Event Overview
Students identify insects and larval forms to order and family from physical specimens, answer questions about insect biology and ecology, and use or construct a dichotomous key based on the official 2026 Science Olympiad national entomology list.
📝 Specimen identification is central. Must know the official 2026 national entomology list of orders and families.
📖 Study Guide
Entomology
Category: Life, Personal & Social Science
Format: Test (Specimen Identification + Dichotomous Key)
2026 Topic: Taxonomy & Biology of Insects
Participants: 2
What It Is
Entomology is a test and specimen-identification event focused on insects. Teams must identify pinned insect specimens (adults and larvae) to the level of order and family, answer questions about insect biology and ecology, and work with dichotomous keys — either using a provided key or constructing one based on the official 2026 Science Olympiad national entomology list.
What to Know
- Taxonomy: Kingdom Animalia → Phylum Arthropoda → Class Insecta; key orders and families on the official Science Olympiad entomology list
- Major insect orders (must know): Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Odonata, Neuroptera, Blattodea, Mantodea, Isoptera, Siphonaptera, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, Phasmida, and others on the official list
- Common families within each order — focus on the Science Olympiad national list
- Insect morphology: head (compound eyes, antennae, mouthparts), thorax (wings, legs), abdomen; distinguishing features by order
- Life cycles: complete metamorphosis (holometabolous: egg–larva–pupa–adult) vs. incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolous: egg–nymph–adult)
- Larval identification: caterpillars, grubs, maggots, etc. — recognize to order/family
- Insect ecology: feeding guilds, habitats, ecological roles (pollinators, decomposers, parasites, vectors)
- Dichotomous keys: how to use and how to construct one from a given set of specimens
Competition Format
Teams are presented with pinned insect specimens and must identify each by order and family. Written questions about insect biology, ecology, and taxonomy are also included. Time limit approximately 30 minutes.
Notes
- Study from the official 2026 Science Olympiad national entomology list — only taxa on that list are testable.
- Practice with real pinned specimens whenever possible; photos are a poor substitute.
- Larval identification is often tested and trips up many teams — don't skip it.
- Key construction may be tested: practice building keys from scratch with limited time.