Course

Syllabus

Theory

History of Entomology in India. Major points related to dominance of Insects in Animal kingdom. Classification of phylum Arthropoda up to classes. Relationship of class Insects with other classes of Arthropoda. Morphology: Structure and functions of insect cuticle and molting. Body segmentation. Structure of head, thorax and abdomen. Structure and modifications of insect antennae, mouth parts, legs, Wing venation, modifications and wing coupling apparatus. Metamorphosis and diapause in insects. Types of larvae and pupae. Structure and functions of digestive, circulatory, excretory, respiratory, nervous, secretary (Endocrine) and reproductive system, in insects. Types of reproduction in insects. Major sensory organs. Insect Ecology: Introduction, Environment and its components. Effect of abiotic factors and biotic factors. Categories of pests. Systematics: Taxonomy importance, history and development and binomial nomenclature. Definitions of Biotype, Subspecies, Species, Genus, Family and Order. Classification of class Insecta up to Orders, basic groups of present day insects with special emphasis to orders and families of Agricultural importance like Orthoptera: Acrididae, Tettigoniidae, Gryllidae, Gryllotalpidae; Dictyoptera: Mantidae, Blattidae; Odonata; Isoptera: Termitidae; Thysanoptera: Thripidae; Hemiptera: Pentatomidae, Coreidae, Cimicidae, Pyrrhocoridae, Lygaeidae, Cicadellidae, Delphacidae, Aphididae, Coccidae, Lophophidae, Aleurodidae, Pseudococcidae; Neuroptera: Chrysopidae; Lepidoptera: Pieridae, Papiloinidae, Noctuidae, Sphingidae, Pyralidae, Gelechiidae, Arctiidae, Saturnidae, Bombycidae; Coleoptera: Coccinellidae, Chrysomelidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae, Bruchidae, Scarabaeidae; Hymenoptera: Tenthridinidae, Apidae. Trichogrammatidae, lchneumonidae, Braconidae, Chalcididae; Diptera: Cecidomyiidae, Tachinidae, Agromyziidae, Culicidae, Muscidae, Tephritidae.

Practical

Methods of collection and preservation of insects including immature stages; External features of Grasshopper/Blister beetle; Types of insect antennae, mouthparts and legs; Wing venation, types of wings and wing coupling apparatus. Types of insect larvae and pupae; Dissection of digestive system in insects (Grasshopper); Study of characters of orders Orthoptera, Dictyoptera, Odonata, Isoptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera and their families of agricultural importance. Insecticides and their formulations. Pesticide appliances and their maintenance. Sampling techniques for estimation of insect population and damage

Objectives

i. To know the history of entomology, classification of insects and their relationship with other arthropods

ii. To study the various morphological characters of class insect and their importance for classification of insects

iii. To get an idea about the different physiological systems of insects and their roles in growth and development and communications of insects

iv. To study the characteristics of commonly observed insect orders and their economically important families

Course Outcome:

Any student who has undergone the course shall be able to:

Suggested Readings

1. Richards O.W. and R.G. Davies. 1977. Imm’s General Text Book of Entomology. Vol.I and II. Chapman and Hall Publication, London. 1354p. {ISBN 0412 15220 7}

2. Johnson Norman and Triplehorn Charles. 2004. Borror and DeLong’s Introduction to the study of Insects. (7th Edn.). Brooks/Cole.

3. Odum Eugene P and Barrett Gray W. 2020. Fundamentals of Ecology. (5th Edn.). Cangage Learning India.

4. Chapman, R.F. 1998. The Insects: Structure and Function. Fourth Edition. Cambridge University Press. 770p. {ISBN 0 521 78732 7}

5. Snodgrass, R.E. 1994. Principles of Insect Morphology. CBS publishers and distributors, New Delhi. 667p.

6. Pedigo, L.P. and M.E.Rice.1996. Entomology and Pest Management. Prentice-Hall of Idia Pvt Ltd, New Delhi. 812p. {ISBN-978-8120338869}