ENT 5021, Insect Taxonomy & Phylogeny
Spring Semester 2008
Instructors:
Dr. Ralph W. Holzenthal (holze001@umn.edu)
Desiree Robertson (robe0494@umn.edu)
Graduate Teaching Assistant:
Mary Rogers (roge0168@umn.edu)
Welcome to the exploration of insect biodiversity!
Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on Earth with almost 1 million described species. Millions more remain to be described, especially in tropical regions of the world. Insects come in a remarkable array of sizes, colors, and shapes. Taxonomists use this morphological complexity as the primary means of identifying insects, but also for inferring evolutionary relationships. In this course, we will learn how to identify insects, explore methods of collection and curation of insects, discuss their evolutionary relationships, see how insects fit in the natural world, and discuss exciting new efforts to inventory and conserve the remarkable diversity of insects.
I will use this web site to post information needed during the course, including class handouts and readings. You should check this site frequently to keep up to date, although I will alert you to changes or updates in class. Information will be posted as PDF files (accessible with Adobe Acrobat Reader®) or as hyperlinks to other web sites.
Resources for Week 1, January 23, 25 - Introduction & background; insects & biodiversity; systematics & taxonomy.
Resources for Week 2, January 28, 30, February 1 - Evolution of arthropods; Hexapoda, Insecta, & the "Apterygota."
Resources for Week 3, February 4, 6, 8 - The winged insects, including the "Palaeoptera" and the Neoptera.
Resources for Week 4, February 11, 13, 15 - The major groups of Neoptera and the "Polyneoptera."
Resources for Week 5, February 18, 20, 22 - "Polyneopteran" order overviews (continued).
Resources for Week 6, February 25, 27, 29 - Paraneoptera - the hemipteroid orders.
Resources for Week 7, March 3, 5, 7 - Introduction to the Holometabola and the Neuropterida.
Resources for Week 8, March 10, 12, 14 - The Hymenoptera.
Week 9, March 17, 19, 21 - Spring Break.
Resources for Week 10, March 24, 26, 28 - The Panorpida.
Resources for Week 11, March 31, April 2, 4 - Coleoptera and the "Strepsiptera Problem."
Resources for Week 12, April 7, 9, 11 - Coleoptera (continued).
Resources for Week 13, April 14, 16, 18 - Introduction to the Diptera - Nematocera.
Resources for Week 14, April 21, 23, 25 - Diptera - Brachycera.
Resources for Week 15, April 28, 30, May 2 - The Amphiesmenoptera - Trichoptera and Lepidoptera.
Resources for Week 16, May 5, 7, 9 - Lepidoptera (continued).