BSPM 356C - Horticultural Entomology: Landscape Plants

Overview:

BSPM 356C (Horticultural Entomology: Landscape Plants) is the third of three, one credit courses that collectively cover the insects that one may commonly find feeding on plants in yards, gardens and landscape settings. Horticultural Entomology (BSPM 356 A-C) is designed to provide a firm supporting background in entomology for students pursuing degrees in horticultural programs. However, these courses are also aimed to provide a means of continuing education for those already professionally involved in plant protection. This sequence of courses should also be of interest to most anyone who has an interest in plants and their care, and would like to learn more about the insects found in yards and gardens and to learn about their management.

In BSPM 356C (Horticultural Entomology: Landscape Plants) the focus is on insects and mites associated with shade trees, shrubs, turfgrass and other ornamental landscape plants. For all key pest groups students will learn to identify the insects and their associated injury so they can assess damage potential in field situations. Students will understand best management practices for these pests and learn how to locate available resources that can assist in handling specific pest problems. This will be done through a combination of activities that include online lectures with associated discussion, development of student projects, and shared resources.

This is a five-week asynchronous course. There is no official meeting time and during the week students are able to set their own schedule of class participation. Each week on Monday at noon MST the lectures, recommended readings, and weekly project assignments will be released.

Topics to be covered include:

• Week One: Insects that chew on leaves of trees, shrubs and ornamental plants (caterpillars, beetles, sawflies)
• Week Two: Leafminers, insects in tips/terminals, bark beetles
• Week Three: Bark beetles, wood borers, gall makers
• Week Four: Sucking insects and mites (aphids, scale insects, plant bugs, spider mites)
• Week Five: Turfgrass insects

Additional courses in this series are BSPM 356A (Horticultural Entomology Introduction) and BSPM 356B (Horticultural Entomology: Food Crops), which are offered sequentially. BSPM 356A, a suitable prerequisite or instructor override, is required to enroll in either BSPM 356B and/or BSPM 356C.