The founders included about 80 members, the most prominent of them being Yehezkel Rivnay, Chanan Bitinsky-Zaltz, Rachel Galun, Yitzhak Harpaz, Meir Pener and Shoshana Yatom.

The Society is active in promoting various disciplines of arthropod research, ranging from alpha-taxonomy to molecular biology, organizing meetings and granting awards.

Members of the Entomological Society of Israel meet annually at a Congress, where recent achievements in both basic and applied research are reported and discussed.

In addition, during the year the Society organizes meetings on special topics.

Membership in the Entomological Society of Israel is granted to professional and amateur entomologists on recommendation by two members in good standing and after payment of a yearly membership fee.