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Career Spotlight: Entomologist

IF THOSE INSECTS GAVE YOU THE CREEPS, THINK ABOUT THIS: THE ONLY REASON WE KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT THEM IS BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHOSE JOB IT IS TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THEM. UP NEXT, MARGARET THOMPSON GIVES US THE SCOOP ON A BUGGY CAREER.

An entomologist is a person who studies insects. These special scientists often work in the Biology department of a University, but spend a lot of time outdoors observing and collecting bugs. Last summer, we caught up with entomologist Dr. Matthew Lehnert as he and a group of volunteers at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park hunted one insect in particular…

[DR.LEHNERT BITE]

Meanwhile the University of Akron has its own real-life SpiderMan: biologist Dr. Todd Blackledge, who studies spiders and their webs.

[DR.BLACKLEDGE BITE]

But, unlike Dr. Lehnert, Dr. Blackledge is not technically an entomologist, because spiders are not technically insects – they’re arachnids.

[DR.BLACKLEDGE BITE]

Instructional Links

Career Information:  Entomologist | Bioscience Careers http://www.aboutbioscience.org/careers/entomologist

Video: DragonFly TV | Scientist Profile:  Entomologist http://ideastream.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/99adc449-d9c5-4eb7-bca0-5829ab5ff873/99adc449-d9c5-4eb7-bca0-5829ab5ff873/

Video: Wild TV | Bee Swarm http://ideastream.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/vtl07.la.rv.text.beeswarm/bee-swarm/