0 or 4 credits
Fall 2025 Laboratory Lecture Upper Division
A multisource approach to understanding insect taxonomy, morphology, and evolution. We will compare traditional classification schemes with new hypotheses of insect evolutionary relationships based on an array of data sources. Students learn the importance of natural history collections and how to prepare insect specimens for permanent storage. We will explore insect diversity through hands-on laboratory exercises and field research.
Learning Outcomes1Identify insects to family by to sight.
2Implement field techniques for collecting insect specimens.
3Demonstrate proper insect collection preparation and curation.
4Understand the principles of insect morphology, classification, and nomenclature.
5Understand phylogenetic hypotheses and their implementation in insect taxonomy.
6Integrate skills through a final class project on insect evolution.
Prerequisites
made by Purdue students.