Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Insects are fascinating because of their enormous diversity of forms and lifestyles. There are more species of insect than of all other animals and plants put together. As a result of this combination of diversity and abundance, they affect us in many ways. For example, honeybees pollinate our crops and produce honey, silkworms produce silk, mosquitoes spread malaria and kill millions of people, much of our crop production is destroyed by insects, and outbreaks of locusts destroy entire crops and can cause starvation. A knowledge of insect ecology has applied uses in many fields, e.g. agriculture, horticulture, forensics, veterinary science, medicine, parasitology, environmental management and conservation. In this module you will cover: insect diversity, flight, mate finding, sex pheromones, migration, parasitoids, herbivores, fluid feeders, disease vectors, pollinators and management of insect pests. You will be taught with a combination of lectures, lecture discussions and tutorials, and be expected to study independently and read widely.
Aims
To provide the ecological knowledge, understanding and skills needed by an entomologist in the field of pest management.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Discuss the principles and application of insect ecology: 1,2Evaluate the methods used to manage insect pests: 2Evaluate the biology, ecology and pest status of a species of pest insect: 2Identify an adult insect to the level of order and specify appropriate keys for identification to the level of family and species: 2
18 hours live lectures07 hours live tutorials01 hour assessment workshop05 hours directed asynchronous study84 hours independent study15 hours review preparation20 hours report preparation
Description of Module Assessment
1: Literature Review weighted 40%Literature review - 1500 wordsA 1,500-word literature review requiring critical evaluation of a topic relevant to many aspects of the module.
2: Report weighted 60%Insect report - 2500 wordsA report and critical assessment of the pest management of a species of insect