Jordan Country Study on Biological Diversity: Arthropods of Medical Importance in Jordan

Medical entomology is a growing branch of entomology. The science of medical entomology deals with the arthropods that are capable of transmitting diseases or can inflict injury or envenomation to man. Several groups of arthropods can act as vectors for viral, bacterial, protozoans and ricketessial diseases or can act as intermediate hosts for roundworms (Nematodes), flat worm (Digenitic trematods) and ribbon worms (Cestodes). Medical entomology investigates into the etiologic agents, life cycles, and the epidemiology of disease transmission. It is also involved in finding practical means for controlling the target arthropod to reduce the risk of acquiring infections. Methods in controlling the different arthropods changed dramatically over the past two decades, where environmentally safe strategies are followed, by using natural enemies, natural products as well as biodegradable insecticides.