• General Entomology (ESPM 140) - 4 units - 2 one hour lectures and 2 three-hour labs per week; optional field trips for collecting insects will be offered according to demand. Spring semester.
Prerequisite: Introductory college level biology
Graded Exercises: The lecture has two midterm exams and final exam. The lab has 4 lab exams and final lab exam. An insect collection or reduced collection with an independent project is required as part of the lab.
Description : Introductory insect morphology, physiology, evolution and ecology. The lab emphasizes learning to identify important insect orders and families, with an exposure to morphology, behavior, and ecology.
• Field Entomology (ESPM 147) - 1 unit - 2 full day trips on separate weekends or both days during one weekend with a preparatory lab(s) before and a review lab after each trip. Students may have a choice of field trip locations and objectives, depending on class size and the participation of other instructors. Fall and Spring semesters.
Prerequisite : introductory biology and general entomology courses are very helpful but not required.
Graded Exercises : Participation in field trip activities and discussions and written trip reports will be graded.
Description : Observations of insect activity relative to habitat and methods of sampling to collect ecological data are demonstrated and practiced. The objectives of field trips will vary with semester and the participation of various instructors.
The Fall semester emphasizes some applied entomology, usually agricultural pest management or medical entomology.
The Spring semester emphasizes the study of insects in natural settings (sampling methods, insect-plant interactions) such as one of the numerous Natural Reserves maintained by the University.
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