Course code LauZ3170

Credit points 4.50

Entomology

Total Hours in Course120

Number of hours for lectures32

Number of hours for laboratory classes16

Independent study hours72

Date of course confirmation24.03.2020

Responsible UnitInstitute of Soil and Plant Science

Course developer

author Augsnes un augu zinātņu institūts

Jānis Gailis

Dr. agr.

Course abstract

Objectives of the course are to study various harmful and economically beneficial invertebrates (arthropods, molluscs, roundworms), their biology and ecology in agriculture. Also, methods for investigation and monitoring of economically important invertebrates and how agro-ecological factors affect populations of pests and beneficial invertebrates inhabiting various agroecosystems.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge on taxonomy, biology and ecology of crop pests and beneficial invertebrates in agriculture in Latvia.
Skills to identify potentially useful invertebrates, pests and plant damages caused by them.
Competences on how various agronomical activities affect populations of pests and also beneficial invertebrates.

Knowledge, skills and competences are assessed using two written and one oral test during the study course.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Entomology science. Morphology of insects. Body structure. Reproduction and individual development. Peculiarities of eggs’ laying, types of metamorphosis (holometaboly and hemimetaboly). Moulting. Types of larvae and pupas. Generation, change of generation, diapause. (2 lessons).
2. Classification and diversity of insects. Main orders of hexapods: springtails (Collembola), bristletails (Thysanura), mayflies (Ephemeroptera), dragonflies (Odonata), cockroaches (Blattodea), orthopterans (Orthoptera), earwigs (Dermaptera), thrips (Thysanoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), beetles (Coleoptera), net-winged insects (Neuroptera), caddisflies (Trichoptera), butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), dipterans (Diptera), fleas (Siphanoptera), hymenopterans (Hymenoptera) and others. (2 lessons).
3. Classification and diversity of other invertebrates important in agriculture. Roundworms (Nematoda), terrestrial molluscs: snails and slugs (Gastropoda: Arionidae, Agriolimacidae, Helicidae etc.). Spiders and mites (Arachnida: Araneae, Acari) and other chelicerates. (4 lessons).
4. Polyphagous pests. European mole cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa), click beetles (Agriotes spp.), white grub cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha), turnip moth (Agrotis segetum), two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and others. (1 lesson).
5. Pests of cereals. Rye thrip (Limothrips denticornis), grains aphid (Sitobion avenae), bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphon padi), cereal leaf beetles (Oulema spp.), barley flea beetle (Phyllotreta vittula), hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) etc. (1 lesson).
6. Pests of legumes. Clover seed weevil (Protapion apricans), pea thrip (Kakothrips robustus), pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), pea beetle (Bruchus pisorum), pea moth (Laspeyresia nigricana), black bean aphid (Aphis fabae), bean seed beetle (Bruchus rufimanus) etc. (2 lessons).
7. Pests of crucifers. Common pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus), large striped flea beetle (Phyllotreta nemorum), cabbage stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus), cabbage seed weevil (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), cabbage moth (Barathra brassicae), large white (Pieris brassicae), small white (Pieris rapae), cabbage root fly (Delia radicum), brassica pod midge (Dasineura brassicae), turnip sawfly (Athalia rosae) etc. (2 lessons).
8. Pests of vegetables. mangold flea beetle (Chaetocnema concinna), beet leafminer (Pegomya hyoscyami), sugar beet nematode (Heterodera schachtii), carrot psyllid (Trioza apicalis), carrot fly (Psila rosae), mite Rhizoglyphus echinopus, lesser bulb fly (Eumerus strigatus), onion fly (Delia antiqua), tobacco thrips (Thryps tabaci), seedcorn maggot (Delia platura), alder buckthorn-willowherb aphid (Aphis frangulae), green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), buckthorn-potato aphid (Aphis nasturtii), Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), potato cyst nematodes (Globodera spp.) etc. (1.5 lessons).
