Biology 396: Entomology - Spring 2009 Kalamazoo College, Michigan Instructor: Dr. Ann Fraser Office: Dow Science 314 Phone: x7063 Email: afraser "at" kzoo.edu Lecture: MWF 11:50AM-1:05 PM, Dow 329 Lab: Thur 12:30-4:00 PM, Dow 319 and field   Collection Requirements Specimeny locality label template Collection Grade Sheet Insect ID label template Moodle page   Last Revised: March 29, 2009 [Webmaster: Dr. Ann Fraser | Copyright | Disclaimer ]

Course texts and reading

• Required: Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity: With a Photographic Guide to Insects of Eastern North America (S.A. Marshall, 2006), Firefly Books.
• Recommended if you want a small, portable identification guide: National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America (A.V. Evans, 2007), Sterling Publishing Inc.
• To reduce course costs, there is no designated lecture text. Instead, relevant material will be placed on reserve in the library (electronic or hard copy)
• Copies of How to Know the Insects, 3rd edition (Bland and Jaques, 1978) will be available for use in the laboratory to augment insects keys available in the required Marshall text.

Course Description
A comprehensive introduction to the biology and classification of insects. Topics covered include insect structure, function, development, behavior, principles of control, identification, systematics and evolution. Laboratories include field trips to local sites to observe and collect insects, and to view ongoing basic and applied research projects by local entomologists. Students will gain experience in rearing and handling insects. All are required to assemble a collection of local insects.

Course Goals

• gain recognition familiarity with the major orders and families of insects
• learn about collection, preservation, curation and research methods used in entomology
• expand your knowledge of and appreciation for insects, their biology and their management
• increase proficiency in reading, interpreting, and critiquing scientific literature
• enhance skills related to the developing and testing scientific hypotheses

Approximate Grading Scale

Honor System
This course operates under the Kalamazoo College Honor System, a statement of values and responsibilities central to our education. Group discussion of material is encouraged (except during a test or exam), but written work is to be completed individually unless otherwise noted, with proper citation of all sources of ideas or other information that is not your own. You are responsible for learning how to cite appropriately works other than your own.

COURSE ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENT

CLASS PREPARATION AND PARTICIPATION
You are expected to attend all lectures and are required to attend all labs. Everyone is expected to be an engaged and active participant in class. As a participant of class discussions you are expected to prepare in advance by carefully reading assigned articles, by making notes about key points and questions from the readings, and by conducting additional research of your own as you encounter questions in your reading. Your questions and comments during class discussions should be informed; that is, they should demonstrate that you have read, attempted to understand, and thought critically about the reading.

Some of our reading for this course will come from the primary research literature rather than from a textbook. Lectures are intended to provide background helpful to understanding this primary literature. By reading and discussing papers, we will learn more about the scientific method in general, about approaches used to study specific aspects of insect biology, and about how insects are used as model systems to address broader questions in biology.

LABS
Labs will involve dissection of preserved specimens to become familiar with insect anatomy, keying exercises to become familiar with identifying insects, field trips to observe and collect insects, and visits to local sites to learn more about what entomologists do for a living. Dress appropriately for field trips. Wear sturdy footwear (NOT sandals) and dress in layers. It is often helpful to carry a small field notebook to record sites we visit, dates, and other notes on the biology of the organisms you collect.

LECTURE TESTS, LAB QUIZZES AND FINAL LAB PRACTICAL EXAM (62.5% of course grade)
To help assess your learning during the course there will be three tests (37.5% of course grade) that will cover lecture material and readings. In addition, to help you keep up with learning the various insect groups, there will be three insect anatomy/classification ID quizzes (11% of course grade) and a comprehensive lab practical final exam (14% of course grade).

MANDUCA REARING PROJECT
The tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) is a model organism for studies of insect growth and development. You will rear this organism from egg to adult to observe these processes first hand, and to gain experience in insect rearing.

PERSONAL INSECT COLLECTION (30% of course grade)
Approximately 50% of this course focuses on learning to collect, preserve, recognize and name insects to order, family and common name. To enhance your ability to recognize and identify insects, and to gain a better appreciation for the diversity of local insects, you will assemble an insect collection. This involves collecting, mounting, labeling and identifying specimens. Details on the composition and arrangement of the collection will be provided. You may keep your collection after it has been graded.

You are expected to mount, label and identify insects outside of formal course time for the most part. All necessary collecting and mounting supplies are provided or loaned, and you can obtain a key to the laboratory for after hours access ($5 returnable deposit required).

INSECT ORDER RESEARCH AND PRESENTATION (7.5% of course grade)
To increase your familiarity with the identification and biology of the insect orders, each student will sign up to investigate and report to the class on one or more assigned insect orders. In a 20-30 minute PowerPoint presentation, you will provide an overview of your insect order(s) and guide the class through sample specimens from the teaching collection. You will be provided with a list of families and biological information to cover in your presentation. Types of information to be covered include:

• major identifying features of order - include images/features of immature and adult stages
• major families and key distinguishing characteristics (list of families will be provided)
• biology of the group (e.g. geographical distribution, habitat, diet, species diversity)
• importance to humans and ecosystems (e.g. medical, agricultural, ecosystem importance; model research organism)
• other notes of interest

You must use preserved specimens from the teaching collection to augment the PowerPoint presentation. You will also provide the a copy of your PowerPoint presentation file to the instructor by 9AM on the day of your presentation so that handouts can be made for the class, on which they can take notes. You will also have an opportunity to revise your PowerPoint show following your presentation, before uploading it to Moodle. The revision is intended only for corrections to errors or to enhance clarity of features. The PowerPoint handout and revised presentation on Moodle will serve as review materials for ID quizzes and the lab practical exam.