Entomology
James Nechols, Interim Head
Professors Arthur, Bauernfeind, Beeman, Broce, Buschman, Flinn, Hagstrum, Harvey, Higgins, Kambhampati, Margolies, Marsh, Nechols, Reese, Sloderbeck, Smith, Throne, and Wilde; Associate Professors Lord, Whiles, Zhu, and Zolnerowich; Assistant Professors Campbell, Michaud, Oppert, Park, Whitworth, Wright de Malo, and Zurek; Emeriti: Professors Blocker, Brooks, Cress, Elzinga, Depew, Hopkins, Horber, Mills, and Mock.
E-mail: entomology@k-state.edu
www. entomology.ksu.edu
Entomology is the study of insects and related arthropods. Applied entomology stresses their relations to plants and animals, including humans. Courses fall into two groups: broad, general courses suitable for any student; and professional courses that provide training for research, teaching, and administration in colleges, experiment stations, health services, government agencies, industry, foundations, and private practice.
Students majoring in other fields may have a special interest in entomology as part of their curriculum. Courses 300 or 312 and 313 or 314 or 305 are recommended.
Entomology minors
The Department of Entomology offers an undergraduate minor in entomology. This minor enables students to diversify their educational experience and provides a group of core courses that complement other academic programs, especially those in related agricultural disciplines such as horticulture, animal science, grain science, and agronomy, or in biology. To pursue a minor in entomology students must: (1) file a declaration of intent to pursue the minor and (2) consult an entomology advisor prior to taking the last three courses used to satisfy the minor requirements. Advisors not only ensure that requirements of the minor are met but also tailor course work to the interests, educational aims, and employment goals of the individual student.
General requirements
At least 15 credit hours as outlined below.
The following courses are required:
| ENTOM 710 | Insect Taxonomy | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ENTOM 312 | General Entomology | 2 |
| and | ||
| ENTOM 313 | General Entomology Lab | 1 |
| or | ||
| ENTOM 300 | Economic Entomology | 3 |
| or | ||
| ENTOM 320 | Horticultural Entomology | 3 |
| or | ||
| ENTOM 305 | Animal Health Entomology | 2 |
| and | ||
| ENTOM 306 | Animal Health Entomology Lab | 1 |
| 6 | ||
| At least 9 credit hours from Block A and/or Block B are also required. Courses offered outside the Department of Entomology (Block B) can count toward the minor if they are requirements/electives of specific curricula or if prior approval is obtained from the minor advisor. | ||
| Block A: Entomology courses | ||
| ENTOM 620 | Insecticides: Properties and Laws | 2 |
| ENTOM 692 | Insect Ecology | 2 |
| ENTOM 767 | Insect Pest Management | 3 |
| ENTOM 799 | Problems in Entomology: | 1-3 |
| Insect Behavior | 3 | |
| Insect Ecology | 3 | |
| Insect Genetics | 3 | |
| Insect Physiology | 3 | |
| Biological Control | 3 | |
| Insect Control by Host | ||
| Plant Resistance | 3 | |
| Insects of Stored Products | 3 | |
| Seminar: Special Topics | 1 | |
| Block B: Courses offered by other departments | ||
| The following, or other minor advisor-approved courses, may count toward the minor. | ||
| BIOL 455 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 529 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 612 | Introductory Limnology | 4 |
| BIOL 625 | Animal Parasitology | 4 |
| BIOL 515 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| GRSC 651 | Food and Feed Plant Sanitation | 4 |
| HORT 582 | Horticultural Pest Management | 3 |
| PLPTH 500 | Principles of Plant Pathology | 3 |
| PLPTH 585 | Crop Diseases | 2 |
| PLPTH 590 | Landscape Diseases | 2 |
Entomology minors
A minor in entomology can be obtained in conjunction with any major field of study and students are encouraged to do so. The following degree programs, however, lend themselves particularly well to an entomology minor.
Animal sciences and industry
Entomology minor
In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the major in animal sciences and industry, students receiving a minor in entomology must take the following courses:
| ENTOM 305 | Animal Health Entomology | 2 |
| ENTOM 306 | Animal Health Entomology Lab | 1 |
| ENTOM 300 | Economic Entomology | 3 |
| or | ||
| ENTOM 312 | General Entomology | 2 |
| and | ||
| ENTOM 313 | General Entomology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 625 | Animal Parasitology* | 4 |
| *Replaces ENTOM 710 | 10 | |
| At least 5 hours of approved electives from the courses listed below: | ||
| BIOL 455 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| ENTOM 620 | Insecticides: Properties and Laws | 2 |
| ENTOM 692 | Insect Ecology | 2 |
| ENTOM 710 | Insect Taxonomy | 3 |
| ENTOM 799* | Problems in Entomology: | 1-3 |
| *See under General Requirements for complete course listing. | ||
Consulting and production option in agronomy
Entomology minor
In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the crop consulting option of agronomy, students receiving a minor in entomology must take the following courses:
| ENTOM 312 | General Entomology | 2 |
| ENTOM 313 | General Entomology Lab | 1 |
| ENTOM 612 | Insect Pest Diagnosis | 3 |
| ENTOM 710 | Insect Taxonomy | 3 |
| 9 | ||
| At least 6 hours of approved electives from the courses listed below: | ||
| ENTOM 692 | Insect Ecology | 2 |
| ENTOM 767 | Insect Pest Management | 3 |
| ENTOM 799* | Problems in Entomology: | 1-3 |
| *See under General Requirements for complete course listing. | ||
Grain science and industry
Entomology minor
In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the major in grain science and industry, students receiving a minor in entomology must take the following courses:
| ENTOM 312 | General Entomology | 2 |
| ENTOM 313 | General Entomology Lab | 1 |
| ENTOM 710 | Insect Taxonomy | 3 |
| ENTOM 799 | Problems in Entomology: | |
| Insects of Stored Products | 3 | |
| GRSC 651 | Food and Feed Plant Sanitation | 4 |
| 13 | ||
| At least 2 hours of approved electives from the courses listed below: | ||
| ENTOM 692 | Insect Ecology | 2 |
| ENTOM 767 | Insect Pest Management | 3 |
| ENTOM 799* | Problems in Entomology | 1-3 |
| *See under General Requirements for complete course listing. | ||
Horticulture degree
Entomology
In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the major in horticulture, students receiving a minor in entomology must take the following courses:
| ENTOM 320 | Horticultural Entomology | 3 |
| or | ||
| ENTOM 312 | General Entomology | 2 |
| and | ||
| ENTOM 313 | General Entomology Lab | 1 |
| ENTOM 710 | Insect Taxonomy | 3 |
| PLPTH 500 | Principles of Plant Pathology | 3 |
| 9 | ||
| At least 4 hours of approved electives from the courses listed below: | ||
| PLPTH 590 | Landscape Diseases | 2 |
| ENTOM 692 | Insect Ecology | 2 |
| ENTOM706 | External Insect Morphology | 3 |
| ENTOM 767 | Insect Pest Management | 3 |
| ENTOM 799* | Problems in Entomology | 1-3 |
| *See General Requirements for complete course listing. | ||
Entomology courses
ENTOM 300. Economic Entomology. (2 or 3) II. Classification, life histories, habits, and principles of control of important economic insects. For agriculture majors. Two hours lec. and two hours lab a week. For the 2 credit option, students must have completed ENTOM 305 or 312 or 320 for full credit, and must receive permission from the instructor. Students who take the course for two credits will only have to meet during approximately weeks 6 through 16 of the semester, which covers strategies of control and pests of commodities. The 3-credit option is available to students who wish to take the entire course for credit.
ENTOM 301. Insects and People. (3) I. Intended for undergraduate nonmajors as part of the university general education curriculum. The focus will be on the global impact of insects and their relatives on human concerns, from acting as disease vectors, agricultural pests, and pollinators to their roles in art, history, and religion. Two hours lec. and one one-hour interactive session a week.
ENTOM 305. Animal Health Entomology. (2) I. Introduction to biology of arthropods that affect animal health. The main focus is on strategies to manage arthropods that negatively affect the health and productivity of animals, including beef and dairy cattle, swine, poultry, horses, sheep, goats, pets, and urban wildlife. This course is particularly recommended for students interested in animal science, pre-veterinary medicine, and other agricultural curricula. Two hours lec./demo a week.
ENTOM 306. Animal Health Entomology Laboratory. (1) I. This laboratory course complements ENTOM 305 and offers hands-on experience in identification and management of arthropods of veterinary importance. Includes field trips to food animal operations. One two-hour lab a week.
