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Insect Behavior
Insect Behavior
Insect Behavior
Department of Zoology
Annotation
The course aims at helping the students to understand how a number of insect behavioral systems
function, and gaining insight into the ways in which behavioral research can be conducted. It
presumes from the students some basic introduction to entomology and animal behavior.
The course aims at helping the students to understand how a number of insect behavioral systems
function, and gaining insight into the ways in which behavioral research can be conducted. It
presumes from the students some basic introduction to entomology and animal behavior.
Neurological and endocrine basis of insect behavior: Neuroanatomical basis of insect behavior;
principles of neurophysiology and sensory physiology; reflexes and repeated
motor patterns; release of stored programs; mental capacity of insects; hormonal control of
behavior; environmental control of behavior.
Spatial adjustment: Terrestrial, aquatic and aerial locomotion; kinesis; taxis; orientation to
environmental cues: radiant, magnetic, emitted energy; dispersal; migration.
Visual communication: Visual receptors: compound eyes, ocelli, stemmata, anatomy &
function; light perception in insects; production of light in insects; visual signaling; functions of
visual signals: aggregation & dispersion, alarm, courtship & territorial signals.
Ovipositon behavior and care of young : Ovipara, ovovivipara, larvipara, pupipara; site
selection; brood care: parental care, nesting behavior, involvement of males; special modes of
insect reproduction: polyembryony, parthenogenesis, paedogenesis, morphs formation etc.