Syllabus: Spring 2009

This course is now offered as both a 2-credit (Entom 2010) and a 3-credit (Entom 2011) course. Students taking the 2-credit option will attend two lectures per week (on Monday and Wednesdays). For students taking the 3-credit option (Entom 2011) we will have a number of interactive activities during the Friday meeting. Activities will include open labs on insect diversity and behavior, a visit to the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, full length documentary films on insect biology, and in-class debates on the role that insects play in our lives.

There are no prerequisites for this class. The course is open to all majors and assumes no background in biology

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ClassDateTopicGuestReading
1 Jan. 19 Introduction and Course Overview
2 Jan. 21 Insect Form and Function
3 Jan. 26 Insect Diversity I
4 Jan. 28 Insect Diversity II
5 Feb. 2 Insect Mating Behavior
6 Feb. 4 Insect Development
7 Feb. 9 Insect Ears
8 Feb. 11 Insect Vision
9 Feb. 16 Insect Communication and Intelligence
10 Feb. 18 Insects and Plants Scott McArt
11 Feb. 23 Insect Predators and Parasites
12 Feb. 25 Insect Parasites
13 Mar. 2 Insect Defenses
14 Mar. 4 Mid-Term Exam
15 Mar. 9 Insect Societies I
12 Mar. 11 Insect Societies II Nick Calderone
Spring Break (Mar. 14-22)
17 Mar. 23 Insect Pest Management John Sanderson
18 Mar. 25 Insects as Vectors of Disease -- malaria Michelle Helinski
18 Mar. 30 Insects as Vectors of Disease -- typhus
19 Apr. 1 Insect Invaders (Killer bees)
20 Apr. 6 Insect Invaders (Fire Ants)
21 Apr. 8 Insect Invaders (Asian Long-Horned Beetles) Richard Hoebeke
22 Apr. 13 GMOs and Insect Conservation John Losey
13 Apr. 15 Insect Pollination Biology
23 Apr. 20 Edible Insects
24 Apr. 22 Insect Products: Silk and Honey
25 Apr. 27 Insect Products: Cochineal
28 Apr. 29 Course review
May 6-15 Final Exam