Entomology Commons^™

Course Syllabus For Entomology: Introduction To Acarology, Andrew Prescott

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Includes an outline and syllabus for an introductory college-level class on acarology, covering both ticks and mites.

Mini Movie Master Of Science Project, Nicole Pruess

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Contents

Educational Video Creative Process

Host Plants

Fruit Trays/Nectar Plants

Butterfly vs Moth

Longevity/Lifespan

Includes videos:
Butterfly vs Moth.mp4 (2623912 kB)
Fruit Trays and Nectar Plants.mp4 (1742827 kB)
Host Plants.mp4 (1721714 kB)
Lifespan and Longevity.mp4 (2528704 kB)

The Adventures Of Pip! The Culex Pipiens: An Educational Mosquito Comic Book For Kids, Victoria Garziano

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

“The Adventures of Pip! The Culex pipiens” is an educational comic book series designed to engage a younger audience (4th grade – 5th grade) while introducing them to key topics related to mosquitoes. Although mosquitoes are often viewed solely as a nuisance, they are also fascinating creatures. A better understanding of their life cycle and behavior can improve our ability to manage them effectively. Early education on these topics can raise long-term awareness and behaviors that continue into adulthood. This comic book series offers an accessible and enjoyable format for a science lesson and can be effectively integrated into a …

A Guide To Cicada Wings Of The United States Of America, George Keller

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

This guide was created for people who find cicada wings after a predator has eaten the body. It is nice to know what species of cicada was eaten. This guide will show some of the common species around the United States of America.

The template for the guide will be: Species, range, time of year, wing color, front/hind, wing length, and wing width.

All photos in the guide were taken by the author. The left wings of the cicadas are shown for easy comparison. If the specimen is too damaged then both wings will be shown.

Colony Collapse Disorder And How To Mitigate Losses, Axl Taylor

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

What is Colony Collapse Disorder?

The Role of Varroa destructor in CCD

Viruses and Their Role in CCD

Effects of Nosema in CCD

Habitat Destruction/Nutrition and Its Effect on CCD

Pesticides and their effect on CCD

Mitigating Causes of CCD

Colony Behavior, Social Resilience, and Monitoring

Integrated Management Approaches

Conclusion

Hyalophora Cecropia: An Educational Guide For Learning About And Raising Hyalophora Cecropia, Deserae Emmett

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Ths is an educational guide for learning about and raising Hyalophora cecropia, also known as the cecropia moth, cecropia silkmoth, or robin moth, classified in the family Saturniidae.

Website: https://deseraeemmett.wixsite.com/ chasing-cecropia

Insect Biodiversity Of Prairie Land Based On Prescribed Fire Plans In Central Iowa, Katelyn Rodriguez

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Introduction

Insects play a crucial role in the prairie ecosystems by helping to maintain a healthy balance in various aspects of human life. They play vital roles in assisting with pest control, waste decomposition, and the pollination of plants and crops (The Nature Conservancy, 2021). Additionally, they can serve as indicators of an environment's health, such as nutrient cycling in water and soil formation in crop fields (The Nature Conservancy, 2021). Insect biodiversity is a crucial component in ensuring our environment is adequately cared for, and in turn, other aspects of life that rely on insect relationships.

In some states, …

Insect Evoluation Lesson, Melissa Adriano

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The insect evolution Lesson Plan is a four-day course, to be taught sequentially through a week. All the materials presented are meant to be for ninth to tenth grades. The first day begins with a pre-test and an introduction to insect evolution. The following days will cover divergent evolution, convergent evolution, and co-evolution. Instructions are step-by-step in order to make possible the inquiry process. On the last day a review and a post-test for an overview of the knowledge acquired by the students. All activities and materials are available in the Appendix Section. The insect evolution lesson caters to the …

Exudation Entomology, John Buchanan

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

My master's project is exudation entomology. I propose a new area of entomology that will renew and reshape the science, answer questions that have been explored, and open new questions that have yet to be asked.

Exudation entomology is the study of exudates from arthropods. This includes (but is not limited to) honey, saliva, silk, secretions, venom, pheromones, paper, wax, and more. Other properties, such as bioluminescence, sounds, and odors, are also included. Exudation entomology will explore the chemical makeup of exudates, the anatomical mechanisms for how the arthropod produces the exudate, why the exudate is essential for arthropods and …

Illustrated Key To Third Instar Larvae Of Forensically Important Calliphoridae From Costa Rica, Roberto Esteban Morales-Montero

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Forensic entomology in Costa Rica formally began by the end of the 1990s decade, however, the keys utilized to identify the species of Calliphoridae, the most important family of flies that colonize decomposing bodies in Costa Rica, are a compendium of work done by different authors that not include all the species present in the country, and are not adequately illustrated, which could make the analyses difficult for people without the proper knowledge of the carrion flies, or may lead to errors in the identification. The objective of this work is to put together a properly illustrated key for third-instar …

Flies: Nature’S Hidden Helpers, A Science Literacy Project Exploring Beneficial And Pest Insects, Natalie Johnston

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

A science literacy project for elementary learners exploring beneficial and pest insects with a focus on flies, nature's hidden helpers.

