Academic Year 2017/2018
- Docente: Silvia Ghesini
- Credits: 4
- SSD: BIO/05
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Natural Sciences (cod. 8016)
Course contents
Morphology, anatomy and physiology
Head: mouthparts, eyes, ocelli, antennae
Thorax: prothorax, mesothorax, metathorax, legs, wings
Abdomen and its appendages
Integument. Respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive, endocrine, excretory and reproductive systems
Life cycle and ecology
Postembryonic development, moult and metamorphosis. Apterygota, Exopterygota, Endopterygota
Feeding. Insects and plants. Insects and other animals. Insects and man.
Systematics
Entognatha: Protura, Diplura, Collembola. Insecta: Archaeognatha, Zygentoma, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Orthoptera, Phasmatodea, Embioptera, Plecoptera, Dermaptera, Mantodea, Blattodea, Isoptera, Psocoptera, Phthiraptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Neuroptera, Trichoptera, Lepidoptera, Mecoptera, Siphonaptera, Diptera.
Conservation
Main threats. Protection and management criteria. Examples of insect species of conservation interest
Readings/Bibliography
Chinery M. (2012) Insects of Britain and Western Europe. A&C Black.
Teaching methods
Lectures, observations of live insects and preserved specimens, field trips.
Assessment methods
Written test (15 questions needing short answers) followed by an oral test based on a discussion of the written test and on the identification of insects (photos or specimens).
Teaching tools
PC, slide projector, preserved insects
Office hours
See the website of Silvia Ghesini