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INSECT BIODIVERSITY and EVOLUTION Fall Semester, 2018 Entomology 5021

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INSECT BIODIVERSITY and EVOLUTION Fall Semester, 2018 Entomology 5021 INSECT BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION Fall Semester, 2018 Entomology 5021 COURSE DESCRIPTION: Evolution, classification, biodiversity, and identification of orders and families of adult insects. 4 credits TIME AND PLACE: Lecture: 10:40 AM—11:30 AM, Monday, Wednesday, Friday Lab: 11:45 AM—12:35 PM, Monday, Wednesday, Friday Optional Lab: 12:35-4:30 PM, every Friday to work on collections All lectures and labs will be in 485 Hodson Hall COMPONENTS: 1. Identification of adult insects to family through use of keys and diagnostic characters; natural history and biodiversity. 2. Review of hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships and classification of insect orders. 3. Techniques for collecting, preparing, and curating insects. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES: Identification quizzes (6) 180 points Collection 100 points TOTAL 280 points Each identification quiz will be worth 30 pts (180 total). Each exam will consist of 20 insect specimens to be identified to family (1.5 pts each), lab practical format (closed book). A properly labeled and prepared collection of insects representing a minimum of 90 different families will be required. Each different family will be worth 1 point. Series of individuals within each species and diversity of species will be encouraged, but these will not count towards total points. The remaining 10 points will be judged by the instructor as “style” points – proper labeling, proper mounting, quality of specimen, neatness of presentation, diversity, series of specimens, etc. Additional families accumulated above 90 will be counted as bonus points. Grading scale: A-F only. Grade determined by a simple percentage of total points earned divided by total points available (280). A 93-100%; A- 92-90%; B+ 87-89%; B 83-86%; B- 80- 82%; C+ 77-79%; C 73-76%; C- 70-72%; D+ 67-69%; D 63-66%; D- 60-62%; F 0-59% TEXT (required, but do not purchase): Grimaldi, D., and M.S. Engel. 2005. Evolution of Insects. Cambridge University Press. New York. 755 pp. SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS, AMONG OTHERS (available in class) Marshall, S.A. 2006. Insects: their natural history and diversity, with a photographic guide to insects of eastern North America. Firefly Books. Buffalo, New York. 718 pp. Borror, D.J., and R.E. White. 1970. A Field Guide to the Insects. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Co. New York. 404 pp INSTRUCTOR: Ralph Holzenthal, Professor, Entomology, 316 Hodson Hall, 651-494-2778; e-mail: [email protected] 1 WORLD WIDE WEB RESOURCES: Course Canvas Site https://canvas.umn.edu/courses/71992 The Tree of Life http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html Insects of Cedar Creek http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/insects.html BugGuide.Net http://bugguide.net University of Minnesota Insect Collection http://insectcollection.umn.edu/ Syllabus (Fall Semester, 2018) WEEK 1 Sep 5 Introduction to the course (exams, grading, format, etc.). Insect biodiversity — why are there so many species of insects? Importance of insect taxonomy and the value of systematics. Phylogeny, cladistics, classification. Introduction to species description & taxonomic literature. G&E, Chapter 1, pp 1-41; Chapter 15. 7 Special Lab — Basic terrestrial collecting techniques & demonstration of equipment; how to make a kill jar. WEEKEND — Collecting (weather permitting) WEEK 2 10 Special Lab — Pinning, labeling, other preservation/curation methods. 12 Special Lab — Pointing, double mounting, chemical dehydration. 14 Special Lab — Slide mounting, spreading Lepidoptera wings. WEEKEND — Collecting (weather permitting) WEEK 3 17 Evolution and classification of the Arthropoda. G&E, Chapter 3, pp 93-111. The Hexapoda and Elipura — Collembola, Protura, Diplura. G&E, Chapter 3, pp 111- 118. 19 The Insecta. G&E, Chapter 4. 21 The “apterygote” insects. G&E, Chapter 5. WEEK 4 24 The Pterygota, including the “Palaeoptera” and Neoptera. Ephemeroptera. G&E Chapter 6, pp 155-173. 26 Odonata. G&E, Chapter 6, pp 173-187. 28 1st IDENTIFICATION EXAM (apterygotes, “Palaeoptera”) WEEK 5 Oct 1 Introduction to the “Polyneoptera;” Plecoptera. G&E Chapter 7, pp 188-196. 