Entomology 305 Evolution of Insect Structure

Instructor Dr. John Oswald Dr. John Oswald Professor, Department of Entomology Professor, Department of Entomology Curator, Texas A&M University Insect Collection Curator, Texas A&M University Insect Collection Contact Information: (see syllabus) Contact Information: (see syllabus) best to reach me by best to reach me by Office: rm. 216A (first door on left inside the insect collection) Office: rm. 216A (first door on left inside the insect collection) Office Hours: open door policy Office Hours: open door policy but please, not in hour right before lecture but please, not in hour right before lecture

Teaching Assistant (TA) Ms. Ana DalMolin Ms. Ana DalMolin Ph.D. candidate in systematic entomology Ph.D. candidate in systematic entomology Contact Information: (see syllabus) Contact Information: (see syllabus) Office: rm. 310 (also check 311) Office: rm. 310 (also check 311) Office Hours: R 9:00 – 10:30 (in 310) Office Hours: R 9:00 – 10:30 (in 310)

Lecture and Lab Lecture: Lecture: MW 11:30 – 12:20 (103 Heep Center) Lecture: Lecture: MW 11:30 – 12:20 (103 Heep Center) Lab (Section 501): M 1:50 – 4:40 (210 Heep Center) Lab (Section 501): M 1:50 – 4:40 (210 Heep Center) Lab (Section 502): M 5:00 – 7:50 (210 Heep Center) Lab (Section 502): M 5:00 – 7:50 (210 Heep Center) Lab WILL meet today!

Textbook and Lab Manual Textbook: Textbook: “Triplehorn, C. A.; Johnson, N. F An Introduction to the Study of Insects. 7 th Edition.” “Triplehorn, C. A.; Johnson, N. F An Introduction to the Study of Insects. 7 th Edition.” Technically optional, strongly recommended Technically optional, strongly recommended Cited in many of the labs Cited in many of the labs Good background information Good background information Can use for Ento 301 in Spring Can use for Ento 301 in Spring Lab Manual: Lab Manual: “Ento 305 Lab Manual” “Ento 305 Lab Manual” Purchase at: Purchase at: Aggieland Bookstore (on Texas Ave.) Aggieland Bookstore (on Texas Ave.) Barnes & Noble (in the MSC) Barnes & Noble (in the MSC) Lab Manual needed in lab today Lab Manual needed in lab today Option for today only… print Lab 1 from the Ento 305 website Option for today only… print Lab 1 from the Ento 305 website

Website and Facebook Group Website: Website: URL in syllabus URL in syllabus syllabus (PDF copy) syllabus (PDF copy) username: ento305 username: ento305 password: morphology password: morphology lec & lab PowerPoint files lec & lab PowerPoint files prerequisites prerequisites Facebook Group: Facebook Group: “TAMU ENTO 305” “TAMU ENTO 305” Send request to join, Ana will add you Send request to join, Ana will add you Ana will oversee group Ana will oversee group

Grading System Grading Point System points points % % Grading Point System points points % % Lecture Exams 100 points each) Lecture Final (comprehensive) Lab Quizzes 5 points each) 50 7 Exams 75 points each) Lab Final (comprehensive) = = = =100 Letter grades based on system Letter grades based on system Reserve right to lower percentages (i.e., “curve”) Reserve right to lower percentages (i.e., “curve”) Will be some extra credit opportunities Will be some extra credit opportunities

Classroom Etiquette Be on time and ready to start for lecture and lab Be on time and ready to start for lecture and lab If late, enter quietly and get seated quickly If late, enter quietly and get seated quickly Please, no cell phones, texting, web browsing, etc., Please, no cell phones, texting, web browsing, etc., etc., during class In lec/lab, use laptops, tablets, etc., only for class-related In lec/lab, use laptops, tablets, etc., only for class-related tasks (note taking, lab assignments, etc.) I expect all students to attend all lectures and labs I expect all students to attend all lectures and labs Attendance matters, particularly for borderline grades Attendance matters, particularly for borderline grades Feel free to ask questions during lecture and lab Feel free to ask questions during lecture and lab

Major Topics Covered evolutionary concepts, terms of location and direction evolutionary concepts, terms of location and direction insect integument insect integument insect head (cranium, mouthparts, antennae, …) insect head (cranium, mouthparts, antennae, …) insect thorax (soma, legs, wings, musculature, …) insect thorax (soma, legs, wings, musculature, …) insect abdomen (soma, gut, terminalia, …) insect abdomen (soma, gut, terminalia, …) molting, development, immatures (if time) molting, development, immatures (if time) non-insect arthropods non-insect arthropods

Lecture & Lab Schedules schedules in syllabus schedules in syllabus 25 lectures, 12 labs 25 lectures, 12 labs focus on external insect anatomy/morphology, some internal focus on external insect anatomy/morphology, some internal lecture and lab complementary lecture and lab complementary intentional overlap & repetition to aid learning material intentional overlap & repetition to aid learning material

Objectives and Goals Learn fundamentals of insect anatomy Learn fundamentals of insect anatomy Develop a vocabulary for insect anatomy and morphology Develop a vocabulary for insect anatomy and morphology communicate about insects communicate about insects use to read literature use to read literature use identification keys (for Ento 301) use identification keys (for Ento 301) Understand insect form and function Understand insect form and function some similarities and differences among different groups some similarities and differences among different groups adaptations to different biological conditions adaptations to different biological conditions different morphological solutions to similar “problems” different morphological solutions to similar “problems” Predict function based on form Predict function based on form

FINIS