Entomology -- Biology 1224            Faculty Index Page
                                                    James K Adams, jadams@daltonstate.edu

Directions to John Lugthart's House for nighttime collecting -- Sept. 20
        You can arrive as early as 6:30 for a little daytime collecting as well.
Directions to Taylor's Ridge for collecting Buck Moths (Nov. 9 - 11)
        You should arrive mid to late morning (10:30).  Buck Moths typically fly until
        around 1:30 p.m., though may fly a bit later in good years.

Syllabus          

Outline of the classification of arthropods and Entomological Terminology
           So, who is really related to whom in the Hexapods?  Check this out

Collection Information

Bug of the Week

 Tests on file in the library -- Click on the appropriate ones for 1224

Answers for tests on file in the Library:
        Test1
        Test 2
        Test 3

Review Sheets
    Test 1:
        Week 1
        Week 2
        Week 3
        Week 4 -- Parainsecta, Entognatha, Apterygota, Paleoptera
        Flight
        Week 5 -- Orthopteroid Orders
    Test 2
        Week 6 -- Hemipteroid Orders
        Week 7 -- Neuropteroid Orders
        Week 7/8 -- Coleoptera
        Week 8 -- Mecopteroid Orders (including Diptera)
        Week 9 -- Lepidoptera
        Week 9, 10 -- Hymenoptera
    Test 3
        Week 11 -- Internal Anatomy
        Week 12 -- Sense Organs;  link to "The Compound Eye"
        Week 12 & 13 -- Interactions with other organisms; includes Pest Management
                Plant - Insect interactions:  Orchids and orchid bees
                Interaction images -- phoresy, defenses against predation
    Test 4
        Week 14/15 -- Behavior and Communication, Circadian Rhythms, and Social Behavior
        Week 15 -- Seasonality and Thermoregulation

Exam and quiz dates

List of potential taxa for identification quiz

Lecture Images --
    Surface features
    External anatomy
    Molting (Chapter 3)
    Insect flight -- dragonfly wingbeat
    Digestive System
    Respiratory System
    Circulatory System
    Reproductive structures Chapter 4)
    Interaction images -- 
        pollination
        phoresy, protective (defensive) coloration

Representatives of Orders, Suborders and Families of hexapods:   
    Pictures from many orders and many families
          Bug Guide at http://bugguide.net/
    Page 1:
        Parainsecta (Proturans, Collembolans)
        Entognatha (Diplurans)   
        Apterygota (Archeognatha, Thysanura)
        Paleoptera (Ephemeroptera, Odonata)
    Page 2:     The Orthopteroid Orders
        Mantid eating vertebrate
        Mantophastmatodea -- this is an ORDER of insects discovered very recently (last ten years)
    Page 3:     The Hemipteroid Orders (excluding Heteroptera)
    Heteroptera -- Hemiptera:  see pages 8 - 13 in this very nice article
    Page 4:    A few more Hemiptera; Homoptera
            More at Bugguide.net   
    From the Bug Guide (except for the "Georgia Lepidoptera" website):
        Neuropteroid orders (excluding beetles)  two pages (click on "2" for second page)
                Rhaphidioptera  (Snakeflies)
                Strepsiptera  (Twisted-winged parasites)
            Coleoptera (Beetles)     several pages
        Mecopteroid orders:
            Mecoptera (Scorpionflies and Hangingflies)
            Diptera  (Flies)
            Siphonaptera  (Fleas)
            Trichoptera  (Caddisflies)
            Lepidoptera  (Butterflies and Moths)
                Georgia Lepidoptera (my website)
                Bug guide pages
        Hymenopteroid orders:  Hymenoptera
 
Useful Websites with information and pictures:
        Discover Life -- Insects
        Tree of Life Website -- From the introductory page, click on the "Popular Pages"
                link, then on the "Insecta" link.  This website has nice introductory information
                and pictures for all hexapod groups; from the insect page, you can click on the
                "Other Hexapod" links to get to the Proturans, Collembolans and Diplurans
        Bug Guide -- great assortment of pictures for all orders and most families I have you
                know something about.

DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE:

This course should be a LOT of fun! We will start with a discussion on what exactly makes and insect an insect, and what other groups of organisms are related to them. This will be followed by a brief discussion on why we should be interested in studying insects. I will then give a quick overview of some basic biological concepts that you would need to have to understand basic biology of any living creature. Then we will discuss the basics of external and internal anatomy (with a bit of physiology thrown in) of insects and metamorphosis. An overview of the major groups of insects will then follow, with extra laboratory discussion. The semester will end with more detail on the biology of insects, such as predatory defense, injurious and beneficial insects, chemical/visual communication and reproduction, and social behavior.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, you should be able to

1. Indicate the importance of entomology in terms of the impact on human lives.
        a. Indicate some examples of beneficial insects (pollination, food, silk, etc.)
        b. Indicate some examples of harmful insects (pests on: crops, wood, animals, us!)
2. Identify different classes of arthropods, and be able to indicate distinguishing characteristics.
3. Identify several (not all!) different orders and families of insects, and indicate some basic
        distinguishing characteristics.
4. Recognize and name basic external structures of insects.
5. Describe some of the basic internal systems and organs of insects
6. Understand the basics of metamorphosis, and indicate some insects that exhibit the different
        types of metamorphosis.
7. Indicate some mechanisms insects exhibit to defend themselves from predators.
8. Understand the importance of communication in insects, and how this is necessary for social
        behavior.
9. Use a dichotomous key for identification of not only insects, but any group of organisms.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS: