What is the outreach program?
The goal of the program is to educate members of our community about insects and the science of Entomology. Our outreach program consists of various extracurricular activities performed by current graduate and undergraduate students in the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside. Outreach ranges from speaking in K-12 classrooms, to participating in science fairs, to attending community gatherings. We bring both live and preserved insects and other arthropods for people to see and touch. We have presentations on a variety of topics including insect diversity, metamorphosis, and what entomologist do. We can also modify a presentation to suit your group's needs
What is Entomology?
Entomology is the scientific study of insects and related arthropods. These include beetles, flies, wasps, ants, bees, butterflies, moths, bugs, roaches, termites, spiders, mites,and many others. These animals are used to answered basic and applied questions in the field of behavior, ecology, toxicology, genetics, evolution, physiology, biochemistry, morphology, systematics, pathology, pest management, molecular biology, biomechanics, paleontology and more. Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet, and many species are highly significant to humans and natural ecosystems.
What do entomologist do?
A bachelor's degree in entomology prepares students for a variety of technical jobs in both private and public sectors, including pest control advisors, crop consultants, extension specialist, agricultural inspectors, laboratory and field technicians, and more. Furthermore, students can study entomology at the master's or doctoral levels and enter into careers in research, teaching, and industry. More details about careers in entomology are available during outreach events.
What kinds of insects and arthropods do you have?
Our collection includes a variety of live insects and arthropods that vary seasonally. Common live specimens include stick insects, roaches, beetles, spiders, and millipedes. We also have arrangements of local and exotic preserved specimens, as well as educational displays on pollinators, camouflage, aquatic insects, and other topics.