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LECTURE 1: COURSE OVERVIEW INTRODUCTION TO INSECTS
APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY (ENT 322) AUGUST 26, 2019
Arash Rashed Associate Professor of Entomology [email protected]
Arash Rashed Associate Professor Ecological Entomology and Pest Management
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Room 236
Office hours: By appointment
Contact: [email protected]
Website: https://idahoipmlaboratory.org/
Edwin Lewis Professor Behavioral Ecology
Sanford Eigenbrode Marek Borowiec Distinguished Professor Assistant Professor Chemical Ecology Insect Systematics
Glen Stevens Subodh Adhikari Research Associate Post doctoral Scientist Ecological Entomology Ecological Entomology
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GENERAL and APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY (ENT 322) 4 credits: Lecture (3) + Laboratory (1)
Lectures: 8:30-9:20 AM; Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Labs : Wednesday 12:30-3:30 PM
Teaching Assistants: • Anna Rodriguez, PhD Student, Biological Sciences • Jessica Kalin, PhD Student, EPPN
Overview: • Introductory Entomology: Importance of insects, diversity, structure and function • Insect orders: Emphasis on economically/socially important groups • Evolution and Ecology: Evolution of behavioral and morphological traits Ecological interactions- roles in human ecosystem Biodiversity and conservation Climate change • Integrated Pest Management
Entomology (Entomon + logy): Study of insects, to learn knowledge of their life and function in nature
Science: Study of Universe Biology: Study of life Zoology: Study of animals Entomology=
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ECOLOGY: Study of interactions/relations among biotic and abiotic environment - Ecosystem functions - Impact of climate change EVOLUTION: Inheritable change through time resulting in new traits - Traits: behavioral, morphological, life history - Biodiversity COEVOLUTION: When ecologically interdependent species influence each other’s evolution resulting in successive changes that influence their interactions
Text ARASHRASHED259 to 22333 then choose
INSECTS CAN BE CHARACTERIZED BY?
A) NUMBER OF BODY REGIONS/SEGMENTS B) NUMBER OF LEGS C) ANTENNAE D) WINGS E) ALL OF THE ABOVE
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Wolf spider Hobo spider Garden spider
Crab spider Yellow Sac spider Black widow Brown recluse
Crustacea Chelicerata Myriapoda Hexapoda
Malacostrasa Arachnida Symphyla Chilopoda Diplopoda Insecta
2 main body regions
Head/thorax + abdomen Head+ thorax/abdomen
Class: Insecta • Body is divided into three distinct regions: Ø Head Ø Thorax Ø Abdomen • Three pairs of legs and 2 pairs of wings • Air tubes (breathing system)
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Insect body structure Ø Segmented body Ø Exoskeleton Ø Jointed appendages in some segments Ø Symmetrical body Ø Ventral nerve cord Ø Dorsal heart and open circulatory system
WHY INSECTS ARE SO IMPORTANT?
§Insects represent one of the most diverse groups of organisms §They have a significant effect on ecosystem function §They have a significant influence on human lives
Insect abundance • Estimated ratio of insects to humans is 200 million to 1!
Ecological success?
• Insect Evolutionary age- approximately 400 million years old Rhyniognatha hirsti
• Wide geographical distribution
• In the United States, 400 pounds of insect biomass to 14 pounds of human flesh and bone per acre
• Only ants in Amazon out weight the total biomass of all vertebrates by 4 to 1!
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Why insects are so successful through the course of evolution? Body design • Exoskeleton • Small size • Locomotion/flight
Biology and Ecology • Reproductive capacity • Metamorphosis • Specialized larvae
Insect success: Body structure
Cuticle/Exoskeleton: Strong but light-weight, water-proof, self-repairing external “shell”
(1) Protective exoskeleton (2) Efficient muscle attachment
Small size: “small” animals always relatively more powerful than “big” animals (proportionally more muscle mass per unit body-mass)
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Insect success: Body structure
Locomotion/flight: Highly organized/effective sensory neuro/loco-motor system
• Diverse sensory organs • Central nervous system • Legs/wings
Recognize/integrate/respond to status of external environment & internal physiology
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Insect success: Reproductive capacity
Sexual reproduction Reproductive capability: Asexual reproduction
Ø High fecundity (many offspring) Ø Short generational times
Sexual reproduction
Photo M. Stensmyr
Insect success: Reproductive capacity
Asexual reproduction (Parthenogenesis)
INRA Paul Starosta
Insect success: Biology and ecology
Metamorphosis Specialized larval life-stage (in evolutionarily advanced insects):
"big-four" insect Orders (species diversity) • Flies • Butterflies/moths • Beetles • Bees/wasps/ants
ALL with larval stages
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Insect success: Biology and ecology
Metamorphosis Specialized larval life-stage (in evolutionarily advanced insects):
• Separate larval:adult diets = minimize competition among life stages
• Differential mobility & dispersal = enhanced colonization & dispersal
• Specialized diapausing life-stage = increase survival during environmental extremes
polyphemus moth (larva)
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polyphemus moth (adult female)
polyphemus moth (adult MALE)
polyphemus moth (cocoon)
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polyphemus moth (pupa w/in cocoon)
Ecological impact: Remove all other animals (especially humans), ecosystem continues to function ü Herbivore insects: Autotrophs’ biomass into animal biomass ü Insects are primary food source for carnivores ü Saprophagous and herbivorous insects are key in decomposition and energy recycling ü “They are their own enemies”- Price et al. Insect Ecology ? We do not have to agree with the statement but can be discussed. ü Strong impact on plant population:
Ø Pollination
Ø Consumption
Ø Pathogen spread
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