The contribution of Rothamsted to British entomology

Entomological studies began at Rothamsted during the Great War, first in 1915 on the prevalence of house-fly larvae in farm manure heaps, and then in 1916 on the occurrence of wireworms in recently ploughed grassland. In 1918 A.D. Imms was appointed in charge of the new Entomology Department and it was from that position that he wrote his 'General textbook of entomology' which persisted through ten editions as the standard text in most British Commonwealth Universities. Over 70 years the scope of entomological studies evolved, changed and grew through four Departments to the present complement of about a hundred entomologists, chemists and virologists plus thirty post-graduate students and visiting workers. During that time some 1500 scientists have studied or been trained in aspects of entomology at Rothamsted. Six themes will serve as a reminder of the Station's impressive influence.