Introduction

Definitions, brief overviews, and literature sources are provided for medical entomology, veterinary entomology, medical-veterinary entomology, medical-veterinary arachnology, medical-veterinary acarology, and general entomology. A brief history of medical-veterinary entomology highlights some of the key discoveries in this field and the individuals who made them. Principal groups of insects and arachnids that cause medical-veterinary problems are listed. Types of problems caused by arthropods are briefly discussed including: annoyance, toxins and venoms, allergic reactions, invasion of host tissues, arthropod-borne diseases, food contaminants, fear of arthropods, delusional disorders, host defenses, and minor arthropod problems of medical-veterinary interest.