Course: Insect Physiology

» List of faculties » FBI » KZO
Course title Insect Physiology
Course code KZO/405
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Lesson
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Frequency of the course In academic years starting with an even year (e.g. 2016/2017), in the winter semester.
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 6
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory, Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction unspecified
Work placements unspecified
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Štěrbová Helena, Ing.
  • Hůla Petr, Mgr.
  • Kodrík Dalibor, prof. RNDr. CSc.
Course content
Content of lectures: Growth and locomotion (integument, cuticle, molting, muscle contraction, legs and locomotion - crawling, walking, swimming and flying, function of wings). Alimentary canal and digestion (types of digestion, peritrophic membrane, filter chamber, microorganisms, fat body). Gaseous exchange (function of tracheal system in terrestrial and aquatic insects). Excretion (toxic metabolic products, Malpighian tubules, osmoregulation, cryptonefric system). Circulatory system (hemolymph, circulation, heart, immunity). Light production (mechanism and function). External factors affecting insect metabolism (temperature and termoregulation, photoperiod and diapause). Nervous system (basic functioning, mediators, function of insect brain and CNS, controlling behavior). Sense organs (mechanoreception, chemoreception, termoreception, photoreception and vision). Endocrine systém (function and chemical structure of hormones, mode of action, ecdysteroids, juvenile hormones and juvenoids, neurohormones, pheromones). Reproduction (male and female reproductive system, copulation and fertilization, control of reproduction, vitellogenesis). Insect products (function of silk glands, production of silk, honey, wax and venoms). Content of practices: Dissection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) larvae and Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera) adults - functional anatomy. Insect haemolymph I: bleeding, haemolymph melanization, protein determination using BCA-BSA method in various developmental stages and under various physiological conditions at selected insect species. Female and male protein patterns of Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera) determined by electrophoretic methods. Haemolymph II: changes of storage compound concentrations (glycids and lipids) during development and under various physiological conditions at selected insect species. Determination of glycide concentration by phenol (anthron) reagens, determinaton of lipids by sulpho-phosphovanillin test. Basic endocrinology techniques: dissection of endocrine organs, brain, corpora allata, corpora cardiaca, prothoracal glands, determination of ecdysteroid production. Other endocrine techniques: ligature, allatectomy, ovariectomy. Lepidopteran silk: silk glands production of G. mellonella (Bombyx mori), changes of silk glands activity during development.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Laboratory
  • Preparation for exam - 40 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The course describes basic principles of insect physiology and functional anatomy. The basic differences between the insect and vertebrate physiological mechanisms are accented.
Students will acquire the basic knowledge about the function of individual tissues, organs and organ systems in the insect body. In the practical exercises students will manipulate with living insects, dissect the insect organs and determinate the basic biochemical and physiological characteristics in them.
Prerequisites
Recommended course: Animal Physiology, KZO/230

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination, Development of laboratory protocols

For the exam passing at least 60 percent success is required
Recommended literature
  • Gullan P. J. and Cranston P. S.: The Insects: An Outline of Entomology, Chapman & Hall, London, 1995.
  • Chapman N. F.: The Insects. Structure and Function. 4th edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1998.
  • Kleine B., Rossmanith W.G.: Hormones and the Endocrine system, Springer, London, 2016. ISBN 978-3-319-15060-4.
  • Kodrík D.: Fyziologie hmyzu, učební texty, ENTÚ AVČR a BF JU v Českých Budějovicích, 2016.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Experimental Biology (1) Category: Biology courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Secondary Schools Teacher Training in Biology (1) Category: Pedagogy, teacher training and social care - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Secondary Schools Teacher Training in Biology (1) Category: Pedagogy, teacher training and social care - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Zoology (1) Category: Biology courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Winter