This project demonstrates that science literacy can be cultivated through experiential and interdisciplinary teaching. Future developments could include digital tools for compost monitoring, citizen science participation, or expanded studies of other decomposer species. Cross-curricular collaboration with language arts and art education can further strengthen the integration of creativity and evidence-based reasoning.

Ultimately, this work reaffirms that even small organisms—like flies—can inspire big learning outcomes. By integrating science literacy with sustainability education, we prepare students to think critically about ecological relationships …

Attitudes Towards Insects: An Attempt To Change Negative Attitudes To Neutral Or Positive, Christina Chapman

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Purpose and Summary

The purpose of this project was to examine whether negative attitudes towards insects could be changed in children after learning about them in a safe and enjoyable environment. At the start of this project, I was a science teacher in an urban middle school, where most students were neither fond of nor interested in insects. This experience shaped my project: I wanted to change attitudes from negative to positive, transforming “eww gross, kill it!” into “let it live; it has a job to do.” Through my studies in the entomology program, my belief that insects are highly …

Digitization And Archival Of Insect Collections: Literature Review, Rebekah Rogers

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

A slide presentation discussing how and why digitization has become a key component in the curation and care of natural history collections.

Commonly Encountered Insect Pests Of Virginia, Angel Almaas

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Foreword

The goal of this pamphlet is to provide an outline of over 50 commonly encountered pest species that occur in Virginia. Care was given to represent each category of pest. This is by no means an exhaustive list of insect pests in Virginia. However, the profiles chosen are reflective of data from insect inventories performed on military bases in coastal Virginia (Fort Eustis, Langley Air Force Base, and Camp Pendleton), sampling from counties in central Virginia, insect species diversity surveys performed in northern Virginia, annual species counts of vector surveillance data from the Virginia Department of Health, and information …

A Comprehensive Catalog Of The Important Insects Found Within The Usa's National Parks, Raven Patrick

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

To fulfill the Masters in Entomology Masters Project requirement, I chose to focus on creating a list of the important insects found within the National Parks of the United States. Important insects, although subjective, was grouped into four categories for my project: Keystone Insect Species, Invasive Insect Species, Insect Species of Conservation Concern, and Culturally Significant Insect Species. Keystone insects include those that are important parts of ecosystems and who which without would cause a significant upset to the food web. Invasive insect species includes those that are introduced into parks accidentally, usually through anthropogenic means, and are causing ecological …

All For One And One For Gall: Getting Kids Excited About Plant-Insect Interactions, Natalie D. Tessicini

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Insect biodiversity is on a decline globally. In order to care about insects, the population must know about them. Creating interest starts with young children and students, using age-appropriate resources and lesson plans. Ensuring that future generations are curious about entomology and not driven away from it is integral to building a future where the public protects the environment. I will add to the available tools by creating my own non-fiction children’s book on under-explored entomology topics.

An Overview Of Dermestid Beetles In Forensic Entomology, Annelyn Bateman

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

No abstract provided.

A Teaching Resource Guidebook: Insect Edition, Autumn Greer

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Welcome to A Teaching Resource Guidebook: Insect Edition. This book was created with an aim to help educators develop lesson plans for children of all ages. This book contains a list of books and other activities for the developmental understanding of insects, as well as helpful information for you, the educator. This section of the book was designed to help you, the educator, understand the layout of this resource guide and provide you with an example of how to navigate this guidebook.

Invasive Forest Pest Education Through Identification, Reporting, And Children’S Introduction Brochures, Lauren E. Keefe

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Forest pest insects, whether native or non-native, can be extremely detrimental to the health of a landscape, and can contribute to massive ecological, economic, and cultural losses. Unless directly exposed to the damage these pests cause, many people do not seek to become informed on the insects. A series of brochures was thus created as a collaboration between the online UNL M.S. in Entomology requirements and a need for updated Nebraska Forest Service Forest Health brochures. These brochures focus on invasive forest insect identification and reporting, as well as introducing the concepts of the invasives to children.

Five invasive insects …

South Carolina Verifiable Training Course Presented By The Department Of Pesticide Regulation [Master's Project Slides], Stoney Bachman

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Materials presenting the South Carolina verifiable training course Presented by the Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Includes a variety of supplemental materials.

A Two-Part Project, Phil Warburton

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

1) an analysis of the constraints to the use of entomological observations collected by citizen scientists for research

The online database, iNaturalist, is transforming observational entomology with a massive and valuable database of photographed insect sightings in their environment. Increasingly, iNaturalist is becoming a rich source of scientific data for research purposes. However, iNaturalist faces a hidden but potentially serious crisis-in-the making. The phenomenal growth threatens to outstrip the capacity of expert insect identifiers.

