BIOL 318 Entomology with Lab

This course will include a survey of insect orders and will introduce students to their structure, diversity, evolution, and ecology. Insects constitute a remarkably diverse and successful lineage of animals that has persisted on Earth for hundreds of millions of years. Our evolution and survival are truly interwoven with theirs since they directly affect our health, food security, and economy. Their ecologies are fascinating, they provide us with absolutely essential ecosystem services, and they make incredibly useful models for understanding various biological processes. Labs will focus on insect collection and identification, with the end-goal of building an insect collection by the end of the course. As such, students will spend considerable time in the field observing and collecting insects. Occasional weekend field trips are required.