University Catalog 2023-2024

Entomology

Course offerings or research facilities are available in the following areas: agricultural entomology, apiculture, aquatic entomology, behavior, biological control, chemical ecology, forest entomology, genetic pest management, host-plant resistance, insect ecology, insect transmission of plant pathogens, insect microbe interactions, medical and veterinary entomology, pest management, physiology, molecular biology, population genetics, insect symbiosis, urban ecology, urban entomology, systematics and toxicology.

Admission Requirements

Training in biology and appropriate courses in chemistry, biochemistry, mathematics and physics, is preferred. A "B" average (3.0 GPA) is required in biology courses and an overall 3.0 GPA during the last two years of the undergraduate program.

Master's Degree Requirements

A minimum of 30 credits are required for graduation 9 credits of letter grade entomology courses plus 2 credits of entomology student seminars are also required. The student’s advisory committee will meet with the student to identify an appropriate plan of course work.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

A minimum of 72 credits (18 may be transferred from a Master's degree) are required for graduation. For Ph.D. students 9 credits of letter grade entomology courses plus 3 credits of entomology student seminars are required. The student’s advisory committee will meet with the student to identify an appropriate plan of course work.

Student Financial Support

Graduate assistantships and other forms of aid are available to students as described in the Fellowships and Graduate Assistantships section of the Graduate Catalog.

Other Relevant Information

Full admission is permitted only after acceptable applicants have secured an advisor and appropriate financial support. All students are expected to begin their research as soon as possible.

Faculty

Full Professors

  • Rick Lynn Brandenburg
  • David Buchwalter
  • Wayne G. Buhler
  • Hannah J. Burrack
  • Robert R. Dunn
  • Steven D. Frank
  • Fred L. Gould
  • Rebecca Elizabeth Irwin
  • George G. Kennedy
  • Dominic Duane Reisig
  • Richard M. Roe
  • Coby J. Schal
  • Jules Silverman
  • Clyde E. Sorenson
  • David R. Tarpy
  • James F. Walgenbach
  • David W. Watson
  • Anna Elizabeth Whitfield
  • Brian M. Wiegmann

Associate Professors

  • Marce D. Lorenzen
  • David B. Orr
  • Michael Hay Reiskind
  • Dorith Rotenberg

Assistant Professors

  • Zachary Steven Brown
  • Sydney E. Crawley
  • Anders Schmidt Huseth
  • Aram Arshak Mikaelyan
  • Gareth Stephen Powell
  • Elsa Youngsteadt

Emeritus Faculty

  • Charles Smith Apperson
  • Jack S. Bacheler
  • James R. Baker
  • Julius R. Bradley Jr
  • Wayne Maurice Brooks
  • William V. Campbell
  • Lewis L. Deitz
  • Maurice H. Farrier
  • Fred P. Hain
  • James D. Harper
  • Ruediger C. Hillmann
  • John R. Meyer
  • Harry B. Moore Jr.
  • Herbert H. Neunzig
  • John F. Roberts
  • Robert L. Robertson
  • Kenneth A. Sorensen
  • Phillip S. Southern
  • Ronald Edwin Stinner
  • John W. VanDuyn
  • Charles Gerald Wright

Adjunct Professors

  • Nicholas M. Haddad
  • Loganathan Ponnusamy
  • Christopher M. Ranger

Courses

ENT 502  Insect Diversity  (4 credit hours)  

Diversity of insect biology and structure with emphasis upon identification of adults; includes speciation, evolutionary relationships, approaches to classification, nomenclature, zoogeography and techniques of collection.

Prerequisite: ENT 425 or Graduate Standing

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 503  Insect Morphology and Physiology  (3 credit hours)  

The objectives are to acquaint students with the internal morphology, histology, and ultra-structure and system functions of insects. The laboratory will assist in recognizing the internal anatomy and associated external structure of insects and provide practical experience in the study of insect function.