9. Pests of flax. Large flax flea beetle (Aphthona euphorbiae), tortrix moth Clepsis pallidana, tortrix moth Cochylis epilinana etc. (0.5 lessons).
10. Pests of fruit-trees. European red mite (Panonychus ulmi), apple blossom weevil (Anthonomus pomorum), apple ermine (Yponomeuta malinellus), apple fruit moth (Argyresthia conjugella), codling moth (Cydia pomonella), lackey moth (Malacosoma neustria), winter moth (Operophthera brumata), apple sawfly (Hoplocampa testudinea), pear bud mite (Eriophyes pyri), plum rust mite (Aculus fockeui), mealy plum aphid (Hyalopterus pruni), plum fruit moth (Grapholita funebrana), yellow prune tree sawfly (Hoplocampa flava), black cherry aphid (Myzus cerasi), cherry slug (Caliroa limacina), European cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) etc. (2 lessons).
11. Pests of berry crops. Strawberry foliar nematode (Aphelenchoides fragariae), cyclamen mite (Tarsonemus pallidus), strawberry blossom weevil (Anthonomus rubi), raspberry beetle (Byturus tomentosus), raspberry cane midge (Resseliella theobaldi), Cecidophyopsis spp. mites, magpie moth (Abraxas grossulariata), currant clearwing (Synanthedon tipuliformis), common gooseberry sawfly (Nematus ribesii), red gall midge (Resseliella ribis), blueberry gall midge (Dasineura oxycoccana) etc. (2 lessons).
12. Pests of greenhouses. Palm thrips (Parthenothrips dracaenae), greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) etc. (0.5 lessons).
13. Storage pests. Flour mite (Acarus siro), biscuit beetle (Stegobium paniceum), mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor), confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum), granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius), moth Nemapogon variatella, Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella), meal moth (Pyralis farinalis) etc. (0.5 lessons).
14. Pests of ornamental plants. Rose aphid (Macrosiphum rosae), rose sawflies (Tenthredinidae spp.), gladiolus thrips (Thrips simplex), scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii), large narcissus fly (Merodon equestris), rhododendron lace bug (Stephanitis rhododendri), black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus), privet leafminer (Gracillaria syringella), viburnum aphid (Aphis viburni), viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) etc. (1 lesson).
15. Beneficial invertebrates. Ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae), ground beetles (Carabidae), rove beetles (Staphylinidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), robber flies (Asilidae), aphid midge (Aphidoletes aphidimyza), ichneumon wasps and braconids (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae), trichogrammatids (Trichogrammatidae), social bees (Apidae), social wasps (Vespidae), sand wasps (Sphecidae), predatory mites (Hypoaspis aculeifer, Amblyseius cucumeris, Phytoseiulus persimilis etc.) etc. (2 lessons).
16. Ecology of insects. Ecological systems (habitat, biocenosis and agrocenosis). Abiotic (soil, climate etc.), biotic (food resources, interspecific interactions) and anthropogenic factors influencing insects in agrocenoses. Reproduction potential of insects. Ecological valence, eurybiont and stenobiont species. Mimicry and aposematism. (2 lessons).
17. Methods for insects’ monitoring and investigations. Qualitative, quantitative and semi-quantitative methods, short characterization of them. Equipment necessary for insects’ monitoring and investigations. (2 lessons).
18. Control of populations of harmful invertebrates. Activities of integrated pest management influencing populations of harmful and beneficial invertebrates. Preventive and corrective activities for plant protection. Economical threshold. (4 lessons).

Subjects of laboratory works:
1. Morphology of insects. (1 lesson).
2. Individual development of insects. (1 lesson).
3. Classification of insects. Springtails, orthopterans, earwigs and cockroaches. (1 lesson).
4. Thrips and bugs. (1 lesson).
5. Beetles. (1 lesson).
6. Butterflies. (1 lesson).
7. Net-winged insects, flies and hymenopterans. (1 lesson).
8. Polyphagous pests. (1 lesson).
9. Pests of cereals. (1 lesson).
10. Pests of legumes. (1 lesson).
11. Pests of crucifers. (1 lesson).
12. Pests of vegetables. (1 lesson).
13. Pests of fruit-trees. (1 lesson).
14. Pests of berry crops. (1 lesson).
15. Storage pests and pests of ornamental plants. (1 lesson).

