Department of Entomology
  • About
    • At a Glance
    • Welcome From the Chair
    • Code of Conduct
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion >
      • DEI Working Group
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    • Departmental History
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      • Steinhauer Scholarship Fund
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      • Admissions
      • MS Degree Requirements
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      • Graduate Student Resources
      • Financial Assistance
      • Award & Funding Opportunities
      • Entomology Student Organization
    • Online Masters in Applied Entomology
    • Undergraduate >
      • Entomology Minor
      • Honors Program
  • Research
    • IPM & Biological Control of Agricultural, Urban & Forest Pests
    • Ecology, Conservation, Restoration, Climate Change >
      • Pollinator Science and Apiculture
    • Evolution, Systematics and Evo-Devo
    • Genetics & Genomics and Medical Entomology
  • Extension/Outreach
    • Educational Outreach
    • Insect Camp
    • Insect Drawings
    • Insect Identification
    • Pesticide Education and Assessment Program
    • Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (PDL)

History


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Entomology was among the first subjects taught at the University of Maryland. With a rich history of more than 100 years, the Department continues to thrive and grow.

Timeline 

1860 - Renowned entomologist, Townend Glover, becomes one of the first five faculty members. As the first federal entomologist, his title was "Entomologist for the United States, Professor of Natural History, Botany and Pomology."

1897 - The Department of Entomology and Zoology is created at Maryland Agricultural College.

1914 - Agricultural Extension Service formed, headed by Thomas Symons.

1919 - Entomology and Zoology become two separate departments, Entomology in the School of Agriculture, Zoology in the School of Arts & Sciences.

1919 - First woman to earn degree at Maryland, Elizabeth Hook, graduates in Entomology.

1958 - Insect physiology lab established.

1972 - Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is formed as a pilot program.

1978 - IPM program moves out of pilot phase and is self-supporting. Urban IPM programs begin to develop.

1993 - The College of Life Sciences is formed, with four departments: Zoology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, and Entomology.

2010 - The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences is formed from the College of Chemical and Life Sciences and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences.

As the department formed in 1897-1898, research and regulatory applications were directed at pests such as the San Jose scale, including the publication entitled, "A plain talk with those who have San Jose scale to combat." Entomologists at the University of Maryland continue to provide research, teaching, and extension on applied aspects of entomology, but our interests have expanded to include fundamental issues of arthropod biology from the molecular to the ecosystem level.


Additional Historical Documentation

History Through 1960's
History Through 1980's
The Snodgrass Tapes
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Department of Entomology 
University of Maryland 
4112 Plant Sciences Building 
College Park, MD 20742-4454
USA

Telephone: 301.405.3911 
Fax: 301.314.9290
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Web Accessibility
  • About
    • At a Glance
    • Welcome From the Chair
    • Code of Conduct
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion >
      • DEI Working Group
      • Resources
    • Departmental History
    • For Alumni
    • Support Entomology >
      • Steinhauer Scholarship Fund
    • Proposal Resources
    • Contact >
      • Directions
  • News
    • News
    • Seminar Blog
    • Seminar Schedule
    • Awards
  • People
    • Faculty
    • Post Docs
    • Students
    • Staff
    • Alumni
  • Academics
    • Graduate >
      • Admissions
      • MS Degree Requirements
      • PhD Degree Requirements
      • Graduate Student Resources
      • Financial Assistance
      • Award & Funding Opportunities
      • Entomology Student Organization
    • Online Masters in Applied Entomology
    • Undergraduate >
      • Entomology Minor
      • Honors Program
  • Research
    • IPM & Biological Control of Agricultural, Urban & Forest Pests
    • Ecology, Conservation, Restoration, Climate Change >
      • Pollinator Science and Apiculture
    • Evolution, Systematics and Evo-Devo
    • Genetics & Genomics and Medical Entomology
  • Extension/Outreach
    • Educational Outreach
    • Insect Camp
    • Insect Drawings
    • Insect Identification
    • Pesticide Education and Assessment Program
    • Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (PDL)