Prerequisite: (CH 221 or CH 225) and (CH 223 or CH 227) and ENT 425 or Graduate Standing

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 504  Professional Development for Agriculture and the Life Sciences  (2 credit hours)  

A successful professional career in agriculture and the life sciences is not limited to understanding just the science of these disciplines. Also required is an understanding of career paths, professional ethics, written and verbal communication, safety, how to work with animals and human subjects, personal interactions, vita preparation, networking, and future directions of the discipline. These skills are essential to taking the knowledge obtained in our science and applying them to a career in the discipline. Graduate Standing required.

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 506/GES 506  Principles of Genetic Pest Management  (3 credit hours)  

Introduction to the biological aspects of genetic pest management (GPM). Genetic techniques for GPM, including historical uses (such as the sterile insect technique) and approaches that are currently in development. Practical issues relating to the deployment of GPM, including ecological and economic considerations.

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 510  Writing Proposals in Agriculture, Biology, and Ecology  (2 credit hours)  

Participants will be guided through the process of writing, with the intention to submit, a fellowship or grant proposal to an appropriate program of their selection and effective peer review of grant or fellowship proposals. The course includes a combination of lectures, in class activities, and direct practice. Students will also interact with a wide variety of experts in grant writing and evaluation who serve as weekly guest reviewers.

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 520  Insect Behavior  (3 credit hours)  

This course stresses comprehensive coverage of the principles of animal behavior using insects as models and examples. Physiology, genetics, mechanisms, behavioral ecology, and evolution of insect behavior will be covered.

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 526  Organic Agriculture: Principles and Practices  (3 credit hours)  

This is a multidisciplinary class, and lectures cover many aspects of organic production given by a number of experts from both on and off campus. Classes also include discussions of issues and controversies surrounding organic production, as well as field trips to selected farms. This course is restricted to upper level undergraduate, graduate, or post-baccalaureate continuing education students.

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 550  Fundamentals of Arthropod Management  (3 credit hours)  

The principles underlying modern methods for protecting food, clothing, shelter and health from insect attack.

Prerequisite: ENT 425 or Graduate Standing

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 582/ZO 582  Medical and Veterinary Entomology  (3 credit hours)  

The morphology, taxonomy, biology and control of the arthropod parasites and disease vectors of man and animals. The ecology and behavior of vectors in relation to disease transmission and control.

Prerequisite: ENT 425 and ZO 315

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 591  Special Topics In Entomology  (1-6 credit hours)  

A variable credit lecture and laboratory series offering topics such as advanced beekeeping, morphology, physiology, systematics, behavior, biological control, nursery and ornamental pests, host plant resistance, information retrieval, biological monitoring and sampling, population modeling, extension entomology, computer methods and urban, forest and stored product pests.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

ENT 601  Seminar  (1 credit hours)  

Discussion of entomological topics selected and assigned by seminar chair.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in ENT or closely allied fields

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

ENT 604  Insect Natural History and Field Ecology  (1 credit hours)  

Diversity of ecological roles and lifestyles of insects and related arthropods using techniques in field ecology. Two week-long field trips to Coastal Plain and Mountains with orientation walks, evening lectures, and field projects.Taught during the two weeks prior to the Fall semester.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Entomology

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 620  Special Problems  (1-6 credit hours)  

Original research on special problems in entomology not related to a thesis problem. Provides experience and training in research. Credits Arranged.

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 641  Agricultural Entomology Practicum  (3 credit hours)  

Practical experience in research, extension and commercial aspects of insect pest management on a broad range of agricultural crops under actual field conditions. Class meets 9 hours each Friday for 10 weeks from early June to mid-August. Students should register for Fall term.

