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ZOOL220 Entomology

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Tone Birkemoe, Rannveig Margrete Vigdisdatter Jacobsen

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:Lectures: 18 hours. Laboratory exercises: 16 hours. Field course: 25 hours. Students" own effort: 65 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel, June block.

About this course

The main aim of the course is to increase knowledge and interest about insects and arachnids. The course focus on biodiversity, taxonomy and the insects ecological functions. In addition we focus on their important for humans as pest as well as providers of ecosystem services. The students learn to identify major groups of insects and arachnids to order and/or family level by laboratory exercises. Ecology, biology and sampling methods of selected insect groups is learned through small, practical projects at the field course supervised by teachers.

Learning outcome

A student that has completed the course should have learned the following:

Knowledge: The student will have broad knowledge about insects and arachnids in Norway. Emphasized topics are systematics, biodiveristy, food choice and biology as well as knowledge about their function in ecosystems as well as for humans.The student know how to update the knowledge within the field and know how to sample insects and arachnids by standard collection methods.

Skills: The student should be able to use their knowledge of insects and arachnids in a nature conservation perspective as well as in relation to damage/beneficial effects to humans. The student should be familiar with the various insect and arachnid groups, and be able to identify to order or family level. The student should be confident with various collecting methods and be able to complete and present an small investigation on insects/arachnids.

General competence: The student can complete a small project as part of a group and communicate the results orally.

  • Learning activities
    The education is based on weekly lectures and lab courses. In addition, the students will work in groups on a small ecological project and present the results for the other students at a three days summer course. The students can test their systematic skills on available test collections of insects/arachnids.
  • Teaching support
    The candidate´s learning can be supported through academic supervision during the field excursion, laboratory work and in the teacher´s office hours.
  • Prerequisites
    ZOOL100.
  • Recommended prerequisites
    ECOL100.
  • Assessment method

    Combined assessment:

    Written 3-hours exam in May counts 2/3 and a taxonomic exam at the last laboratory course counts 1/3. Both evaluated exams has to be passed.



    Written exam Grading: Letter grades Permitted aids: A1 No calculator, no other aids Test on the last lab course Grading: Letter grades
  • Examiner scheme
    An external examiner will take part in formulating questions for the exam and for evaluation of the written exam.
  • Mandatory activity
    Approved laboratory exercises and field course.
  • Notes
    A stereomicroscope will be available for the systematic test.
  • Teaching hours
    Lectures: 18 hours. Laboratory exercises: 16 hours. Field course: 3 days.
  • Admission requirements
    Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)