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The biology of insects and other non-marine arthropods, with emphasis on environmental relationships and management. Note - this course will be offered in even-numbered years.
Insects are the most diverse and successful group of organisms on Earth. Insects exhibit a startling array of life-history strategies, forms and functions, and they affect all aspects of our daily lives. Without insects, ecosystems as we know them would cease to exist. Entomology is not just about naming and classifying species, it is about discovering the evolutionary relationships among organisms, learning how species interact with each other to shape community structure, and applying detailed knowledge of insect biology to practical human problems. The aim of this course is to provide a fundamental grounding in insect biology that is essential for both theoretical and applied ecologists working in terrestrial and freshwater environments. The course will cover the diversity, evolution, systematics, physiology, ecology and behaviour of insects. Lectures will also cover applied aspects of insect biology, including medical, forensic and economic entomology. Insect Biology is particularly important for students pursuing third year courses in ecology, physiology and behaviour.
Develop knowledge about:The evolutionary origin of distinct groups of insects, the diversity of insect orders and their unique identifying features. Insect form and function and the adaptions of insects to numerous environmental challenges.The diverse ecological roles occupied by insects.Practical skills including insect collection, identification, and preservation.These principles are presented in lectures and further developed in laboratories and will be assessed through a combination of regular online quizzes, an insect collection, a laboratory identification test and the final exam. Transferable skills registerTaxonomic identification of insect orders. The process of taxonomic classification is fundamental to advancement in biology and ecology, as well as your own understanding of ecosystems.Organising the collection of field data, practical field skills, and the organisation of samples and processing post field collection.
BIOL113
Helen Warburton
Tara Murray
Claire Galilee
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Domestic fee $865.00
International fee $3,788.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Biological Sciences .