Associates cooperate with the entomology section staff on many types of projects.
For example, they conduct studies in the systematics of arthropods, which contribute to our knowledge of and ability to control agricultural, livestock, and human pests. Associates help document and describe the unique fauna of Florida and surrounding areas, and the ecological relationships among its plant, animal, and human communities. The Research Associate Program formally began in 1963. It includes approximately 300 members throughout the United States and 15 foreign countries. Its membership includes numerous renowned scientists, as well as many highly capable and industrious amateurs and promising students.