employed in entomology. Further 75 zoologists and phytopathologists are 

 occupied with entomology within the scope of their large specialisation. 



In these last years the entomology is characterized by a lively development 

 of fundamental research in general and experimental entomology, such as 

 physiology, developmental morphology and ecology besides the traditional 

 systematical and faunistic research. Thus the structure of entomological 

 research changes not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively. 



I should like to mention the situation in individual scientific disciplines, 

 at least in those regarding our symposium, i. e. developmental morphology, 

 ecology, zoocoenology and physiology. 



Developmental morphology 



The developmental morphology is based upon the outstanding work 

 of K. Sulc and J. Komarek who have trained many disciples in this branch. 

 The work has been concentrated in the Entomological laboratory of the 

 Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, and is concerned with the study of onto- 

 genetic development of insects and different organs both under normal and 

 artificial conditions. Thus the detailed data were obtained on the develop- 

 ment of the cricket (Gryllus domesticus). Contemporaneously, hemolymph 

 and development of genital organs in correlation with the fat body and other 

 organs are studied. The research has been concentrated on the problems 

 directly relating to the fertility of insects and their resistence against the ex- 

 ternal and internal factors. 



л 



Ecology of insects and biocoenology 



The ecology of insects was studied in the past by applied (practical) ento- 

 mologists and systematists who whilst examining individual species also 

 tried to study their ecology. Some papers of that time period are greatly 

 appreciated (e. g. Komarek, Rozsypal, Samal). As a special branch with its 

 own methodics of experimental work ecology has never developed in Czecho- 

 slovakia. At present a group of workers from the Entomological laboratory 

 are occupied with ecological problematics studying influence of abiotic factors 

 on the insect behaviour as the progress of development, fertility, life-time 

 seasonal periodicity etc. The object are several insect groups forming the food 

 chain of Aphis fabae, its predators (Coccinellidae, Syrphidae, Neuroptera, 

 Heteroptera) and parasites, chiefly Aphidiinae. 



The study of insect ecology has been intensified also in agricultural working 

 places. In the first place the Laboratory for plant protection of the Czechoslo- 

 vak Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Ivanka pri Dunaji should be named 

 where significant methodical improvements were reached. Ecological study 

 develops quickly also in forestry. 



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