COURSE CODE: AGR 3102

COURSE TITLE: Agricultural Entomology

CREDITS: 4

Exemptions None

Pre-requisites: None

Course Description

This course is tailored for upper level undergraduate agriculture students who are expected to have a
strong background in general biology, life sciences, and natural resources. It focuses on the relationships
between insects and man – both beneficial and harmful. The course examines insect phylogeny, the
distinguishing characters of orders and a survey of orders of economically important insects in Guyana.
The course also examines the distinguishing characteristics of arthropods and insects and their external
and internal anatomy. Focus is also placed on insecticides, their formulations, classification and mode of
action. The course encompasses a large practical content with respect to the anatomy of insects as well
as the safe and effective use of insecticides.

Student Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain how insects affect human and animal health and agricultural production.
2. Propose strategies to manipulate populations of beneficial and destructive species in urban
habitats and in production agro-ecosystems.
3. Identify insects, other arthropods and describe their relationship with humans.
4. Recognize, evaluate, and articulate the advantages and disadvantages of different insect
management strategies.
5. Demonstrate taxonomic understanding and be able to categorize insects based on basic
ecological, behavioural, morphological, physiological, or developmental attributes.

Course Content

The role of Entomology in Agriculture. Taxonomical survey of the most common insect orders. External
and internal anatomy of insects. Insect Development and Life Cycles. Roles of insects in ecosystems.
Beneficial insects and insect as pests. General principles of insect population management. Insecticides
their classification and use.
 COURSE SCHEDULE

WEE
CONTENTS
K

Introduction and Overview of the Entomology Course:

General introduction
Animal Classification and Linnean nomenclature
Overview:
1 Insect taxonomy
Insect diversity
Role and function of insects in ecosystems
Beneficial aspects
Insects as pests and disease vectors

Insect Systematics - An Overview

Fossil history
2 Notions of biogeography
Taxonomical survey of the most common insect orders
Practical: Identifying common insect orders using taxonomic keys

External Anatomy:
General Organization
Cuticle
2
Head - Eyes, mouthparts, antennae
Thorax - Legs, wings, pro-legs
Field Exercise - Sampling, trapping
External Anatomy:
3 Abdomen
Practical External anatomy - antennae, legs and wings
Internal Anatomy:
Muscle and locomotion
3 The Nervous system
The Endocrine system
The Reproductive system
Internal Anatomy:
The Circulatory System
The Respiratory system
4
The Digestive system
The Excretory system
EXAMINATION #1
Insect Development and Life Cycles:
General aspects of Life history
5
Insect eggs and embryonic development
Types of metamorphoses

1
 COURSE SCHEDULE

WEE
CONTENTS
K

Field Trip to Insect Museum (Biodiversity Centre)

Larval and Pupal types

6 The moulting process
Control of moulting

Insect Diversity and Roles in Ecosystems:

Insect diversity- an overview
6
The search for global estimates
Practical Dissection of Cockroach, drawing the digestive system

Roles of insects in ecosystems and food webs:

Adaptations, ecology, behavior & taxonomy
Soil insects
Aquatic insects
7 Insect-plant interactions
Social insects
Practical: Examining immature stages of insects; solitary eggs, egg masses, different types of
larvae and pupae
EXAMINATION #2

Beneficial and Harmful Insects:

Pollinating agents
Honey bees
Insects as seed dispersals
8
Insect as food
Predators and parasitoids of insect pests
Insects as bio-control agents of weeds
Field Exercise
Insect pests:
Overview
9 Medical entomology
Forensic entomology
The major insect families responsible for damage to crops
Pests of Crops and Timber Trees:
Disease transmission by herbivores
9 Timber trees- seed predators, sap and leaf insects
Pests of stored products
Field Trip to vegetable farms
The leaf-cutting ants of Guyana
10
General Principles of Insect Population Management

2
 COURSE SCHEDULE

WEE
CONTENTS
K
Why insect become pests?
Pest Management - Overview of Strategies
Field Exercise

International Hazard classification of insecticides

11
Insecticides: formulation; types; classification; International Coding system; safety

International code of conduct regarding the use of pesticides.

12 Pest Status
Integrated Pest Management

Practical: Calculations of insecticide concentration; Calibration of a sprayer and insect

13 bioassays
Presentations of Research Assignments

14 Revision

Final Examination
15
Laboratory Examination

Methods of Teaching

Teaching and learning will be facilitated in through lectures, practical sessions and field visits as follows:

• Presentational and Interactive Teaching and Learning:

o Interactive Lectures
• Interactive Learning:
o Classroom and Group Discussions and Presentations/Audio-visual Presentation
• Active and Experiential Learning:
o Practical Sessions and Group Assignment
• Active and Experiential Learning:
o Field Trips
• Moodle will be used throughout the semester to post notes, and course related materials and
facilitate group work.

Methods of Assessment

Examination #1 10 marks
Examination #2 10 marks
Reports on Practical Sessions 10 marks

3
Reports on Field Work 10 marks
Group Assignment 20 marks
Final Examination 40 marks
TOTAL 100 marks

Required Reading

FAO. (2016). AGP - Integrated Pest Management. Retrieved from

http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/pests/ipm/en/

Gullan, P.J. & Cranston, P.S. 2014. The Insect: An Outline of Entomology. 5th Ed. John Wiley & Sons Ltd,
UK. ISBN-13: 978-1118846155

Roger G. Bland & H. E. Jaques. 2010. How to Know the Insects 3rd Edition. ISBN-13: 978-
1577666844Norman, J.F. & Triplehorn, A.C. (2005). Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study
of Insects 7th ed.

Cengage Learning.

Pedigo, L.P & Rice, E.M. (2009). Entomology and Pest Management 6th ed. USA: Waveland Press Inc.

Sallam, M. (1999). Edible Insects - Future prospects for food and feed security. Nairobi, Kenya,

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Retrieved from

http://www.fao.org/in-action/inpho/crop-compendium/pests/en/

Walters, M. (2011). The Illustrated World Encyclopedia of Insects: A Natural History and Identification

Guide to Beetles, Flies, Bees Wasps, Springtails, Mayflies, Crickets, Bugs, Grasshoppers, Fleas,

Spider and More. London UK: Anness Publishing.

4
5