Graduate Courses

16:370:501 (Fall) Case Studies in Vector Borne Diseases (4) (PDF)
Lec. 2 hrs. Prerequisite: 01:119:101-102 or equivalent.
Discussions of the basic ecological and evolutionary principles underlying the current upsurge of infectious diseases, especially those transmitted by insect vectors (such as malaria, Lyme disease and West Nile virus).

16:370:502 (Fall in odd-numbered years) Pollination Ecology (3)
Lec. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: General Ecology or permission of the instructor.
This course explores pollination ecology from the perspectives of both insects and plants, using this field of research as a tool for understanding basic concepts in ecology, entomology, and evolution. Topics covered include plant breeding systems, pollinator natural history, mutualism, indirect interactions, plant-pollinator networks, agricultural pollination, ecosystem services and economic valuation, pollinator decline and conservation, and methods for research. Classes alternate lectures with discussion of readings from the primary scientific literature. All assigned readings are provided as pdfs. 10-page research paper and presentation.

11:370:503 (Spring) Medical & Veterinary Entomology (3)
Lec. 2 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisites: 01:119:101-102.
Insects and other arthropods in relation to human and animal annoyance and disease.

16:370:504 (Spring) Mosquito Biology (3)
Lec. 2 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
The biology, physiology, and behavior of mosquitoes on a worldwide basis; emphasis on current techniques used in field and laboratory investigations.

16:370:505 (Spring) Advanced Aquatic Entomology (4)
Advanced Aquatic Entomology provides an overview of generic identification for all aquatic insect groups, including species level identification for orders most commonly used in environmental monitoring and in the determination of ecological values.

16:370:506 (Spring) Integrated Pest Management (4)
Prerequisite: A background in entomology or other pest sciences and ecology. Recommended: Statistics Students who lack background in these areas must obtain permission from the instructor.
A systems approach for measuring major ecological processes, such as development, mortality, and dispersal, presented as a means for evaluating pheromones, biocontrol, and cultural and pesticidal strategies in major crops.

16:370:507 (Fall) Biological Control of Insect Pests (3)
Prerequisite: General ecology.
The concepts and methods involved in the control of harmful insects and mites through the use of parasites, predators, and pathogens.

16:370:508 (Fall) Urban Entomology (3)
Lec. 3 hrs.
Learn about common insects and other arthropods in urban environments. This course will introduce their biology, ecology, health risks, and management strategies. To learn more, click here.

16:370:511 (Fall & Spring) Principles of Systematics (3)
Lec. 2 hrs., lab. 3 hrs.
Taxonomy, species concepts, methods of contemporary systematic research, and zoogeographic analysis.

16:370:515 (Fall) Insect Structure and Function I (4)
Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: 11:370:381 or equivalent. Required core course.
Physiology and functional morphology, including response systems, sensory systems, energy utilization, transport and secretion, and renewal systems.

16:370:516 (Spring) Insect Structure and Function II (4)
Lec. 3 hrs, Lab 3 hrs. Prerequisites: 11:370:381 Insect Biology or equivalent, 11:115:403, 404 General Biochemistry or equivalent, consent of instructor. Required core course for Entomology graduate students.
Physiology and biochemistry of insect systems including maintenance, circulation, energy metabolism, homeostasis, sensory systems, communication systems, and defense systems.

16:370:517 (Fall) Insect-Plant Biochemical Interactions (3)
Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor; Biology: 01:119:115&116, Chemistry: 01:160: 307 or 308, Biochemistry: 01:694:301 or equivalents.
Biochemistry of interactions between herbivorous insects and their host plants, coevolutionary adaptations to toxic phytochemicals and pollination signalling. This includes descriptive-only chemistry of plant compounds, the metabolic and physiological defense mechanisms of insects, and the mode of action and metabolic fate of phytochemicals.

16:370:519 (Fall) Insect Behavior (3)
Prerequisite: Background in entomology and/or animal behavior.
Insect behavior from a functional standpoint: stimuli and responses; adaptive significance and evolutionary context; underlying physiological mechanisms.

16:370:520 (Fall) Insect Field Ecology and Natural History (3)
Prerequisite: General Ecology.
Experiential learning in field ecology to highlight insect dynamics, diversity and adaptations in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, with opportunities to augment personal collections

16:370:522 (Spring) Toxicology of Pesticides (3)
Lec. 2 hrs. Prerequisite: 11:119:101-102, one term of organic chemistry and consent of instructor.
The need for developing and using synthetic pesticides; detrimental environmental effects; health hazards; evolution of pesticide resistance; role of synthetic pesticides in IPM programs; descriptive chemistry of pesticides; metabolism of pesticides; mode of action of pesticides.

16:370:524 (Fall) Insect Taxonomy (4)
Lec. 2 hrs., lab. 6 hrs. Required core course.
Insect systematics, identification, natural history, and evolution. Emphasizes North American insects at the family level.

16:370:525:01 (Spring) Insect Ecology (3) (PDF)
Prerequisite: General ecology.
This course uses the dominant form of life on earth, the insects, as a means for exploring basic concepts in ecology and evolution. Topics include insect diversity and biogeography; herbivores and herbivory; mutualism; natural enemies; biodiversity and ecosystem function; the history of human-insect interactions; and insect conservation. (Crosslisted with 16:215:599).

16:370:601,602 Special Topics in Entomology (BA,BA)
Each term, faulty members arrange a series of topics in specialized fields of entomology.