16. Beneficial insects. (1 lesson).

Requirements for awarding credit points

1. All laboratory works are accomplished.
2. Written test (test No. 1) on morphology, reproduction, individual development and diversity of insects, spiders, terrestrial molluscs and roundworms is successfully passed (grade is at least 4).
3. Written test (test No. 2) on ecology and monitoring methods of insects and on activities of integrated pest management is successfully passed (grade is at least 4).
4. Oral test (test No. 3) on identification and characterization of economically important invertebrates’ species passed successfully (grade is at least 4); only students who accomplished all laboratory works and passed test No. 1 are allowed to do the test No. 3.

Average grade of all three tests is final grade of the study course.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Preparing for tests.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

1. Assessment of laboratory works – passed/not passed.
2. During the test No. 1, students must give answers to typical test questions by choosing right answer from several proposed versions. Student earns one point for every correctly answered question. Maximally, it is possible to earn 50 points. Grade of the test depends on sum of the earned points:
49...50 points – 10 (excellent);
46...48 point – 9 (very well);
42...45 points – 8 (very good);
38...41 points – 7 (good);
34...37 points – 6 (almost good);
30...33 points – 5 (average);
26...29 points – 4 (almost average);
20...25 points – 3 (weak);
14...19 points – 2 (very weak);
<14 points – 1 (very, very weak).

3. During the test No. 2, students must give answers to two-type questions: typical test questions which must be answered by choosing one correct answer from several proposed versions (1) and questions which must be answered by writing correct answer (2). Proportion of the typical test questions is not bigger than 25%. Student earns one point for every correctly answered typical test question, but correct answer to second-type questions gives 1–6 points depending on complexity of the question. If the second-type question is answered partly, then student gets reduced amount of points for the answer to the question. In total, there is possibility to earn 50 points by accomplishing the test. Grade of the test depends on sum of the earned points as it was showed above (see criteria for assessment of the test No. 1).

4. During the oral test (test No. 3), student draws set of ten invertebrates' species economically important for agriculture. Each 'species' consists of preparations of individuals in different developmental stages and also of herbariums of damaged plants by the pest. Each student has 15 minutes to prepare. Student must identify all species and to tell about their biology, ecology and economical importance. Student earns 0.5 points for each properly identified species. Similar amount of points are earned if student is able to tell about biology, ecology and economical importance of each species. Therefore, it is possible to earn 10 points in this test. Final grade of the test is sum of points earned.

Compulsory reading

1. Ozols E. (1973). Lauksaimniecības entomoloģija. Rīga, izdevniecība “Zvaigzne”, 496 lpp.
2. Priedītis A. (1996) Kultūraugu kaitēkļi. Rīga, Zvaigzne ABC. 296 lpp.

3. Priedītis A. (1997) Derīgie savvaļas dzīvnieki un to izmantošana augu aizsardzībā. Ozolnieki, 112 lpp.

Further reading

1. Bankina B., Turka I. (2013) Augu slimību un kaitēkļu uzskaites metodes. Jelgava, LLU, 24 lpp.
2. Plīse E. (2001) Krāšņumaugu kaitēkļi. Jelgava, LLU, 332 lpp.
3. Plīse E.(2002) Augļu koku un ogulāju kaitēkļi. Jelgava, LLU. 48 lpp.

4. Rupais A. (1999). Kokaugu kaitēkļu sugu noteicējs pēc bojājumiem augļu dārzos un apstādījumos. Rīga: Valsts Augu aizsardzības dienests, 271 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Journal of Applied Ecology. [tiešsaiste]. British Ecological Society. Online ISSN: 1365-2664. [Skatīts 23.02.2019.]. Pieejams: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652664
2. Journal of Applied Entomology. [tiešsaiste]. Blackwell Verlag GmbH. Online ISSN:1439-0418. [Skatīts 12.11.2019.].
Pieejams: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14390418