The Department of Entomology was established in 1963 as part of a reorganization in the Museum of Natural History. At that time, the Division of Insects of the Department of Zoology became the new Department of Entomology. Five divisions were created within the new department: Neuropteroids (after 1974, Neuropteroids and Diptera); Lepidoptera (from 1968 to 1974, Lepidoptera and Diptera); Coleoptera; Hemiptera (intermittently from 1968 to 1984, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera); and Myriapoda and Arachnida. In 1984, a separate Division of Hymenoptera was established. Around 1991, divisions ceased to exist as administrative structures within the Department.
Chairmen of the Department of Entomology have included J. F. Gates Clarke, 1963-1965; Karl V. Krombein, 1965-1971; Paul David Hurd, 1971-1976; Donald R. Davis, 1976-1981; Wayne N. Mathis, 1981-1987; Ronald J. McGinley, 1987-1992; Jonathan A. Coddington, 1992-1997; and Robert K. Robbins, 1997- .
Curators and Research Entomologists of the Department since 1991 have included John McLauren Burns (Lepidoptera), 1991- ; Jonathan A. Coddington (Arachnida), 1991- ; Donald R. Davis (Lepidoptera), 1991- ; Terry L. Erwin (Coleoptera), 1991- ; Oliver S. Flint, (Trichoptera), 1991- ; Richard C. Froeschner (Hemiptera), 1991- ; Karl V. Krombein (Hymenoptera), 1991- ; Wayne N. Mathis (Diptera), 1991- ; Ronald J. McGinley (Hymenoptera), 1991- ; Robert K. Robbins (Lepidoptera), 1991- ; Paul J. Spangler (Coleoptera), 1991- ; Dan A. Polhemus (Hemiptera), 1995- ; and Theodore R. Schultz (Hymenoptera), 1995- .
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 217934
