2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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Entomology (ENT)

ENT 2004 - Insects and Human Society (3 credits) 
Past, present, and future role of insects in human society. Insect biology, diversity, and identification of common insects and other arthropods. Effects of insects on disease transmission, global food security, and human health. Management of pests of plants, animals, insects as food, and its effects on environmental pollution. Critique popular science communication and its effect on public policy. Human perceptions of insect conflicts, benefits of insects, and arthropod conservation across the world.
Pathway Concept Area(s): 4 Reasoning in Natural Sci., 11 Intercultural&Global Aware. 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ENT 2254 - Bees and Beekeeping (2 credits) 
An introduction to honey bee biology, the social organization of the honey bee colony and to modern apiculture, including the use of bees for pollination. Topics on beekeeping include equipment, how to get started, and colony management practices. II
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
ENT 2264 - Bees and Beekeeping Laboratory (1 credit) 
A laboratory course which examines the principles and practices of modern apiculture as they relate to honey bee biology. An emphasis is placed on students gaining practical field experience in modern management techniques. II
Corequisite(s): ENT 2254 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lab, 1 Crd) 
ENT 2804 - Bees: Biology, Diversity, and Sustainability (3 credits) 
Foundational introduction to bees. Behavior, communication, and social organization of honey bees; diversity and use of alternative (non honey bee) pollinators; scientific inquiry in ecosystem services management; and current global challenges to and sustainable solutions for pollination in the modern-day agricultural landscape.
Pathway Concept Area(s): 4 Reasoning in Natural Sci., 11 Intercultural&Global Aware. 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ENT 2974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 2984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 3014 - Insect Biology (2 credits) 
Insect biology provides an introduction to the science of entomology. The course covers the diversity of insects, their biology and behavior, the importance of insects and insect control programs in agriculture, and the effects that insects have had on human history and culture. Laboratory (3024) is optional.
Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 1005 and BIOL 1006) or (BIOL 1105 and BIOL 1106) or (BIOL 1205H and BIOL 1206H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BIOL 3014 
ENT 3024 - Insect Biology Laboratory (2 credits) 
Taxonomy and ecology of insects commonly encountered. Identification of all orders and many common families. Ecological attributes of each taxon, including food, habitat, life cycle, and behavior. An insect collection is required. I
Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 1005 and BIOL 1006) or (BIOL 1105 and BIOL 1106) or (BIOL 1205H and BIOL 1206H) 
Corequisite(s): ENT 3014 
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 3 Lab, 2 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BIOL 3024 
ENT 3254 - Medical and Veterinary Entomology (3 credits) 
An introduction to the roles of insects and other arthropods in the direct causation of disease in humans and animals, and as vectors in the transmission of disease organisms. The epidemiology and replication cycles of vector-borne pathogens with major medical and veterinary importance will be examined. Information will be provided on the biology and behavior of disease vectors and external parasites, and on the annoying and venomous pests of humans and animals. Mechanisms of control will be discussed.
Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 1005 and BIOL 1006) or (BIOL 1105 and BIOL 1106) or (BIOL 1205H and BIOL 1206H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BIOL 3254 
ENT 3264 - Medical and Veterinary Entomology Laboratory (1 credit) 
Taxonomy and anatomy of insects and arthropods of medical and veterinary importance. Examination of feeding behavior and ecology. Emphasis on the mechanism of injury or pathogen transmission by each group.
Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 1105 and BIOL 1106) or (BIOL 1005 and BIOL 1006) or (BIOL 1205H and BIOL 1206H) 
Corequisite(s): ENT 3254 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lab, 1 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BIOL 3264 
ENT 3984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 4254 - Insect Pest Management (3 credits) 
Principles of insect pest management with application to the major insect pests found in Virginia. Pest management involves the utilization of all effective control practices in a program which is ecologically and economically efficient. This course is intended for all students with an interest in efficient agricultural production and in reducing losses to our most diverse competitor. One year of General Biology required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ENT 4264 - Pesticide Usage (3 credits) 
An interdisciplinary study of pesticides used in urban and agricultural environments. Topics studied will include: classification, toxicology, formulation, application techniques, safety, legal considerations, environmental impact, and research and development of new pesticides.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: PPWS 4264 
ENT 4354 - Aquatic Entomology (4 credits) 
Biology and taxonomy of insects and other macroinvertebrates most commonly encountered in freshwater environments. Selected aspects of biology, such as habitat, feeding, locomotion, and life history. Identification of individual taxa, mostly at family and genus level. Significance of these organism in aquatic ecology, pollution monitoring, and natural resource management.
Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 1005 and BIOL 1006) and (BIOL 1015 and BIOL 1016) or (BIOL 1105 and BIOL 1106 and BIOL 1115 and BIOL 1116) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BIOL 4354 
ENT 4484 - Freshwater Biomonitoring (4 credits) 
Concepts and practices of using macroinvertebrates and fish to monitor the environmental health of freshwater ecosystems. Effects of different types of pollution and environmental stress on assemblages of organisms and underlying ecological principles. Role of biological studies in environmental regulation. Study design, field and laboratory methods, data analysis and interpretation, verbal and written presentation of results.
Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 2804) and (BIOL 4004 or BIOL 4354 or ENT 4354 or FIW 4424 or FIW 4614) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BIOL 4484, FIW 4484 
ENT 4624 - Animal and Plant Biosafety and Biosecurity (3 credits) 
A One Health approach to the concept of biosafety and biosecurity. Principles, tools and techniques of disease detection, early warning, and containment of animal and plant pathogens. Regulatory agencies and guidelines that work to protect human, animal, plant, and environmental health and prevent economic and public health disasters. Pre: Junior standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ENT 4974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 4984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 4994 - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 5004 - Graduate Seminar (1 credit) 
Lectures and discussions by faculty and students on a current topic pertinent to research being conducted in the department. Critical evaluation of principles, theories, and methods will be emphasized. May be repeated.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
ENT 5024 - Understanding Urban and Structural Entomology (3 credits) 
Insects and arthropods pests that invade homes and other structures. Pest biology and behaviors that cause damage to buildings, businesses, and to human physical and mental health. Pest management practices based on assessment and utilization of all effective control practices where pest elimination is the intended outcome. Food Quality Protection Act, US HUD Housing bid requirements, the US EPA pesticide registration process, the Warranty of Habitability and social service policies which have contributed to underserved and elderly residents being the most at risk for large populations of urban pests. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ENT 5054 - Molecules of Insect Physiology and Toxicology (1 credit) 
Introduction to fundamental chemical concepts, terminology, and molecular functional groups essential to insecticides, insect physiology, molecular biology, and toxicology. Emphasizes basic organic and biological molecule structures. Designed to support student success in advanced core courses within the entomology graduate program. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
ENT 5114 - Insect Structure and Function (3 credits) 
A comparative study of the major structures and organ systems emphasizing modifications important in the success of insects. Designed for graduate and upper level undergraduate students in entomology and zoological biology.
Prerequisite(s): ENT 3014 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ENT 5214 - Arthropod Pest Mgmt (3 credits) 
Principles and techniques designed to reduce pest levels below those causing injury of economic importance to agriculture and forestry. Course objectives are to provide students with background information which will enable them to formulate comprehensive approaches to pest problems and emphasize alternate methods of pest control and integrated approaches to pest problems. Appropriate for graduate students in entomology, plant protection, and related curricula.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ENT 5234 - Managing Arthropod Pests (3 credits) 
Principles and techniques for reducing pests in agriculture and forestry. Concepts of pest management to enable students to formulate comprehensive approaches to solving pest problems. Integrated pest management of primarily North American crops. Pre: Two semesters of biology or two years experience in agriculture production, industry or policy. Graduate standing required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ENT 5264 - Biological Control of Arthropod Pests and Weeds (3 credits) 
Principles involved in the use of indigenous and introduced biological agents in the regulation of arthropod pests and weeds. Course objectives are to emphasize concepts important in biological control: population dynamics, host-parasite interactions, characteristics of parasitism and predation, principles involved in current biological approaches to pest control, and use of biological agents to control weeds. Suitable for students in entomology, plant protection, and related curricula.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ENT 5324 - Genomics of Disease Vectors (2 credits) 
An in-depth examination of the modern approaches and techniques currently employed to study genomes of arthropod vectors of human, animal, and plant diseases. Topics include: genome organization, regulation, and evolution; preparation and analysis of chromosomes; genome mapping, sequencing and assembly; principles of taxonomy and systematics; adaptation and evolution of anthropod vectors; genetics of vector competence; comparative genomics and bioinformatics. Graduate standing required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 3 Lab, 2 Crd) 
ENT 5624 - Animal and Plant Biosafety and Biosecurity (3 credits) 
Principles, tools, and techniques of disease detection, early warning, and containment of animal and plant pathogens. Regulatory agencies and guidelines used to ensure the biosafety and biosecurity of the US food supply from accidental introductions and potential bioterrorism.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ENT 5904 - Project and Report (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 5974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 5984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 5994 - Research and Thesis (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 6004 - Advanced Topics in Entomology (1-19 credits) 
In depth presentations and discussions on selected advanced topics in entomology. (Maximum 4 C per course).
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 6154 - Insect Physiology and Molecular Biology (4 credits) 
Concepts and current techniques used in insect/arthropod life processes. Molecular mechanisms and cellular signal transduction pathways of key developmental and physiological events. Environmental cues associated with the insect nervous system, behavior, and movement. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd) 
ENT 6164 - Insecticide Toxicology (4 credits) 
Concepts and techniques of insecticide chemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, mechanism of action, metabolism, and resistance of small molecule insecticides. Biotechnology and pest management. Registration and renewal of insecticides. Non-target toxicity of insecticides (primarily to mammals). Environmental fate and risk assessment of insecticides. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd) 
ENT 6354 - Insect Behavior and Ecology (4 credits) 
Concepts, theory, and research techniques in insect behavior and ecology. General ecology including population, spatial, and community ecology; foraging behavior; communication systems; reproductive behavior and ecology; population regulation by natural enemies; social behavior; and population management using concepts of applied ecology.
Prerequisite(s): ENT 5114 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd) 
ENT 6984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ENT 7994 - Research and Dissertation (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course