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Insects make up about half of the known diversity on the Earth and are considered as essential part of all terrestrial
ecosystems. The goal of this course is to provide basic knowledge on insects and improve the insight into their diversity. Lectures are focused on various aspects of entomology, such as systematic entomology and insect phylogeny, as well as ecology, ethology, and morphology of insects. This course does not require any previous knowledge of the subject and is thus recommended for bachelor students, including foreign ones. The whole course is English (for the Czech alternative, see Úvod do entomologie, MB170P126). Last update: Peterková Jindřiška, Ing. (04.05.2023)
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1. Introduction to Entomology, brief history of the subject and overview on methodological aspects of studies of insects, introduction into phylogenetic perspective on systematical entomology 2. Importance of insects for people, insects as pests and biological control, parasitology, conservation 3. Introduction into evolutionary history of insects, paleoentomology. overview of most important morphological adaptations of insects (body segmentation, development) 4. Physiology of insects (cuticle and ecdysis, organ systems in insects, neuroethology) 5. Apterous Hexapoda and Palaeoptera (evolution and diversity) 6. Polyneoptera (evolution and diversity) 7. Paraneoptera (evolution and diversity) 8. Hymenoptera + Lepidoptera + Trichoptera (evolution and diversity) 9. Coleoptera + Strepsiptera + Neuropterida (evolution and diversity) 10. Diptera + Mecoptera (evolution and diversity) 11. Ecology of insects (biodiversity, biogeography, abiotic factors, interactions with other organisms) Last update: Peterková Jindřiška, Ing. (04.05.2023)
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After completing the course, students will be able to: 1. Define the position of hexapods in the arthropods and explain their evolutionary success. 2. Describe the basic morphology, ontogeny, and phylogeny of hexapods and list the key evolutionary innovations of the main lineages. 3. Identify and characterize the main groups of Hexapoda, including their synapomorphies. 4. Explain the basic principles of insect physiology, in particular the function of the respiratory, digestive, excretory, and endocrine systems. 5. Analyze the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on insect life and give examples of ecological adaptations. 6. Discuss the importance of insect interactions with other organisms, including competition, predation, mutualism, and communication. 7. Describe the importance of insect fossil evidence and explain its contribution to the reconstruction of phylogeny. 8. Explain the principles of applied entomology and assess the importance of insects in medicine, agriculture, and forestry. 9. Evaluate the importance of insects for biodiversity and nature conservation, including the issue of invasive species and monitoring. 10. Explain the basic principles of molecular entomology and give examples of the use of insects as model organisms. 11. Be able to use basic methods of insect research, work with samples, and perform simple identification of insect orders. 12. Compare the morphology adaptations of selected insect groups based on observation. Last update: Prokop Jakub, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (31.01.2026)
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