Continuing Evolution of the Journal of Entomological Science

The Journal of Entomological Science embarks on its 50th yr of publication with this issue. The Journal has evolved from a relatively regionally based entity that was initially produced with rudimentary print technology and was distributed to members of the Georgia Entomological Society by hand or mail into a scholarly publication with international topics, articles, and readership. In 2015, starting with Volume 50, the Journal of Entomological Science positions itself for online publication and access. Indeed, an online platform and presence for the Journal is long overdue given the rapid changes that have occurred in the past few years with scientific publishing.

To make this stride forward, the Journal has contracted with Allen Press, Inc. (Lawrence, Kansas) who is ably positioned to assist with this next evolutionary advancement for the Journal. The initial step will be to establish our printed version of the Journal of Entomological Science with our new publishing partner. The intent is to move this printed version to a mixture of printed copies and an online presence by the end of 2015, the 50th yr of publication of the Journal.

The Journal was initially approved and created as the Journal of the Georgia Entomological Society in 1965 at the 29th annual meeting of the Georgia Entomological Society in Atlanta, presided over by Hamlin H. Tippins. Horace O. Lund was selected as the first editor, a position he held for 20 yr. Robert Davis served as associate editor; J.H. Girardeau, Jr., served as business manager; and the charter members of the newly formed editorial board were J.C. Alden, J.W. Kilpatrick, W.E. Blasingame, H. Laudani, H.C. Cox, C.M. Scott, Jr., R.T. Franklin, A.B. Weathersby, C.R. Jordan, and H.O. Yates III.

A recommendation to rename the Journal of the Georgia Entomological Society to the Journal of Entomological Science was approved at the 48th annual meeting of the society held at Jekyll Island, Georgia, in March 1984. The name change was initiated with Volume 20, Issue 1 in January 1985. A committee consisting of W.A. Bruce, H.O. Lund, J.N. All, Ray Noblet, J.O. Howell, D.A. Nordlund, J.R. McLaughlin, and H.O. Yates III (chair) was appointed to restructure the operation of the newly renamed Journal of Entomological Science.

With the name change, the Journal also introduced a new cover design (Cyrus Daniels, Creative Design Studio, Griffin, Georgia) with its now trademark blue background accentuated by white gridlines and a cover photo that is changed for each issue. The cover photos continue to be selected at the Georgia Entomological Society Photo Salon held as part of the society's annual meetings. James O. Howell replaced H.O. Lund as journal editor and Harry O. Yates III became associate editor. Subject editors were selected for 2- and 3-yr terms. Printing of the Journal also was shifted from an Athens-based printing operation to Joyce's Print Shop in Clemson, South Carolina.

Harry O. Yates III became the third editor of the Journal in 1986, a position in which he served until 1993 when Wayne A. Gardner was named editor. During Gardner's service as editor, printing and publishing operations were shifted to Sheridan Press in Hanover, Pennsylvania, in 1998 and now to Allen Press in 2015. We look to this publishing partner to assist us in elevating the stature of the Journal of Entomological Science to even higher levels of recognition and use by the scientific community.

Happy 50th Anniversary!