ENTOM 312. General Entomology. (2) I, II. A basic study of insects and related arthropods, their structure, physiology, behavior, and relations to plants and animals, including man. Two hours lec. a week.
ENTOM 313. General Entomology Laboratory. (1) I, II. Identification, food preferences, and habitat preferences of the common insects. Two hours a week.
ENTOM 320. Horticultural Entomology. (2 or 3) I. Biological principles and management considerations for insects and related arthropods affecting horticulture. Practical application of classification and life history information for accurate recognition, monitoring, and pest management decisions. Control tactics and conservation of beneficial species. Two hours lec. and two hours lab a week. For the 2-credit option, students must have completed ENTOM 300 or 305 or 312 for full credit, and must receive permission from the instructor. Students who take the course for two credits will only have to meet during approximately weeks 6 through 16 of the semester, which covers general pest management concepts and procedures and specific applications for horticultural entomology. The 3-credit option is available to students who wish to take the entire course for credit.
ENTOM 599. Problems in Entomology. (Var.) I, II, S. Undergraduate research and/or independent study in various areas of entomology. Pr.: Consent of instructor.
Undergraduate and graduate credit
ENTOM 612. Insect Pest Diagnosis. (2) I. Odd years. Diagnosis of plant damage by insects and mites, recognition of harmful insects and mites and beneficial insects. Emphasis on field crop pests but pests of other crops will be considered if there is sufficient interest. One hour lec. and two hours lab a week. Recommended pr.: ENTOM 300 or 312 or 710.
ENTOM 620. Insecticides: Properties and Laws. (2) II. Even years. Introduction to insecticides as arthropod control agents, including their classification, formulation, properties, mode of action, metabolism, resistance, benefits and environmental impact, and federal and state laws that regulate the development, sale, use, and storage of insecticides. Two hours lec. a week. Recommended pr.: CHM 110.
ENTOM 635. Introduction to Plant Resistance to Pests. (2) I. Even years, during first half of semester. Basic concepts of the biology, ecology, genetics, and breeding for pest resistance in plants. Four hours lec. and discussion a week. Pr.: ENTOM 300 or PLPTH 500 or ENTOM 312 and 313, and one course in plant or animal genetics. Same as PLPTH 635.
ENTOM 680. Aquatic Entomology. (3) I. Odd years. Biology and ecology of aquatic insect orders and families, their roles in aquatic ecosystems, relationships to people, and use as sensitive biomonitoring agents to detect ecological disturbances. Labs teach sampling techniques and use of keys to identify aquatic insects to family and selected genera. Two hours lec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: ENTOM 312 and 313; or BIOL 201.
ENTOM 692. Insect Ecology. (3) II, in odd years. Abiotic and biotic factors underlying the distribution, abundance, and dynamics of insects. How to measure these factors, how they affect insect population processes, interactions, and community structure, especially in agricultural systems. Emphasis on basic concepts and their application, experimental methods, and field techniques. One hour lec. and 2 two-hour labs a week. Recommended pr.: BIOL 303, BIOL 529, or ENTOM 312.
ENTOM 710. Insect Taxonomy. (3) I, in odd years. Laboratory study of insect order and family-group identification. Proper preparation and maintenance of adult insect collections. Lecture stresses the principles of systematics, legal principles of nomenclature, and the phylogeny of insects and their near relatives. For beginning graduate and advanced undergraduate students. One hour lec. and six hours lab a week. Pr.: ENTOM 300; or 312 and 313.
ENTOM 745. Plant Resistance to Insects. (2) I. Even years during second half of semester. Plant resistance in crop plants including transgenic plants. Insect behavior, physiology, and ecology as affected by resistance. Discussion of methods of assessing and quantifying plant resistance. Pr.: ENTOM/PLPTH 635.
ENTOM 767. Insect Pest Management. (3) I. Even years. A presentation of the items necessary to consider in order to develop a sound pest management program, from identification of a problem to recommendations made to growers for dealing with a pest. Two hours lec. and one lab a week. Recommended pr.: ENTOM 300 or 312.
ENTOM 799. Problems in Entomology. (Var.) I, II, S. For nonthesis or nondissertation studies. Work in various fields of entomology. Pr.: Consent of instructor.