In Lab: Always bring the printouts and laboratory handouts (on the web) to lab.  I expect you to make use of your entire lab period each week.  That means when you are finished with the week's lab activities I expect you to work on your collection and/or study other insect groups.  Doing this will provide ample time to finish your collection in a relaxed manner, helping you to avoid the last minute insanity felt by those who procrastinate!  I highly recommend you bring your own specimens to lab each week to get instruction on identification and curating your collection.  This will help you keep up to date on your collection throughout the semester.

Exams:  Two laboratory exams will be given during the semester.  No make-up exams will be given except in the case of illness (you must have a physician’s note if you miss an exam due to illness).  Students must come to the lab period they normally attend for the midterm and final unless a switch is pre-arranged with the instructor. 

Collection Project:  An insect collection is required for this course and constitutes 50% of your lab grade.  Read the collection requirements as soon as possible.

Equipment:
You need a small field notebook and a permanent pen (pen recommendations are: Staedtler pigment liner, or Pigma Micron pen, in sizes 005 for labels and your notebook, available at the co-op). Other equipment, such as nets, kill jars, pins and boxes will be signed out and must be returned at the end of the semester.  Students will be responsible for replacing lost lab equipment and will be given an incomplete until equipment is returned.  Other items such as black lights, beating sheets, aspirators and aquatic nets will be available for checking out.  Speak to me or to Dr. Abbott to obtain these items.  For those of you serious about the study of insects, I recommend purchasing your own compact field guide (Peterson’s Field Guide to the Insects; about six dollars) at Half Price Books on Guadalupe.

Forceps will only be available for in-laboratory use. 

Lab Access:
ESB 130 is accessible to anyone in class throughout the semester except during scheduled class periods and during weeks with exams. A code will unlock the lab door.  The code is ______. DO NOT GIVE THIS CODE TO ANYONE OUTSIDE OF CLASS!!!!  Previous classes have seen thefts in the lab, so protect yourself and your equipment - protect the code. 

Don’t expect access to the lab when the building is locked – especially Friday night and Saturday afternoon.  Plan ahead and get anything you will need during your lab or before 6pm on Friday.  The building schedule follows that of the computer labs on the first floor. Campus security may ask you to leave if you are seen after hours (explain you are in the class, and they should let you stay).

Lab Schedule:
Week 1 (Aug 29 & 30):  NO LAB
Week 2 (Sep 5 & 6):  Lab introduction.  Overview of non-hexapod Arthropoda.  Equipment sign out and instruction on collecting methods, materials, specimen storage and curation. Mini fieldtrip!--local collecting in park north of campus.     
Week 3 (Sep 12 & 13):  Hexapoda: Entognatha (Collembola, Protura, Diplura) & Apterygote insects (Microcoryphia, Thysanura) Scientific visualization presentation.  Begin scientific illustrations (2) of insect external morphology. 
Week 4 (Sep 19 & 20):  Paleoptera: Ephemeroptera, Odonata & Orthopteroids (Orthoptera through Blattodea).  Scientific illustrations due.  Curation demo: spreading and mounting Lepidoptera.
Week 5 (Sep 26 & 27):  Brackenridge Field Laboratories Field Trip-. Meet at BFL in the "breeze-way" (between the two buildings) promptly at 1:30.  Internal morphology lesson, dissection, & illustration! 
Week 6 (Oct 3 & 4):  Hemipteroids (Hemiptera, Thysanoptera, Psocoptera, Phthiraptera).  Curation demos: point-mounting minute insects.  Internal morphology illustration due.
Week 7 (Oct 10 & 11):  Hornsby Bend Field Trip: Be ready  to leave from Mustang Statue at 24th and San Jacinto at 1:00.
Week 8 (Oct 17 & 18):  Endopterygota: Coleoptera, Neuroptera.  Slide-mounting lesson. 
Week 9 (Oct 24 & 25):  Lab Practical #1:  Arthropod systematics, taxomony and morphology; specimen curation.
Week 10 (Oct 31 & Nov 1):  Endopterygota: Hymenoptera.  Bring in your COLLECTION.  Please have a MINIMUM of 10 orders and 25 families.
Week 11 (Nov 7 & 8):  Endopterygota: Trichoptera, Lepidoptera. 
Week 12 (Nov 14 & 15):  Endopterygota: Siphonaptera, Mecoptera, Strepsiptera, Diptera.
Week 13 (Nov 21 & 22):  Thanksgiving: NO LAB 
Week 14 (Nov 28 & 29):  Collection check & practical review.
Week 15 (Dec 5 & 6):  Lab Practical #2 - Identification-know your insects!

******** Collections: Due Friday, 7 December: 5:00PM -NO EXCEPTIONS********