Università Roma Tre

1) Introduction: aim of the course; entomology in the history of Zoology and more generally in the history of science; role of entomology in modern biological disciplines; basic and applied entomology; relationships of insects with man and the environment.
2) Generalities on Arthropods; phylogenesis problems of Arthropods; insects in the evolution of terrestrial Arthropods; general information on the Atelocerata, and in particular on the Hexapods; outline of paleontology of insects; insect origin; significance of the evolutionary success of insects.
3) Insects as land animals; exoskeleton; structure of the integument and cuticle; chemical and physical colors. External anatomy: regions of the body; sclerites; primary and secondary segmentation; appendices and wings.
4) Movement: musculature and endoskeleton; the race; the jump; origin and mechanics of flight; adaptations to aquatic life and importance of surface forces, swimming; the excavation; raptorial and phoretic limbs.
5) Breathing; breathing in the aquatic environment; water reabsorption; excretion; adaptations to temperature changes.
6) Nutrition: cephalic appendages and mouthparts; anatomy and physiology of the digestive system; food strategies.
7) Circulatory system.
8) Reproduction: structure and functional morphology of the segments and genital appendages; reproductive systems and reproductive behaviors; parthenogenesis; pedogenesis; polyembryony; meaning of heterogony; eggs; sperm.
9) Embryonic and postembryonic development: growth and metamorphosis; types of larvae and types of metamorphosis; diapause; physiology; endocrine glands.
10) Communication in insects. Nervous system: components and functioning. Endocrine system: hormones and endocrine organs. Exocrine glands. Perception of the environment. Compound eyes. Vision. Ocelli. Mechanoreceptors. Coloration. Light production. Mechanical communication: production of sound and vibrations of the substrate. Chemical communication: pheromones and secretions of interspecific significance.
11) Intraspecific relationships; parental care; society; interspecific relationships; predation; parasitism.
12) Orientation; migrations; dispersion.
13) Classification: diagnostic characters at the level of orders and outline of the most important families, with particular regard to the Italian fauna and the aspects of biology and ecology. Phylogeny of insects.
Esapodi Apterigoti: COLLEMBOLA, PROTURA, DIPLURA, MICROCORYPHIA, ZYGENTOMA. Paleotteri: EPHEMEROPTERA, ODONATA. Polineotteri (orthopteroid orders): PLECOPTERA, EMBIOPTERA, DICTYOPTERA, ISOPTERA, GRYLLOBLATTODEA, DERMAPTERA, PHASMIDA, ORTOPTERA, ZORAPTERA, MANTOFASMATODEA. Paraneoptera (emitteroid orders): PSOCOPTERA, PHTHIRAPTERA, THYSANOPTERA, HETEROPTERA. Homoptera. Oligoneotteri: MECOPTERA, TRICHOPTERA, LEPIDOPTERA, DIPTERA, SIPHONAPTERA, MEGALOPTERA, RAPHIDIOPTERA, PLANIPENNIA, COLEOPTERA, STREPSIPTERA, HYMENOPTERA.
14) Aspects of applied entomology: medical entomology, agricultural entomology, entomology in environmental assessment, insect conservation, urban entomology, veterinary entomology, entomology applied to conservation of cultural heritage.

P.J. Gullan & P.S. Cranston “Lineamenti di Entomologia” Zanichelli
R.G. Davies “Lineamenti di Entomologia” Zanichelli

G. Grimaldi “Evolution of the Insects”
R.F. Chapman “The Insects: structure and function” Hodder & Stoughton, London
C. Gillot “Entomology” Plenum Press, New York
O.W. Richards & R.G. Davies “Imm’s general textbook of entomology” Chapman & Hall, London Vol. I e II
M. Chinery “Guida agli insetti d’Europa” Muzzio

Office Hours: every day of the week by appointment by email (andrea.digiulio@uniroma3.it)