The importance and diversity of insects. Factors for insect success.Principal evolutionary steps. External anatomy. Internal anatomy and physiology.
Insect systematic. Apterygota and Pterygota: paleoptera and neoptera.
Gullan & Cranston - Lineamenti di entomologia. Zanichelli.
Davies – Lineamenti di entomologia. Zanichelli.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
Knowledge on the basis of entomology: adaptations of different insect groups to the environment and on the relationship between morphology and physiology. Evolutionary relationships among various insect orders.
Fundamental importance of the role played by insects for the environment and for humans. Ecosystem services performed by insects.
Competence acquired:
Acquisition and use of a entomological terminology; basic tools for an autonomous classification of entomofauna. Knowledge on the forms and evolutionary processes leading the insect biodiversity.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
General entomology:.
Autonomous capacity of different insect orders; capacity of comparative observation of external morphology and capacity of insect dissection to observe the internal anatomy.
Prerequisites
Courses required: Zoology
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150 (6x25)
Hours reserved to private study and other individual formative activities: 102
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 48
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 6
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 6
Seminars (hours): 6
Stages: 0
Intermediate examinations: 0
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab:
The frequency to the lectures is strongly recommended to acquire personal practical experience.
Teaching tools:
Lectures are face-to-face (Power Point presentations), with much time dedicated to observation and dissection of insects.
Type of Assessment
Oral exam
Course program
General entomology:.
The importance and diversity of insects. Factors for insect success; insect radiation. The antiquity of insects and their phylogeny. Principal evolutionary steps.
External anatomy: the cuticle, colour production, segmentation and tagmosis. The head: mouthparts, cephalic sensory structures. The thorax: legs and wings. Evolution of wings. The abdomen: terminalia
Internal anatomy and physiology: Muscles and locomotion; The circulatory system, haemolymph and circulation; The tracheal system and gas exchange; the gut, digestion and nutrition; The excretory system and waste disposal. Reproductive organs, reproduction and insect development. The process and control of moulting.
Insect systematic. Apterygota: entognatha and ectognatha. Pterygota: paleoptera and neoptera. Selected diagnostic features (principal morphological, antomical chararcteristics), ecology and ethology of insect orders.
Importance of insects in human history. Entomoterapia. Forensic entomology. Entomophagy.Ecosystem services provided by insects. Notes on beekeeping. Insect pests. Alien insects. Pests in agriculture and biological control methods. Use of insects to calculate IBE and QBS.
Importance of insects in human history. Entomoterapia. Forensic entomology. Entomophagy.Ecosystem services provided by insects. Notes on beekeeping. Insect pests. Alien insects. Pests in agriculture and biological control methods. Use of insects to calculate IBE and QBS.
Importance of insects in human history. Entomoterapia. Forensic entomology. Entomophagy.Ecosystem services provided by insects. Notes on beekeeping. Insect pests. Alien insects. Pests in agriculture and biological control methods. Use of insects to calculate IBE and QBS.
Importance of insects in human history. Entomoterapia. Forensic entomology. Entomophagy.Ecosystem services provided by insects. Notes on beekeeping. Insect pests. Alien insects. Pests in agriculture and biological control methods. Use of insects to calculate IBE and QBS.