Realization of a long-term science and education program through different projects in the field of entomology is the main mission of the Department of Entomology of the National Institute of Biology. The scientific research field is focused on investigations of insects which presence is globally essential for life on Earth. Insects are pollinators and important parts of food chains on one side and on the other they are vectors for many diseases and are economically important pests. The Department is the central research group in Slovenia investigating insect behaviour and physiology. As such it represents the focal point for information, knowledge and technology transfer in the field. Together with partners from Slovenia and abroad the group gives answers to complex questions and solves problems dealing with different aspects of insect biology, specially those connected with communication in the broad sense of view, agriculture and environment. Transfer of knowledge is performed also through University graduate and postgraduate studies in which coworkers of the group take part.The group contributes in sustainable and technological development of Slovenia by transfer of new technologies like those involving lasers as tool for detecting vibrations of delicate substrates and ablation of cells during their embryonic development or introducing new techniques in neurobiology. Investigations of insects in different ecosystems like Karst helps to conserve natural heritage of Slovenia. Results of group basic research give knowledge to conduct application projects mainly in the field of agronomy. Most important for Slovenia are investigations of pesticides and their influence on bees as well as introduction of new control techniques for diagnosis and studies of populations from different regions. In the last years the group conducted an international research project (FAO/IAEA project No. 10967/RO) and three CRP projects (V4-0412, V4-0461, V4-0546). The main results of application research of the group are: a/ Introduction of males from an alien population may cause population decrease. This methode may be used as basis for an alternative biological insect pest control technique. b/ X-ray irradiation with sublethal doses of larvae causes delayed sterilization and population decrease in F1 and F2 generations. In such a way irradiation as an insect control technique could be applied with lower doses and with lower potential side effects. c/ Development of a methode to detect the influence of pesticides of low doses on physiology of the nervous system in bees to get information about the intensity and dynamics of intoxication. d/ The use of laser vibrometry as the method to detect vibrations of biological structures being too delicate to be loaded. e/ Transfer of laser ablation of nerve cells in living embria as a perspective for the use in biology and medicine. f/ Development of a new statistical method for analysis of responses of spontaneously active nerve cells. g/ In the frame of graduate and postgraduate studies several students contribute in the research program of the group and collaborators of the Department are involved in education process at the University of Ljubljana and Politehnika Nova Gorica.