Course Description
Insect biology, with emphasis on factors that have made insects one of the most abundant and successful animal groups. Topics include the behavior, ecology, and evolution of the major insect groups. Most laboratory periods will be spent in the field.
Athena Title
INSECT NAT HISTORY
Prerequisite
BIOL 1104 or BIOL 1108
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The objective of the course is to give students a basic understanding of the diversity of insects, including the different major types, where they live, what they feed on, and how they defend themselves. This objective is met through a combination of lectures, laboratory exercises, and field trips to diverse habitats.
Topical Outline
Outline of Lecture Topics I. Introduction: Why Study Insects? II. Insect Diversity and Evolution. A. Evolution of arthropod relatives of insects. B. Evolution of the insects. III. Parade of Insects. A. Hexapod relatives of insects (Entognatha). B. Primitively wingless insects (Apterygota). C. Paleopterous insects. 1. Order Ephemeroptera. 2. Order Odonata. D. Neopterous insects. 1. Exopterygote insects. a. Orders Plecoptera, Embiidina. b. Orders Mantodea, Blattodea, Isoptera. c. Orders Dermaptera, Orthoptera, Phasmatodea. d. Order Hemiptera. e. Orders Phthiraptera, Thysanoptera. 2. Endopterygote insects. a. Orders Trichoptera, Mecoptera, Neuroptera. b. Order Coleoptera. c. Order Lepidoptera. d. Orders Diptera, Siphonaptera. e. Order Hymenoptera. IV. Insect Life Support Systems. A. The exoskeleton. B. Wings and powered flight. C. The reproductive system. D. The sensory system. V. Social Insects. A. Termites. B. Ants. C. Bees. D. Wasps. Outline of Topics for Laboratories and Field Exercises I. INDOOR LABORATORIES: A. Collecting and Preserving Insects. B. Arthropod Relatives of Insects. C. The Insect Orders. D. Introduction to Insect Morphology. E. Arthropod Collection Workup (several sessions in latter part of semester) II. OUTDOOR LABORATORIES AND FIELD EXERCISES: A. Insects as Pollinators. B. Woodland Insects. C. Insects in Agricultural Settings. D. Old Field Insects I (Herbivores). E. Old Field Insects II (Natural Enemies). F. Aquatic Insects. G. Soil and Leaf Litter Arthropods H. Nocturnal Insects.* * Special evening field trip held on a date to be arranged early in the semester.
Syllabus