3 Embioptera, Zoraptera. G&E Chapter 7, pp 196-202. 5 Orthoptera, sensu stricto, and included families. G&E Chapter 7, pp 202-211. WEEK 6 8 Phasmatodea, Dermaptera, Grylloblatodea, Mantophasmatodea. G&E Chapter 7, pp 211-227. 10 Dictyoptera (Blatodea, Isoptera, Mantodea). G&E Chapter 7, pp 227-260. 12 2nd IDENTIFICATION EXAM (Plecopterida, orthopteroids) WEEK 7 15 The Paraneoptera; Psocoptera, Phthiraptera, Thysanoptera. G&E Chapter 8, pp 261- 287. 17 Introduction to the Hemiptera; families of Hemiptera. G&E Chapter 8, pp 287-330. 19 Families of Hemiptera. 2 WEEK 8 22 Families of Hemiptera. 24 The major groups of Holometabola; Neuropterida — Rhaphidioptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera, sensu stricto. G&E Chapter 9. 26 3rd IDENTIFICATION EXAM (Paraneoptera) WEEK 9 29 Introduction to the Hymenoptera. G&E Chapter 11. 31 Families of Hymenoptera. Nov 2 Families of Hymenoptera WEEK 10 5 Panorpida — the Antliophora, the Siphonaptera, and families of Mecoptera. G&E Chapter 12, pp 468-491. 7 Families of Mecoptera. 9 4th IDENTIFICATION EXAM (Hymenoptera, Neuropterida, Mecoptera, Siphonaptera, Strepsiptera, Trichoptera) WEEK 11 12 Phylogeny of the Coleoptera and the “Strepsiptera Problem.” G&E Chapter 10. 14 Families of Coleoptera. 16 Families of Coleoptera WEEK 12 19 Families of Coleoptera. 21 Families of Coleoptera. 23 NO CLASS – Black Friday! WEEK 13 26 Introduction to the Diptera; evolution of the Diptera — the “Nematocera.” G&E Chapter 12, pp 491-514. 28 Families of Diptera 30 5th IDENTIFICATION EXAM (Coleoptera) WEEK 14 Dec 3 Evolution of the Diptera — the Brachycera. G&E Chapter 12, pp 514-547. 5 Families of Diptera 7 Amphiesmenoptera — Lepidoptera and Trichoptera. G&E Chapter 13, pp 548-606. WEEK 15 10 Evolution of the Lepidoptera and families of Lepidoptera. 12 Families of Lepidoptera FINAL (1:30pm-3:30pm, Thursday, December 20) 6th IDENTIFICATION EXAM (Diptera, Lepidoptera) COLLECTIONS DUE! 3 1. The instructor will specify the conditions, if any, under which an "Incomplete" will be assigned instead of a grade. The instructor may set dates and conditions for makeup work, if it is to be allowed. "I" grades will automatically lapse to "F"s at the end of the next semester of a student's registration, unless an instructor agrees to submit a change of grade for a student during a subsequent semester to maintain the grade as an "I". 2. Inquiries regarding any changes of grade should be directed to the instructor of the course; you may wish to contact the Student Conflict Resolution Center (SCRC) in 211 Eddy Hall (624-7272) for assistance. 3. Students are responsible for all information disseminated in class and all course requirements, including deadlines and examinations. The instructor will specify whether class attendance is required or counted in the grade for a class. 4. A student is not permitted to submit extra work in an attempt to raise his or her grade, unless the instructor has specified at the outset of the class such opportunities will be afforded to all students. 5. Scholastic misconduct is broadly defined as "any act that violates the right of another student in academic work or that involves misrepresentation of your own work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, (but is not necessarily limited to): cheating on assignments or examinations; plagiarizing, which means misrepresenting as your own work any part of work done by another; submitting the same paper, or substantially similar papers, to meet the requirements of more than one course without the approval and consent of all instructors concerned; depriving another student of necessary course materials; or interfering with another student's work." Note: plagiarism detection software will be used at the discretion of the instructors. 6. Students with disabilities that affect their ability to participate fully in class or to meet all course requirements are encouraged to bring this to the attention of the instructor so that appropriate accommodations can be arranged. Further information is available from Disabilities Services (230 McNamara). 7. University policy prohibits sexual harassment as defined in the December 1998 policy statement, available at the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action. Questions or concerns about sexual harassment should be directed to this office, located in 419 Morrill Hall. 4 .
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