Encyclopedia of Entomology

Encyclopedia of Entomology
Name	Encyclopedia of Entomology
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Subject	Entomology
Publisher	Springer
Pub date	2003, 2008
Media type	Print, online
Pages	Multiple volumes

Encyclopedia of Entomology is a multi-volume reference work covering insect science and allied subjects, produced by an international team of scholars and published by Springer Science+Business Media. The work aggregates articles on taxa, techniques, history, and applied topics with contributions from specialists linked to institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, Natural History Museum, London, and Chinese Academy of Sciences. It has been cited in publications by scholars affiliated with University of Cambridge, Harvard University, and University of California, Berkeley.

History and editions

The project originated in the late 20th century with editorial planning involving figures from Royal Entomological Society and consultations at meetings like the International Congress of Entomology and conferences hosted by Royal Society and National Academy of Sciences (United States). Early editions built on antecedent compendia such as works produced by American Entomological Society and catalogs from Natural History Museum, London and were influenced by taxonomic frameworks established at Smithsonian Institution collections and by monographs from Linneo (Linnaeus)-era taxonomy preserved in archives at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Subsequent editions expanded after reviews published in periodicals like Nature (journal), Science (journal), and Annual Review of Entomology, prompting revised printings in 2003 and electronic updates aligned with indexing by Web of Science, Scopus, and Zoological Record.

Scope and content

Coverage spans systematic treatments drawing on classifications used at International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature and regional faunal surveys tied to museums such as the American Museum of Natural History and Museum für Naturkunde. Entries range from family- and order-level accounts rooted in research from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Princeton University to applied chapters referencing agencies like the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, and United States Department of Agriculture. The encyclopedia addresses morphology and physiology with links to methodologies developed at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and genetic studies akin to projects at Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and European Molecular Biology Laboratory. Articles include pest management strategies informed by case studies involving Cotton (Gossypium), Maize, and Drosophila research traditions from University of California, San Diego and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Biogeography sections incorporate fieldwork from expeditions associated with Royal Geographical Society and surveys in regions including Amazon Rainforest, Madagascar, and Sundaland.

Editorial structure and contributors

The editorial board comprises academics and curators linked to institutions including University of Wisconsin–Madison, Cornell University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, ETH Zurich, and University of Tokyo. Lead editors coordinated peer review with subject editors who also serve on editorial boards of journals such as Journal of Economic Entomology, Systematic Entomology, and Entomological Society of America publications. Contributors include taxonomists and applied entomologists affiliated with USDA Agricultural Research Service, CSIRO, and university departments that collaborate with research centers like Wageningen University & Research and INRAE. Honorary contributors with historical prominence stem from institutions like Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Natural History Museum, London.

Publication and distribution

Originally published in print by Springer Science+Business Media with multi-volume sets distributed through retailers servicing libraries at British Library, Library of Congress, and university presses including Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press collections, later iterations offered digital access via platforms used by consortia such as JSTOR and institutional subscriptions through ProQuest. Distribution networks tapped academic vendors servicing institutions like University of Toronto Libraries and Bibliothèque nationale de France. Marketing and sales engaged professional societies including the Royal Entomological Society and Entomological Society of America, with editions cataloged in bibliographic services like CrossRef and indexed by Google Scholar.

Reception and impact

Scholarly reviews in venues such as Nature (journal), Science (journal), and Annual Review of Entomology assessed its comprehensiveness, while citations in research from University of California, Davis, Texas A&M University, and University of Florida reflect its use in pest management, biodiversity studies, and taxonomy. Libraries at institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, and Columbia University list it in entomology holdings, and it has informed curricula at universities including Michigan State University and Iowa State University. Its influence extends to policy and applied programs run by Food and Agriculture Organization and national plant protection organizations, and to conservation initiatives supported by World Wide Fund for Nature and BirdLife International.

Related works and adaptations

Comparable reference works and adaptations include handbooks and monographs from Handbook of Zoology, catalogs from Catalogue of Life, regional faunal treatments such as those produced by Flora and Fauna Publications and museum checklists from American Museum of Natural History. Digital adaptations align with data standards used by Global Biodiversity Information Facility and taxonomic registries like Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Educational derivatives have been used in courses at University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, and University of Auckland and cited in comparative works published by Cambridge University Press and Princeton University Press.

Category:Entomology books