Introduction

In this course, you will learn basic concepts of insect biology. You will learn about insects and their marvelous adaptations to diverse environments, and relate those ideas to insects' interactions with other organisms, including humans. This course will cover aspects of insect evolutionary biology, physiology, development, behavior, and economic entomology. Preparation for the course is the prerequisite, Biology 201.

Contacting Me

Please feel free to come to any of my office hours. Although I am in my office much of the time, it is best to call ahead to arrange particular meeting times since I may be working in lab or field, or in meetings around campus.
 

Office Hours

When: (tentatively set) M 2:30-3:30; M & F 9:00-10:00; Other hours by appointment, just call first.

Where: Physical Sciences (PS) 151A, inside my lab PS151. If the lab door is closed, please knock loudly enough so I can hear it from inside my office.

Many students work in my lab, so if you stop by when I’m not there, please don't rely on them to pass verbal messages on to me. Just leave a note on my door or in my mailbox in the Biology office.

Telephone: 594-4358 (Messages may be left there.)

Mailbox: Biology Dept. office, LS 104C, inside glass door, right side. My box is BELOW my name.
 

Text/Materials

Text required for course:

William S. Romoser & John G. Stoffolano. The Science of Entomology. 4th ed. WCB McGraw-Hill. 1998. Available at the Bookstore.
Chapters of this text are easy to read, and material covered is of entomological, evolutionary, and ecological significance. Additional references are offered and the book should be a great addition to your professional library.

Readings on reserve:

Multiple copies of any additional readings will be placed on reserve in the reserve room.
 
 

Laboratory Biology 462L

The laboratory that goes with the Entomology course (Biology 462L) meets Wednesday 9-11:40. I encourage you to take it. Your understanding of entomology will be enhanced greatly, and should also help your performance in Biol. 462. We will use the same text for the lab.
 
 

Class organization

This class will involve student-centered learning, or "active learning." In student-centered learning, the student learns to determine what s/he needs to know; the student "learns to learn" the subject material. To accomplish this, the course will include both individual and group activities. Educators recognize that groups successfully discover for themselves what new information they need to acquire in order to master some topic or solve some problem. I will assign groups of 4-5 during the first week and groups will be permanent for the semester.

The assigned readings are critical to the course. The textbook is an excellent and up-to-date resource and you will be assigned readings for each class. I do not intend to lecture in a traditional format.

A typical class will be to start with a brief quiz (multiple choice and short answer, worth about 15 points) over the assigned reading (10-15 min.). You will take the quiz individually and turn it in. Then you will take the test as a group (10-15 min.). All group members working together and sharing knowledge to answer all questions correctly. We will go over the answers together and discuss any confusing points. If there remains any points of confusion, of if you have questions, I will help you understand those points. Other individual and group activities will be used to help you understand the material also. Obviously, you must complete your reading assignments prior to classtime and attend each meeting in this course to participate in active learning. These methods have been used for many years in colleges and graduate schools (especially medical and law schools), to enhance learning.
 
 

Grading

Your course grade will come from the quizzes taken during classtime. Based on your performance during the semester, a final exam may be given. I will inform you of the details of the final well before the assigned final time (May 19, 8:00-10:00).

One-half of your grade will come from performance on individual quizzes, and half will come from your group quizzes. At any point during the semester, you can total up the quiz points g.iven and calculate the proportion you’ve answered correctly.

What about the group score? All members of the group receive the same score from the group quizzes. As with the individual scores, at any time you can calculate the proportion your group has answered correctly. At the end of the semester, each individual’s group score will be weighted, based on their average "contribution" score, based on peer evaluations.
 
 

I may curve the grades slightly more liberally than the following grading scheme, but I will assure you that if the sum of your individual and group scores total at least 90% you’ll get an A, at least 80% earns a B, at least 70% earns a C, and at least 60% earns a D. You must earn at least 50% of the highest score earned in the class to pass this course.

Using this grading method, you should know the points you’ve earned at any point in the semester. Most students can make an accurate assessment of their participation as well.
 
 

Schedule (tentative)

Week of	Topic	Taxa
25 Jan.	The role of insects. What are insects & what do they do?
1 Feb.	Evolution of insect orders
8 Feb.	Origin of wings & evolution of flight	Thysanoptera, Odononata, Ephemeroptera
15 Feb.	The trachael system	orthopteroids
22 Feb.	Modifications of mouthparts: The suckers	hemipteroids
1 Mar.	The integument: suit of armor & Molting	coleopteroids
18 Mar.	Sense organs
15 Mar.	Plant insect relationships I. Mutualisms	Lepidoptera
22 Mar.	Plant insect relationships II. Nutritional Ecology
29 Mar.	Spring break
5 Apr.	Beneficial/harmful insects	Diptera
12 Apr.	Insect control; Economic entomology	Hymenoptera I.
19 Apr.	Social behavior (Insects in groups)	Hymenoptera II.
26 Apr.	Reproduction and mating behavior
3 May	Conservation/Biodiversity
10 May	Overview
19 May	(8:00- 10:00 a.m. Final - if needed)