Biology 316
General Entomology
Fall 2014
Instructor:
Dr. Dana L. Price, HS 234, Phone: 410-543-6498; Email: dlprice@salisbury.edu
Office hours: T 12:00-3:00; W 11:00-12:00
Text: The Insects: An Outline of Entomology, by Gullen and Cranston, 4th ed., 2010
Meeting times: Lecture MW 3:45-5:00; Lab M 1:00-3:30
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August
25
Introduction to Insects
Insect Morphology
Ch. 1 (1 – 9) & Ch. 17
Ch. 2
Insect Collection Methods
September
01
Insect Diversity (Apterygota)
Ch. 7 & Taxabox 1- 5
No Lab
08
Insect Diversity (Pterygota)
Hemimetabolous Insects
Ch. 7 &
Taxabox 6 - 20
Collecting Field Trip:
Pemberton Park
15
Insect Diversity
Holometabolous Insects
Ch. 7 &
Taxabox 21 - 29
Collecting Field Trip:
Hazel Discovery Center
22
Insect Diversity
Holometabolous Insects
Ch. 7 &
Taxabox 21 - 29
Insect Identification
29
Organ Systems
Exam I
Ch. 3 (60-63 & 67-84)
Insect Identification
06
Reproduction
Insect Development
Ch. 4 (84-89) & Ch. 5
Ch. 6 (151-170)
**Field Trip
Social Insects
13
Insect Flight
Sensory Systems
Ch.3 (58-60) & Ch.8 (231-234) Lab Exam 1
Ch. 4
Internal Anatomy and
Insect Metamorphosis
20
Social Insects
Ch. 12
External Anatomy
Mini Collection Due
27
Predators
Insect behavior and defense
EXAM II
Ch. 13
Ch. 14
Work on Collection
03
Med. and Vet Entomology
Ch. 15
Lab Exam 2
10
Integrated Pest Management
Insect and the Environment
Ch. 16
Ch. 6 (170-183)
Presentations
Work on Collection
17
**Dean Olmstead Visit
Insects and Plants
Ch. 11
**Field Trip to MD
Dept. of Agriculture
24
Forensic Entomology
COLLECTION DUE
Ch. 9 (251) &
Ch. 15 (404-405)
Presentations
Thanksgiving break
01
Beneficial Insects
Insect Conservation
Ch. 1 (9 - 20)
Presentations
October
November
December
Final Lecture Exam – Tuesday December 10th , 1:30-4:00
**Note: This is to be considered a tentative schedule, subject to change as the semester proceeds.
Biology 316 – STATEMENT OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Optional Textbooks:
Triplehorn, C.A. and N.F. Johnson. 2005. Borror and Delong’s Introduction to the Study of Insects 7th
Edition. Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.
Borror, D.J., R.E. White, and R.T. Peterson. 1998. A Field Guide to Insects. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt;
2nd Edition.
Course Objectives:
The primary objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the study of the insects.
The following will be expected of each student:
1. Knowledge of the evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships of the major insect groups.
2. A thorough understanding of entomology as a field of study, including the major subdivisions within
the discipline.
3. The ability to identify various insect orders and be able to give natural history information about
each.
4. The ability to properly curate an insect collection for museum purposes.
Examinations:
There will be 2 lecture exams given during the course worth 100 points each. The final lecture exam will
emphasize the last 1/3 of the semester and will also be worth 100 points. Tests questions may be derived
from the lecture, textbook, and laboratory topics. Therefore, each student is expected to have an integrative
knowledge of all course material. Examinations will likely include some essay questions, which will be
graded according to style, grammar, and content and will be considered part of the University’s Writing
Across The Curriculum requirement.
Laboratory:
The laboratory is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of some important entomological
topics. Lab attendance is mandatory. There will be 2 Lab Exams each worth 100 points. In addition, each
student is required to make an insect collection consisting of a minimum of 12 different Orders and 40
different Families of adult insects. Students may elect to identify some difficult groups to Order only, but
these may not be applied towards the 40 family minimum. This collection is worth 100 points and all
specimens must be properly mounted on insect pins/points, or in alcohol and properly labeled with accurate
data. The overall presentation, neatness, mounting, labeling, as well as accurate identifications, will all be
evaluated during the grading of each student’s collection. Students that have ethical objections to making a
collection should see the professor ahead of time.
Presentations:
Presentations will be worth 100 points of your final grade. During the first couple of weeks you will need to
pick an insect that you want to talk about. Your Presentation should be focused on the behavior of the insect.
It should be 10 minutes long and you will send me your powerpoint slides. You will also need to provide the
references that you used at the end of the presentation. At least one should be a journal article. Your
presentation will be focused on style, and specific content. You will be docked points for not being
prepared, and this includes practicing the presentation in advance.
Final Grade:
The lecture exams, including the final exam are worth a total of 300 points. The laboratory exams are worth
200 points and the collection is worth 100 points. Therefore, you may determine your final grade for the
course as follows:
A
B
C
D
F
630 - 700 points (90-100%)
560 - 629 points (80-89.9%)
490 - 559 points (70-79.9%)
420 - 489 points (60-69.9%)
419 and below (Less than 60%)
Writing Across the Curriculum:
At the University Writing Center at Herb’s Place (Guerrieri University Center, Room 206), trained
consultants are ready to help you at any stage of the writing process. It is often helpful for writers to share
their work with an attentive reader, and consultations allow writers to test and refine their ideas before
having to hand papers in or to release documents to the public. In addition to the important writing
instruction that occurs in the classroom and during teachers’ office hours, the center offers another site for
learning about writing. All undergraduates are encouraged to make use of this important student
service. For more information about the writing center’s hours and policies, visit the writing center or its
website at http://www.salisbury.edu/uwc/.
Attendance:
Regularly attending lectures and labs is highly recommended. You will be given a free pass for only one
lab session, due to illness or some unforeseen emergency. Any additional absences from lab will result in
a 10-point reduction from your grade. There will be no make up exams for lab. Regular attendance and
class participation will be taken into consideration when determining borderline grade decisions. Students
should recognize that some of the lecture and lab material presented during the course may not be found in
the text or lab handouts. Regardless, each student will be responsible for all material covered during this
course.
Make-ups:
Lecture exams can only be made up for emergencies due to illness or another appropriate reason. In the
event that you miss an exam, you must notify your instructor as soon as possible so that she is aware of your
problem. Make-up exams will be given only for real emergencies at a time and place mutually suitable for
both instructor and student. Those individuals missing an exam without an appropriate excuse will receive a
grade of zero (0) for that exam.
Academic-Policy:
The official policy on academic honesty as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog will be strictly followed.
Assistance:
You are provided with my office hours, phone number, etc. Please see me at the first sign of any difficulties.
I want this course to be an enjoyable learning experience and will try to help you in any way I can.