Course Description
Biology of insects, including evolution and diversity, anatomy and physiology, behavior, ecology, insects as medical and agricultural pests, and insects as beneficial organisms. Laboratory sessions are devoted primarily to the identification of major families of insects.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are expected to prepare a more extensive insect collection for this course.
Athena Title
GENERAL ENT
Non-Traditional Format
Offered in Athens in fall and spring semesters. Offered in Tifton and Griffin fall semester.
Prerequisite
BIOL 1107-1107L and BIOL 1108-1108L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The educational goal of the course is to acquaint students with insects. Students will become familiar with the insects that annoy them, eat their food, and transmit diseases. Students will, as consumers of agricultural products, know what demands they are making on farmers, and how these demands influence the environment. But perhaps most importantly of all, students will gain an appreciation of the incredible diversity of the insect world. Many insects are pests that adversely affect man, but just as many others are beneficial or possess unique biological characteristics. After taking this course, students will be able to tell the difference between a spider and an insect, have an understanding of the ever present dangers of insect borne diseases, and understand the difficulties and problems associated with insect control.
Topical Outline
Lecture: 1. Introduction, why study insects? 2. Arthropod classification 3. Insect diversity 4. Insect integument and organ systems 5. Insect development and reproduction 6. Sociality 7. Plant-insect interactions 8. Entomophagous insects 9. Insect-microbial interactions 10. Insect-vertebrate interactions 11. Insects and agriculture Lab: 1. Collecting and mounting techniques 2. Field collecting methods 3. Insect anatomy 4. Using taxonomic keys; Collembola, Diplura, Thysanura, Ephemeroptera 5. Odonata, Blattodea, Mantodea, Isoptera, and Plecoptera 6. Hand out materials for insect rearing; Dermaptera, Orthoptera, Phasmida, Phthiraptera 7. Hemiptera and Neuroptera 8. Coleoptera 9. Lab exam I 10. Diptera 11. Lepidoptera and Syphonaptera 12. Hymenoptera 13. Hymenoptera and review 14. Lab exam II
Syllabus