As the database grows rapidly, the rate of identification of insect observations to the “Research Grade” standard is in decline. Furthermore, the number of expert identifiers …

Archaeoentomology: Arthropods And Humans, Current Works In Archaeoentomology, Paz Vigil

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

This paper presents a brief literature review, exploring human and insect interaction, and how such research aids the ongoing construction of the archaeological and entomological record. This field, a combined subset of both entomology and archaeology, is both complex and rich as well as young and still growing. This literature review is not meant to be an exhaustive or comprehensive exploration of this subject, but it will serve as part of a foundation for those interested in the topic or wanting to conduct further exploratory study in this field. The intent is to highlight the practical applications of Archaeoentomology, using …

A Guide For The Breeding Of The Blue Death Feigning Beetle, Joe Maloney

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Purpose

Asbolus verrucosus, often referred to as the Blue Death Feigning beetle (BDFB) is a species commonly exhibited by zoos, museums, and private individuals due to its beautiful blue color, long life, and fascinating death-feigning behavior. Despite being a very popular species, it is difficult to find specific information regarding breeding requirements and larval care. This is largely due to relatively little being known about the various stages of the BDFB life cycle. My intention in doing this project was to document verified information about the BDFB life cycle from reputable sources and use that information to develop a …

Cultivating Curiosity: Encouraging An Entomology Interest In Preschoolers, Macey Keith

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

This qualitative experiment encourages the integration of entomology-based activities into a preschool curriculum. The researcher aligns her children's preschool experience with tailored art projects and hands-on activities centered around the tomato hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata, and Madagascar hissing cockroaches, Gromphadorhina portentosa. Following the activity, surveys were administered to parents and teachers to evaluate their perceived value of the lesson. Additionally, questions were asked to ascertain if the child recalled the activities participated in and to capture their emotional responses to the experience. The intention of this study was to create a clear lesson plan that can be easily implemented …

Assessment Of Spruce Beetle ([Coleoptera]:[Curculionidae]) Populations In Red Spruce Stands Of The Southern Appalachians, Kyle Finis Cavender

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

A series of traps was deployed in four red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) stands in the Southern Appalachians to evaluate the presence of, and trap lure efficacy for, the spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby, 1837). Although no spruce beetles were collected, more than 14,000 Polygraphus rufipennis (Kirby) were captured. Traps were baited with a variety of lure combinations that demonstrated a strong attraction of P. rufipennis to frontalin, a relationship not previously reported. The results suggest that the role of frontalin in the chemical ecology of P. rufipennis, including possible regional differences in the biology of the …

Integrated Pest Management (Ipm) Manual: Green Cloverworm (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) Control In Soybeans, David Newfang

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Integrated pest management (IPM) offers a sustainable approach to managing green cloverworm (Hypena scabra) in soybean crops (Glycine Max). The goal is to minimize reliance on chemical pesticides while promoting an ecological balance. This plan outlines a comprehensive IPM strategy tailored for green cloverworm control in soybeans across various growth stages. Monitoring and scouting are emphasized to accurately assess pest populations. Management strategies such as cultural practices, mechanical control, biological control and chemical control are analyzed. Farmer education courses and outreach programs are applied to increase awareness, promote adoption of IPM practices, and foster collaboration among stakeholders. …

Calliphoridae Of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Andrew Meeds

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

This project aimed to establish a baseline understanding of the blow fly fauna of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (OPCNM). Blow flies are the most commonly used insect in criminal investigations due to their tendency to be the earliest to locate and colonize remains. By understanding their distributions and patterns of seasonality, forensic entomologists can determine which species are most likely to colonize remains and identify which species may require further study. An 11-month comparison between fresh and aged chicken liver-baited traps improves understanding of primary and secondary colonizers in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and offers insights into effective …

Integrated Pest Management Of Maple (Acer) In Midwest Nursery Production, Darcey Hickey

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Introduction

In all agricultural settings, damage from arthropod pests is inevitable. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was introduced in the 1970’s as a response to increased public awareness of the hazardous effects of pesticides in the environment (Frazier, 2010). Ornamental nursery production is an important sector of US agriculture. In ornamental nurseries, pest damage is the leading cause of revenue loss (Braman et al., 2015). IPM has primarily been implemented for agricultural settings and as IPM is specific to each environment, it is important to explore the use of IPM practices in nursery production. As nurseries are found across the United …

Evolution Of The Largest Insect Orders: A Comprehensive Literature Review, Jason Thompson

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Introduction

Insects are regarded by many to be among the most successful organisms on earth, displaying remarkable diversity, resilience, and adaptations, allowing them the ability to inhabit and exploit a wide array of niche environments. If sheer numbers are utilized as a yardstick by which to measure success, it has been estimated that there may be as many as 10 quintillion insects alive and active at any given time (Sabrosky, 1952). In terms of species diversity, estimates have ranged from as many as 30 million based on research and collections in tropical forest canopies (Erwin, 1982) to more recent, conservative …

Field Guide To Common Forensically Important Insects Of Oregon, Dakota Hufford

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Purpose, Scope and Structure of the Guide

This guide aims to serve as a semi-comprehensive resource for anyone interested in forensic entomology within the state of Oregon in the United States. This resource is intended to fill a gap in existing available forensic entomology educational materials by providing identifying information on the primary groups of insects involved in decomposition processes and forensic investigations in Oregon. It is useful for a diverse group of people including students, educators, forensic professionals, and laypeople with an interest in entomology. Therefore, the intended audience ranges from interested amateurs and curious observers, to educators and …