Designed to acquaint students with our dependence on and interaction with insects in today's world.
Athena Title
Insects and the Environment
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ENTO 2010, BIOL 2010
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will apply their understanding of insect biology, identification and classification through guided assessments and forming a digital insect collection.
Students will identify insect anatomy and then predict how that anatomy is influenced by the environment.
Students will demonstrate understanding of insect behavior by testing hypotheses, investigating their interactions with each other and understanding how they communicate to form functional societies.
Students will analyze insect ecology through group assignments investigating the role of insects in decomposition, pollination, herbivory, and agriculture.
Students will evaluate the impact of insects on insect-human interactions by discussing the benefits and problems insects pose to humans and vice versa.
Students will practice the process of science through development of research questions, hypotheses, and experimental design and then translate that material into engaging material that engages the public through either written or verbal media.
Topical Outline
a. Why study insects? Insect/Human interactions
b. Biodiversity - Where do insects fall in the spectrum of life?
c. Common orders of arthropods, mostly insects
i. Crustaceans, arachnids, and other orders related to
insects
ii. Termites
iii. Roaches
iv. Mayflies
v. Mantids
vi. Stick insects
vii. Dragonflies
viii. Grasshoppers
ix. True bugs/Aphids
x. Fleas
xi. Beetles
xii. Moths/Butterflies
xiii. Flies/Mosquitoes
xiv. Wasps/Ants/Bees
d. Insect structure
e. Insect physiology
f. Insect/Plant interactions
g. Coevolution of plants and insects
h. Insect/Insect interactions
i. Social insects
j. Insect/Man interactions
k. Management of common pests (e.g., roaches, fleas, bedbugs)
l. Organic management of insects
m. Biological and chemical insecticides
n. Risk and benefits of pesticides
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
