Careers
Crime Scene Investigator
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Forensic Colleges [How to become a Forensic Entomologist]
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