Lecture Schedule (tentative)*
Week 1 | Introduction to aquatic insects. Insect diversity & success [Ch. 1–3]. |
Week 2 | Basic inect morphology & arthropod characteristics [Ch. 2]. |
Week 3 | Ecological classification of freshwater habitats [Ch. 5, 6]. |
Week 4 | Adaptations of freshwater insects [Ch. 4, 5]. |
Week 5 | Respriation in aquatic- and semi-aquatic insects. Marine insects. Adaptations to flowing water (Hydrodynamics). |
Week 6 | LECTURE EXAM #1. Insect taxonomy & nomenclature phylogeny [Ch. 9, 11]. |
Week 7 | Insect phylogeny [Ch. 9]. Order Collembola (springtails) [Ch. 12]. |
Week 8 | Palaeoptera: Orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies) & Odonata (dragonflies) [Ch. 13, 14]. |
Week 9 | Orders Plecoptera (stoneflies) & Hemiptera (true bugs) [Ch. 16, 17]. |
Week 10 | SPRING BREAK. |
Week 11 | LECTURE EXAM #2. Neuropteroid orders: Megaloptera (fishflies & alderflies) & Neuroptera (spngillaflies) [Ch. 18]. |
Week 12 | Order Coleoptera (beetles) [Ch. 21]. |
Week 13 | Orders Lepidoptera (moths) & Trichoptera (caddisflies) [Ch. 19, 20]. |
Week 14 | Order Diptera (true flies) [Ch. 23] |
Week 15 | Special topics – TBA |
Week 16 | Special topics – TBA |
Week 17 | FINAL EXAM |
Laboratory Schedule**
Week 1 | Introduction to insect orders. Collecting & rearing of insects [Ch. 3, 10, 11]. |
Week 2 | Orders Collembola (springtails) & Odonata (dragonflies & damselflies) [Ch. 12, 14]. |
Week 3 | Order Ephemeroptera (mayflies). [Ch. 13]. |
Week 4 | LAB EXAM #1 |
Week 5 | Order Plecoptera (stoneflies) [Ch. 16]. |
Week 6 | Order Hemiptera (true bugs) [Ch. 17]. |
Week 7 | Minor orders: Orthoptera (grasshoppers), Megaloptera (dobsonflies, fishflies & alderflies), Neuroptera (spongillaflies), Lepidoptera (moths). [Ch. 15, 18, 20]. |
Week 8 | LAB EXAM #2 (stoneflies to minor orders). |
Week 9 | Order Coleoptera [Ch. 20] |
Week 10 | SPRING BREAK |
Week 11 | Order Trichoptera (caddisflies) [Ch. 19]. |
Week 12 | LAB EXAM #3 (beetles & caddisflies). |
Week 13 | Order Diptera (true flies) [Ch. 23]. |
Week 14 | Order Diptera (finish) [Ch. 23]. |
Week 15 | COLLECTIONS DUE (Wednesday). Open lab (review for final) |
Week 16 | FINAL EXAM. |
* Chapter assignments refer to Merritt, R.W., K.W. Cummins & M.B. Berg (eds). 2019. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (Fifth Edition). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., Dubuque, IA.
** Optional weekend field trips will be scheduled to north-central Iowa and Bull Shoals Field Station in the Ozark's (both in late March or early April). Additional local field trips will also be scheduled during the semester. These will provide many opportunities to gather specimens for your collections.