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Entomology

Course developer

Course abstract

During the course, students get acquainted with anatomy, systematics, diversity, biology of invertebrates as well as with ecology of potentially economically important species. Also, students obtain knowledge on monitoring and controlling methods and tools of potentially harmful invertebrates’ species.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Basic level knowledge on diversity, anatomy, biology, ecology and economic importance of invertebrates; on methods and tools for control of potentially harmful species.
Skills to identify various taxons of invertebrates and also economically important species.
Competences to choose monitoring and controlling methods for various potentially harmful species.

Knowledge, skills and competences are assessed using two written tests and one seminar during the course.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction. Systematics of invertebrates. (4 lessons).
2. Nematodes (Nematoda) and other round worms. Chelicerates (Chelicerata): gall mites (Eriophydae), spider mites (Tetranychidae) and others. (4 lessons).
3. Springtails (Collembola). Orthopterans (Orthoptera): locusts (Acrididae), mole crickets (Gryllotalpidae) and others. (4 lessons).
4. Bugs (Hemiptera): mirid bugs (Miridae), stink bugs (Pentatomidae), jewel bugs (Scutelleridae), aphids (Aphididae), wax scales (Coccidae), mealy bugs (Pseudococcidae), cicadas (Auchenorrhyncha), whiteflies (Aleurodidae), leaf flies (Psyllidae) and others. Thrips (Thysanoptera). (8 lessons).
5. Beetles (Coleoptera): scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae), click beetles (Elateridae), sap beetles (Nitidulidae), leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae), weevils (Curculionidae), seed weevils (Apionidae), leaf-rolling weevils (Attelabidae), ground beetles (Carabidae), ladybirds (Coccinellidae), rove beetles (Staphylinidae) and others. (4 lessons).
6. Hymenopterans (Hymenoptera): sawflies (Tenthredinidae, Argidae), gall wasps (Cynipidae), wasps (Vespidae), bees (Apoidea), ants (Formicidae), ichneumon wasps (Ichneumonidae) and others. (4 lessons).
7. Flies (Diptera): crane flies (Tipulidae), gall midges (Cecidomyiidae), dark-winged fungus gnats (Sciaridae), fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae), leaf-miner flies (Agromyzidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), frit flies (Chloropidae), fruit flies (Drosophilidae), robber flies (Asilidae) and others. (4 lessons).
8. Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera): whites and yellows (Pieridae), hawk moths (Sphingidae), geometer moths (Geometridae), owlet moths (Noctuidae), grass moths (Pyralidae), leafroller moths (Tortricidae), eggars (Lasiocampidae), ermine moths (Yponomeutidae) and others. (4 lessons).
9. Ecology of invertebrates. (4 lessons).
10. Methods for studies of invertebrates and for monitoring of potentially harmful species. (4 lessons).
11. Preventive measures for controlling of potentially harmful species. (4 lessons).
12. Corrective methods and tools for controlling of potentially harmful species. (4 lessons).
13. Identification of invertebrates’ taxa by using identification keys. (4 lessons).

14. Seminar. (8 lessons).

Requirements for awarding credit points

1. All laboratory works accomplished.
2. Two written tests successfully accomplished (grade must be at least 4): test on systematics, diversity, anatomy and biology of invertebrates (1) and test on ecology and methods for studying and monitoring of invertebrates and on controlling measures and tools for potentially harmful species (2).
3. Essay and presentation prepared and successfully presented during the seminar (grade must be at least 4). Essay and presentation contains information on potentially harmful invertebrate species of one economically significant crop in author's home country.

The mean grade of the tests and essay is final grade of the course.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Student must prepare essay and oral presentation on potentially harmful species of one economically important crop grown in the student's home country. Topic and contents of each paper must be individually concerted with lecturer of the course.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

1. Assessment of laboratory works - passed/not passed.
2. During written tests, 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). Student earns one point for every correctly answered typical test question, but correct answer to second-type questions gives 1–5 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. The test is successfully accomplished if the student earns at least 26 points.
Grade of the written test depends on amount 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. Criteria for assessment of the essay and presentation: contents' correspondence with requirements (1), academic reliability of used sources of information (2), presentation's process and author's ability to answer questions and discuss issues considered in the essay (3), compliance of the essay design with regulations of Faculty of Agriculture on the completion and presentation of study papers (4). Criteria No 1 and No 2 make 80%, but criteria No 3 and No 4 make 20% of final grade of the essay.

Compulsory reading

Engemann J.G., Hegner R.W. (eds.) Invertebrate zoology. New York; London: Macmillan Publishing Co, 1981. 746 p.
Gillot C. (ed.) Entomology. Dordrecht: Springer, 2005. 831 p.

Further reading

Jervis M.A. (ed.) Insects as Natural Enemies: A Practical Perspective. Dordrecht: Springer, 2007. 748 p.
McKinlay R.G. (ed.) Vegetable Crop Pests. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 1992. 406 p.

Periodicals and other sources

Journal of Applied Ecology. [Online]. British Ecological Society. Online ISSN: 1365-2664. [Viewed 28.08.2019]. Available: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652664
Journal of Applied Entomology. [Online]. Blackwell Verlag GmbH. Online ISSN:1439-0418. [Viewed 28.08.2019]. Available: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14390418
Crop protection. [Online]. The Official Journal of the International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences. ISSN: 0261-2194. [Viewed 28.08.2019]. Available: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/crop-protection

Notes

Academic Bachelor Study Program “Sustainable Agriculture”.