ENY 3541 -- TREE AND SHRUB INSECTS
3 credits

updated January 2005

Instructors:
Dr. Eileen Buss
Bldg. 970 Natural Area Drive
Entomology & Nematology Dept.
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Tel: (352) 392-1901, x116
Fax: (352) 392-0190
eabuss@ufl.edu

Dr. John Foltz
Bldg. 970 Natural Area Drive
Entomology & Nematology Dept.
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Tel: (352) 392-1901, x130
Fax: (352) 392-0190
Email: foltz@ufl.edu
foltz@ufl.edu

Dr. Forrest Howard
3205 College Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7719
Tel: (954) 577-6332
Fax: (954) 475-4125
fhoward@ufl.edu

Office hours: We can be reached at work via email, fax, or phone during normal business hours. However, we travel frequently and are not always able to respond quickly. Please understand this and be patient, and we will be available at designated “real-time” appointments. Please use email as a means of contact during non-business hours.

Course Objectives: Insects are important components of forest and urban landscape ecosystems. We will focus on ecological interactions between trees, shrubs, and insects, and how those interactions are affected by environmental and human-related factors (emphasis on southeastern U.S. and subtropical pests). Students will learn to identify key insect pests and beneficials, their life cycles, and their impacts in relation to management strategies. Students will gain an appreciation for the diversity and complexity of insect populations.

Prerequisites: This course is aimed at students and professionals in forestry, horticulture, natural resources, or any pest management discipline. There are no formal prerequisites, although an understanding of the fundamentals of college-level biology is assumed. The course is taught at a level suitable for students without prior pest management training.

Textbook:Warren T. Johnson and Howard Lyon. 1991. Insects that feed on trees and shrubs 2nd Edition, Revised. Comstock Publishing Associates. Cornell University Press.

Assignments: Students will be given several samples of insect submissions and letters of inquiry during the semester, and you will have one week to identify the unknowns and explain how you would respond to these inquiries. Students may use any written materials to identify the samples but must work independently and not consult anyone about the determinations. We will reserve the last 15 minutes of each class for such reports and discussions.

Course Outline
- Basic insect biology and physiology
- Characteristics of common trees and shrubs in the southeastern U.S.
- Signs and symptoms of arthropod infestations
- Defoliators
Exam #1
- Sap-feeders
- Terminal, shoot, twig, and root insects
- Cone and seed-feeders
- Gall-makers and leafminers
Exam #2
- Phloem-borers
- Wood-borers
- Hazard trees and liability issues
- Biological controls
Exam #3
- Cultural controls
- Chemical controls
- IPM of urban tree and shrub insect pests
Comprehensive final exam

Grading: Grades will be posted on the course website, but students may only access their own personal grades using a password. Grades will not be given out over the telephone or by email. Letter grades in this course will be determined in the following manner:

100 pts Exam #1
100 pts Exam #2
100 pts Exam #3
100 pts Comprehensive final exam
100 pts Graded assignments
500 pts total

Grading scale
A 90 - 100% (450 - 500 pts)
B 80 - 89% (400 - 449 pts)
C 70 - 79% (350 - 399 pts)
D 60 - 69% (300 - 349 pts)
E 60% (≤ 479 pts)

Make-up Policy To make up a missed examination, you will be required to provide appropriate written documentation (e.g., from a doctor in case of a severe illness, or a funeral notice or obituary in case of a death of a close relative). Letting us know of a problem or conflict ahead of time will help. [The penalty for turning in late assignments or insect collections is half a letter grade per day.]

Critical Dates for Exams or Other Work: Please see the printed syllabus for scheduled dates of exams. Students will be expected to sign the following statement on all exams: "On my honor I pledge that I have neither given nor received assistance in the completion of this test."

Class Attendance Policy: Students are expected, but not required, to attend.

Additional General Information: The following information applies to all courses at the University of Florida.

We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standard of honesty and integrity.

Academic Honesty: As a result of completing the registration form at the University of Florida, every student has signed the following statement: "I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their academic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the University."

Copyrighted Materials and Software Use: All students are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing copyrighted material and software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation.

University Counseling Services: Resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals which interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:

1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, personal and career counseling;
2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, personal counseling;
3. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counseling; and
4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling.



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