Prerequisite: Economic entomology (ENT 762 recommended)

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 685  Master's Supervised Teaching  (1-3 credit hours)  

Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 690  Master's Examination  (1-9 credit hours)  

For students in non thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirements of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 693  Master's Supervised Research  (1-9 credit hours)  

Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ENT 695  Master's Thesis Research  (1-9 credit hours)  

Thesis research.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ENT 696  Summer Thesis Research  (1 credit hours)  

For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Summer only

ENT 699  Master's Thesis Preparation  (1-9 credit hours)  

For students who have completed all credit hour requirements and full-time enrollment for the master's degree and are writing and defending their theses.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ENT 726  Biological Control of Insects and Weeds  (3 credit hours)  

Overview of the field of biological control and its role in Integrated Pest Management programs. Emphasis on the diversity and sometimes unusual interactions of insect parasitoids and predators with their hosts/prey, controversies in biological control, critical analysis of selected projects, and basic conceptual and "hands-on" tools for approaching biological control research and implementing projects.

Prerequisite: ENT 425 or Graduate Standing

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 727/PP 727  Ecology of Soil Ecosystems  (3 credit hours)  

This course will focus on the interactions between soil organisms and their environment, and the ecological consequences of these diverse complex interactions. In particular, it will explore the scientific evidence that illustrates links between soil organisms, ecosystem functioning and the quality of air and water systems, and examine why and how the related research was conducted. This course will bring together theory and research trends from distinct subject areas: soil microbiology, entomology and ecosystem ecology.

Prerequisite: One course in: (SSC 332, SSC 511, SSC 521, or SSC 532), or ecology (BO 360 or CS 430), or microbiology (MB 351), or consent of instructor.

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 731  Insect Ecology  (3 credit hours)  

The interrelationships among insects and components of their effective environments which result in dynamic spatial and temporal patterns of particular species. Also, the diverse roles of insects in structure and function of communities and ecosystems.

Prerequisite: ENT 425 or Graduate standing

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 762  Insect Pest Management In Agricultural Crops  (3 credit hours)  

Critical review of the biology and ecology of representative beneficial and injurious insects and arachnids of agricultural crops and the advantages and limitations of advanced concepts of their management in selected agroecosystems.

Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 791  Special Topics In Entomology  (1-6 credit hours)  

A variable credit lecture and laboratory series offering topics such as advanced beekeeping, morphology, physiology, systematics, behavior, biological control, nursery and ornamental pests, host plant resistance, information retrieval, biological monitoring and sampling, population modelling, extension entomology, computer methods and urban, forest and stored product pests.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

ENT 801  Seminar  (1 credit hours)  

Discussion of entomological topics selected and assigned by seminar chair.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in ENT or closely allied fields

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

ENT 804  Insect Natural History and Field Ecology  (1 credit hours)  

Diversity of ecological roles and lifestyles of insects and related arthropods using techniques in field ecology. Two week-long field trips to Coastal Plain and Mountains with orientation walks, evening lectures, and field projects.Taught during the two weeks prior to the Fall semester.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Entomology

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 820  Special Problems  (1-6 credit hours)  

Original research on special problems in entomology not related to a thesis problem. Provides experience and training in research.

Typically offered in Spring only

ENT 841  Agricultural Entomology Practicum  (3 credit hours)  

Practical experience in research, extension and commercial aspects of insect pest management on a broad range of agricultural crops under actual field conditions. Class meets 9 hours each Friday for 10 weeks from early June to mid-August. Students should register for fall semester.

Prerequisite: Economic entomology (ENT 762 recommended)

Typically offered in Fall only

ENT 885  Doctoral Supervised Teaching  (1-3 credit hours)  

Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

ENT 890  Doctoral Preliminary Exam  (1-9 credit hours)  

For students who are preparing for and taking written and/or oral preliminary exams.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Summer only

ENT 893  Doctoral Supervised Research  (1-9 credit hours)  

Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ENT 895  Doctoral Dissertation Research  (1-9 credit hours)  

Dissertation research.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ENT 896  Summer Dissertation Research  (1 credit hours)  

For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Summer only

ENT 899  Doctoral Dissertation Preparation  (1-9 credit hours)  

For students who have completed all credit hour, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination, and residency requirements for the doctoral degree, and are writing and defending their dissertations.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer