Because insect species diversity is so great and many taxonomic groups require specialized skills for identification, Fermilab is always looking to expand research opportunities. Professionals or volunteers interested in helping monitor one or more groups of insects are welcome to inquire about project needs. Below is a list of insect orders that are in need of monitoring at Fermilab.
- Insect orders of focus for terrestrial (prairie, old-field, woodland, forest, wetland) study include: Blattodea (termites, cockroaches), Coleoptera (beetles), Dermaptera (earwigs), Diptera (flies), Hemiptera (true bugs, aphids, scale insects, cicadas, hoppers), Hymenoptera (saw flies, bees, wasps, ants), Lepidoptera (moths only), Mantodea (mantids), Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions, mantid flies), Orthoptera (grasshoppers, katydids, crickets), Phasmatodea (stick and leaf insects). Non-insect invertebrates from class Arachnida (spiders, harvestmen, mites, ticks, pseudo-scorpions) are included.
- Insect orders of focus for aquatic (wetland, open water, moving water) study include: Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Mecoptera (scorpionflies, hangingflies, allies), Megaloptera (alderflies, dobsonflies, fishflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies).