Topics Covered Since Exam 1

Insect Ecology

Population Dynamics

• Exponential growth model - unlimited growth
• Logistic Growth Model - growth limited by resources (carrying capacity)

Predator-prey relationships and biological control

• Lotka-Volterra model of predator-prey populations
• Insect parasitoids
• Pest resurgence

Social Insects

• Characteristics of eusociality:
• Reproductive division of labor (with or without sterile castes)
• Overlapping generations
• Cooperative care of young
• Hymenoptera and Isoptera include most social insects
• Advantages of insect sociality:

Pollination

• Evolution of flowers
• Honeybee waggle dance: communication of direction and distance

Mimicry and Camouflage

• Camouflage can be considered to be a form of mimicry where an insect uses a background or object, such as a leaf or a twig, as its model.
• Batesian mimicry: where a harmless mimic poses as harmful
• Mullerian mimicry: where two or more harmful species mutually advertise themselves as harmful

Invasive Species

• Definition of an invasive Species
• Why are tropical islands so susceptible to damage by invasive species?
• Pathways
• Why do so many invasive insects belong to Hemiptera?
• Response to invasive insects