Half of
your lab grade will come from the lab practical! This exam will cover all
of the labs covered this semester. If you took the practice practical in
class, you know what to expect. In past lab practicals, students have had
the most difficulty with the following items:
- Insect Orders.
At a minimum, learn the important ones we saw during the semester
(*Diptera, *Hymenoptera, *Lepidoptera, *Coleoptera, *Hemiptera, *Phthiraptera,
*Siphonaptera, *Orthoptera, Odonata, Ephemeroptera, Phasmida, Isoptera
and Dictyoptera). For the eight important orders marked with an asterisk,
learn distinguishing characteristics that you could use in spot identification
(i.e. Diptera have halteres, Lepidoptera have scales and a proboscis).
- Systematics
and Nomenclature. Know how taxonomic names are written, type specimens,
what is on an insect label, and in general how to preserve insect specimens.
- Silk, Dye, and
Honey labs. Products we discussed, and the insects that produce
them.
- Edible Insects.
Know allergies and edible insects.
- Predators.
Interpretation of predator response curves; predator types.
- Genetics.
Drosophila mutations; aposematism, crypsis, and homotypism.
- Aquatic Insects.
Structures involved in underwater respiration and how they function.
- Parasites.
Ectoparasites vs. endoparasites, orders, basic details about malaria,
typhus and plague.
- Forensic Entomology.
Postmortem estimate of death; insects associated with successional stages
of decomposition.
- Senses.
Sensory structures and functions (especially acoustical); pheromones.
- Bee Research
Field Trip. Beekeeping safety, honeybee castes, basic beekeeping
equipment.
If you would like to
take a look at an old practical, check out our practice practical.
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