Entomology
Introduction and History of Entomology in India
Entomology is a biological science dealing with a specific group of organisms, the insects. Man originated about a million years ago, and insects at least 500 million years ago. Insects constitute the largest Class of the whole living organisms and about 72 per cent of all living animals are insects with 9-15 lakh known species.
• Entomology (from Greek, entomon= insect and logos= study) is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. It aims at understanding their body organization & functions, their habit and habitat, their classification, development, distribution, origin past history and economic importance.
• Agricultural Entomology divided into two categories
1. Basic/Fundamental/General Entomology.
2. Applied/Economic Entomology.
• Basic Entomology deals with Insect morphology, anatomy, physiology, taxonomy & systematics
• Applied Entomology deals with ecology and economic importance and control of insects.
There are lot of mentions about insects in our mythological epics, the Ramayana (2550-2150 BC) and Mahabharata (1424-1366 BC). Mentions about silk, honey and lac were found in these epics.
The first detailed classification of insects was done by Umaswati (0-100 AD).Classification of bees by the Indian physician Charaka (1200-1000BC) and classification of ants, flies and mosquitoes by the surgeon Sushruta (100-200 AD) are the evidences for our earliest knowledge about insects.