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EDITORIAL

The first issue of the Bulletin of Insectology

(Written in December 2002 for the start of the new series - vol. 55)

I am pleased to present a new Journal of Entomology, named the "Bulletin of Insectology" and successor to the Bollettino dell'Istituto di Entomologia "G. Grandi". It is published in English by the Department of Agroenvironmental Sciences and Technologies.

Two questions may now arise:

  1. Why publish another journal assigned to insects when more than 500 are already available?
  2. We, my Italian colleagues of the former Istituto di Entomologia "G. Grandi" of Bologna University and I, think that the use of English as the official language for original articles is important and that a new, modern edition is also necessary. Furthermore, we would like to continue the tradition of our entomological bulletin, published since 1928 under the supervision of entomologists like Prof. G. Grandi, Prof .M. M Principi, and Prof. E. Mellini, and to maintain the exchange with more than 200 journals of biological sciences. The copies of the old Bollettino used to contain mostly articles written by Authors of the Bologna Institute of Entomology. Recently, many articles have been submitted from contributors of other national and foreign institutions. The entomological sciences are now advanced to the point where an Editorial Board is of primary importance. I would like to thank all of the researchers who have joined us, and I am looking forward to working with a large international group of experts.

  3. Why choose a name like "Insectology"?
  4. Prof. Baronio suggested changing the title of the journal from Italian to English, and to find a word other than entomology (which can now be considered a common word) which was nevertheless still linked to insect studies. Insectology appeared to Baronio an appropriate and original term. "Entomology" came to be called so in the 18th century when the followers of the discipline chose that name instead of the less elegant sounding "insectology", English purist may not agree or maybe it will be enough to make them turn in their graves that we now revert to that word. The word brings together Latin (insectum) and Greek (logos), and despite some tests with students it seems that the word does not exist, in the English dictionary (New Oxford Vol. I) it is reported as being synonym of entomology. We also chose it because we felt that it was a word which would be easily remembered! So, with this term in mind, I sincerely invite you to submit manuscripts of original articles to our Bulletin of Insectology. Scientific reports, short notes and reviews will be considered, as well. If you have any comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of the Editorial Board.

    Stefano Maini