i. Course Title: CS 102- INTRODUCTORY ENTOMOLOGY
ii. Course aim
To provide students with knowledge and skills which will enable them to name, identify, classify and describe insects important to agriculture.
iii. Course expected learning outcome(s)
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
• Distinguish insects from other arthropods
• Justify the economic importance of insects
• Classify insects to the level of Order
• Employ satisfactorily sampling techniques for insects from a range of methods
• Estimate population of insects in the field and in stores
iv. Course status: Core
v. Credit rating: 10 Credits
vi. Total hours spent: 100 hours
Lectures 24 hours
Tutorial 10 hours
Assignments 10 hours
Independent Study 08 hours
Practical 48 hours
vii. Course content
Review of the phylum arthropoda, external morphology of insects; head and its appendages, thorax and its appendages, abdomen and its appendages, Classification of insects, Life cycle of insects, Life processes of insects; feeding, respiration, locomotion, excretion, sensing and reproduction, Ecology of insects; insect populations, determinants of insect populations, regulation of insect populations, surveillance and sampling, Economic importance of insects in agriculture, veterinary, domestic and public health.
Practical skills:
Collection of insects from the field, rivers and storage structures; Sorting and recording insects collected; Preservation of insect specimen; Identification of insects using standard keys; Conduct surveillance of selected insect pests.
viii. Teaching and learning activities
The course will be taught using lectures, visual aids, seminars, group discussions, practical and field work.
ix. Assessment methods
Assessment will comprise of assignments and quizzes, theory tests, practical reports, practical tests and University examination.
x. Reading list
Dent D. R., 1997. Methods in ecology and agricultural entomology. Wallingford, CAB International, xiv, 387p.
Pedigo, L.P. and Rice, M.E. (2009). Entomology and pest management (6th edition). Pearson/ Prentice Hall, New Jersey.784pp.
Saxena S. C., 1992. Biology of insects. New Delhi, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. viii, 366p.
Gilbert P. and Hamilton, 1990. Entomology: a guide to information sources. London, Mansell Publishing Ltd.2nd Ed., ix, 259p.
Elzinga R. J., 1987. Fundamentals of Entomology. 3rd Ed. New Jersey (USA), Prentice Hall. 456p.