Lecture Schedule (tentative)*
| Week 1 | Introduction to systematic entomology. Insect biodiversity [papers]. |
| Week 2 | Biotic surveys. Nomenclature [papers]. |
| Week 3 | Phylogenetic systematics [papers]. |
| Week 4 | Biogeography & Quaternary environments (papers). PHYLOGENY ASSIGNMENT DUE |
| Week 5 | LECTURE EXAM #1 (take home). Introduction to Arthropoda. Apterygotes [Ch. 1]. |
| Week 6 | Aerodynamics & origin of wings. Palaeoptera [papers, Ch. 2] |
| Week 7 | Introduction to neopterous insects. Orthopteroid orders [Chs. 3–5] |
| Week 8 | Introduction to Hemipteroid orders [Ch. 6]. |
| Week 9 | Order Hemiptera [Ch. 6]. |
| Week 10 | LECTURE EXAM #2. Introduction to Holometabola. Hymenoptera [Ch. 12] |
| Week 11 | Introduction to Neuropteroid orders [Ch. 9]. Strepsiptera [Ch. 10] |
| Week 12 | Order Coleoptera [Ch. 10]. Introduction to Panorpoid Orders. Mecoptera [Ch. 11] |
| Week 13 | No class (ESA meeting) |
| Week 14 | THANKSGIVING BREAK |
| Week 15 | Orders Siphonaptera & Diptera [Ch. 11]. |
| Week 16 | Orders Trichoptera & Lepidoptera [Chs. 7–8]. |
| Week 17 | FINAL EXAM |
Laboratory Schedule**
| Week 1 | Introduction to insect orders. Collecting & preparation of insects [Ch. 14]. Apterygotes [Ch. 1] |
| Week 2 | Palaeoptera: Ephemeroptera & Odonata [Ch. 2]. KEY ASSIGNMENT DUE |
| Week 3 | Orthopteroid orders: Plecoptera, Orthoptera, etc. [Chs. 3, 4]. |
| Week 4 | Introduction to Hemipteroids [Ch. 6]. Review. |
| Week 5 | LAB EXAM #1 (through Phthiraptera). Hemipteroids (ctd). |
| Week 6 | Hemiptera [Ch. 6]. |
| Week 7 | Introduction to Holometabola: Hymenoptera [Ch. 12]. |
| Week 8 | Neuropteroid orders [Ch. 9]. Strepsiptera [Ch. 10] |
| Week 9 | Review. LAB EXAM #2. |
| Week 10 | Order Coleoptera [Ch. 10]. |
| Week 11 | Orders Mecoptera, Siphonaptera & Diptera [Ch. 11] |
| Week 12 | Orders Diptera (finish) [Ch. 11] & Trichoptera [Ch. 8]. |
| Week 13 | No class (ESA meeting) |
| Week 14 | THANKSGIVING BREAK |
| Week 15 | Order Lepidoptera [Ch. 7]. COLLECTIONS DUE. |
| Week 16 | Review. FINAL EXAM. |
* Unless otherwise indicated, chapter assignments refer to Marshall, S.A. 2017. Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity (2nd Edition). Firefly Books, Buffalo, New York.
** An optional weekend field trip will be scheduled to the Ozark Plateau (Bull Shoals Field Station, Missouri). Additional weekend field trips and/or evening “black-light” sessions will be scheduled during the summer and semester. These will provide many opportunities to gather specimens for your collections. Malaise- & light-trap samples will also be available for class use.