Course Information

Instructor:	Robert Wright, Professor Department of Entomology 210B Plant Industry Bldg. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln NE 68583-0816 Telephone: 402-472-2128 FAX: 402-472-4687 Email: rwright2@unl.edu
Teaching assistant:	Terry DeVries, Entomology Research Analyst UNL South Central Agricultural Laboratory P. O. Box 66 Clay Center NE 68933-0066 Phone: 402-762-4405 FAX 402-762-4411 Email:tdevries1@unl.edu

Other Course Contacts:

Phyllis Higley
Distance Education Coordinator
Department of Entomology
310A Plant Industry
Lincoln, NE 68583-0816

Telephone: (402) 472-8680
Fax: (402) 472-4687
E-mail: ent-distance@unlnotes.unl.edu

Elaine Nowick
Associate Professor / Entomology Librarian
University Libraries
203 C.Y. Thompson Library
Lincoln, NE 68583

Telephone: (402) 472-4408
Fax: (402) 472-7005
E-mail: enowick1@unl.edu

About the Course

This course will focus on identification, biology, ecology and management of insect pests of agronomic crops, including, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, wheat and sorghum. Emphasis will be on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies employed to maintain pests below damaging levels while minimizing the use of traditional insecticides.

This course assumes a basic understanding of insect biology and taxonomy and the basic principles of IPM.  Previous coursework such as ENT 412/812 (Entomology and Pest Management), ENT 811 (Insect ID and Natural History), ENT 403/803 (Management of Horticultural Insects), or a similar course is suggested.

Course Objectives

After completing the course, you should be able to:

1. recognize beneficial and harmful arthropods associated with agronomic crops
2. explain the biology and ecology of arthropods associated with agronomic crops
3. characterize types of plant injury and associate it with the arthropod pest that is responsible
4. describe management tactics that are used to minimize injury by arthropod pests

Instructional Method

There are 30 lectures, each around 60 minutes in length, that must be viewed as part of course requirements. These presentations will be supplemented with readings from internet websites and other selected references. Each student is expected to take good lecture notes and to complete all reading assignments. Items covered in lectures, but not covered in the assigned readings or handouts are fair game for examination material. Further, all reading material will not be discussed in class lectures, but the student is still responsible for being familiar with these parts of the assignments. All students are expected to conduct independent library research.

Textbooks

There is no required textbook; the following publications may be useful references to purchase for additional background information on the material covered in the course:

Handbook of Corn Insects

Handbook of Soybean Insect Pests

Handbook of Forage and Rangeland Insects

Handbook of Small Grain Insects

Student Assignments and Exams

Exams: There will be two examinations (midterm and final), both of which must be proctored, and each worth 100 points. Question formats will include definitions, short and intermediate length completion and essay formats.

Quizzes: There will be two lecture quizzes, both open book, and consisting mainly of essay questions. Each quiz will be valued at 50 points, and delivered to you by e-mail attachment.

IPM Summaries: Each student will receive a list of ten insects for which he/she will gather the following information: identifying characteristics for damaging stages, description of damage, summary of life cycle, procedures for scouting, assessment (sampling) of populations, recognized economic thresholds, and a list of feasible management methods/control measures. Each summary will be worth 20 points.

Library Research Paper: Each student will be expected to write and submit one high quality, in-depth library research paper. The topic for the paper will be chosen by each student, but must be approved by the instructors in advance. Any course-related topic of special interest to the student can be considered (See assignment link).

Grading - Graduate Students