Agricultural Entomology & Zoology Theory

The aim of this course is the students via teaching methodologies applied and knowledge provided to recognize easily the insect, mite, nematode etc and its caused damages to crop plants and afterwards to implement the appropriate control methods in relation with conventional and integrated management of crop production.

Objectives

The students to obtain adequate knowledge of parasites and insects that are endemic in Hellas and worldwide focusing onto species are able to cause economical losses at country level. To recognize the insects, their morphology, habits and their role to disease transmittance and to propose potent ways of controlling all these pests, as well as biological control. To choose the appropriate procedure and technique for the insect samples and culture damage diagnosis and to understand the control methods as a tool to solve these crop protection problems.

Prerequisites

No other course knowledge is necessary.

Syllabus

Agricultural entomology fields. Morphology, physiology, life-cycle stages and metamorphosis of insects. Insect sensations, trap systems, attracting compounds traps, feedings compounds traps, colored traps, pheromones traps. Orders of insects damaging agricultural cultures and diagnosis their characteristic plant damages. Control methods of agricultural insects: chemical, biological, biotechnological, integrated pest management. Most important pests of Greek cultures and potent ways of controlling them. Other pests of agricultural significance. Biology-Ecology and control methods of mites, nematodes, mollusca, rodents and aves damaging cultures. Morhplogy-anatomy-reproduction-life-cycle stages (ecdysis, metamorphosis)-taxonomy of insects. Diagnostic characters of incomplete insects. Hemimetabola insects damaging cultures [ Orthoptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera (Homoptera, Heteroptera)]. Olometabola insects damaging cultures (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera). Natural enemies of pests (predators and parasitoids). Mites damaging cultures and their natural enemies (morphology, life-cycle stages). Methods of extracting nematodes from plant tissues and soil.