Summer 2009

Insect Classification Exercises - Distance Education sections

  • Comments about these exercises. When you have completed all of these, ( requirements vary depending on your classification) you will have satisfied my course requirements, and probably worked very hard, hopefully learning a lot in the process.

    PLEASE NOTE: If you are viewing this online the links to many of these exercises may not work if reference is to documents found on your Course CD ROM. If you choose a hyperlink and get an error message it means the file is located elsewhere.

  • GRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY - Pick a topic(you might want to improve a key, using new illustrations or images, or write a lirterature review on a group of insects that interest you. Look at the requirements (on CD) and contact me with your choice. If you are unable to come up with a choice that meets with my approval, I will find one for you. DO NOT POSTPONE THIS! You should pick a topic by the end of the second week of class and get it approved by the instructor.

 

  • Student Profile - background information - Take time to fill out one of these forms, either the one which uses your email provider or by filling out the automated submission form

  • Preliminary Diagnostics Tests - (Everyone) answer written questions and complete the photographic sight ID's of adult insects. I use these to determine your background knowledge about insect classification (as well as checking that you are able to view these images and send the responses to me). This test is available online in two forms, one which uses your email provider to submit your responses to me, the other which uses an automated electronic submission to a file on our server. This second option is the preferred method as it bypasses many of the email issues that have been problematic in the past. Of course you are also able to fill out the forms, print them, and mail them to me.

  • Self-graded quizzes - use these to review your knowledge about a variety of topics. Be sure you have your browser enabled for Java script, otherwise these quizzes will not work. Nothing is recorded from these. Use these to review a variety of topics. All of these are contained on the CD ROM. The first 2 will work here online, the rest require the CD ROM.
    1. Insect Orders
    2. Coleoptera
    3. Diptera
    4. General Entomology
    5. Hymenoptera
    6. Insect Structures
    7. General Insects
    8. Orthoptera
    9. Species
    10. Zoogeography
    11. Zoological Nomenclature

  • Written exercises, questions: Complete these, mail or FAX them to me - Deadlines for these are left up to you, but I caution you: DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE SEMESTER TO START THESE!!!
    • Literature exercise – (Everyone) locate and save a recent (later than 1995) species description for a new beetle found in Florida or in your state if you are taking this class outside the state of Florida. Send me the reference if it is available. Then, find a similar new species description (Florida or your state) prior to 1900. Copy and mail to me.
    • Electronic form - Spelling of a few Entomology Terms, singular and Plural forms (everyone) - this is online and should work for you to complete and submit.
    • External morphology questions and drawing, label body parts of an adult insect of your choice (everyone)
    • Insect distribution exercise, from literature, cite references you used for information (everyone)
      • Then Discuss limitations of using records from literature
      • Answer the question - What do collection records represent?
      • Email me your discussion, FAX your map to me at 352-392-0190.
    • Comparing higher taxa

  • Crossword Puzzles (all PDF format)- print to work on, then FAX or mail to instructor when completed. Be sure you have written your name on each paper. These may be downloaded here (printed or saved to your disk). You will need to have Adobe Acrobat reader to view these online.

  • Literature exercises
    • Research an original new species description - you are to find an original species description from an online journal, save and mail the article, title, URL to me using email
    • Locate AND SAVE AN ONLINE JOURNAL ARTICLE CONTAINING A PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS. Email this to me. (ENY 6166 only)
    • Research the derivation of an entomological term, "Gallinipper". Discuss how the term is used, and the probable origin.
    • Abbreviate a few Journal titles from a list using information from your Journal abbreviations page and handout on how to abbreviate titles. (ENY 6166 only)

    • ENY 6166 students ONLY!!
      • Research Family of Insects - Graduate Students ONLY (If you do not have access to a library or insect catalogs, this will have to be done online)- see example

  • Collection and Identification (see syllabus for section ENY 4161 or ENY 6166 for details. Each section has different requirements.
    • Cyber collection (find species of insects that occur in your state)-save images and details, list the web pages where you found them (see syllabus for your section for details). You must include the author names for any cyber species, or the specimen willnot count!
    • Write a Dichotomous key to 10 insects that you find locally, add them to your collection, be sure to indicate they are used for the key by adding a label that says KEY under each specimen
    • Answer questions about various insect species using form and submit using your email
    • Adult insect collection - to be mailed in for assessment at the end of the semester. YOumust take extra care packaging specimens. DO NOT INCLUDE ANY VIALS IN THE SAME CONTAINER AS PINNED SPECIMENS. I will post examples of the dire consequences when this happens.
    • Midterm and FINAL EXAM - will be announced and may be posted online. It will consist of written questions and sight identifications. These will be similar to those you have done in the diagnostic ID exercise. I will email the class when this is available.