Applied Entomology

1. Presentation of the course and introduction. Elements of general entomology. Entomology applied to fields of inquiry other than agriculture: medical and veterinary, forensic, urban, commodity and forestry entomology. 2. Elements of population ecology. Population dynamics. Models of growth of a population of insects. Estimating population size. Population fluctuations. r and K Strategies in r and K-selective development environments. Life tables, demographic patterns. 3. Multitrophic interactions Tritrophic and semiochemical relations. Plant-insect interaction. Plant defence strategies 4. Pest control Concept of damage and its assessment, tolerance threshold. Main methods of control: integrated protection (IPM), key-pest, habitat management. Concept of agro-ecosystem: vineyard agro-ecosystem. The main phytophages of agricultural crops and methods of control. Active molecules for pest control, the pesticides bank and plant health legislation. Transgenic plants. Symbiosis and symbiotic resistance. Biocontrol, symbiotic control, and paratransgenesis. 5. Allochthonous insect species. Historical and recently introduced allochthonous species. Impact of allochthonous species on ecosystems. Possible management strategies for allochthonous species. Case studies: successes and failures. 6. Measuring and conserving biodiversity (genetic, specific, ecosystem), with particular reference to the agro-ecosystemBiodiversity: sub-alpha, alpha, beta, gamma. Planning sampling: objectives and techniques. How to measure biodiversity. Molecular taxonomy: DNA barcoding and metabarcoding. 7. Insects as bioindicators, introduction Soil invertebrates: biological soil quality index SQI, ratio of mites to springtails. Aquatic invertebrates and extended biotic index EBI.