Agricultural Entomology

Introduction to the course - goals, expectations. What is agricultural entomology: object, development, directions, concept of agricultural plant pest, history and structure of plant protection in Lithuania. An overview of the taxonomy, biology and ecology of agriculturally important animals (other than man-made ones). Classification, pest structure, biology and control methods of agricultural plant pests. Influence of ecological factors on pest populations; pest pest assessment and forecasting systems. Plant protection methods: quarantine, agrotechnical, organizational and economic, physical, mechanical, biological, genetic and chemical. Pesticides for pest control: insecticides, acaricides, nematicides, rodenticides, etc.

Gain basic knowledge of the morphology, taxonomy, biology and ecology of agriculturally important animals such as: snails, mites, insects and rodents. To develop the ability to identify plant pest species and to know and be able to choose appropriate measures for their control.

Knowledge of biology, botany, zoology required.

1. The concept, object, tasks, history of agricultural entomology science. Definition and classification of plant pests. 2. Prevalence and harmfulness of plant pests. Their main features. 3. Parasitism and general knowledge about agricultural plant pests. 4. Classification, body structure, biology and control methods of agricultural plant pests. 5. Influence of ecological factors on pest populations; pest harmfulness assessment and forecasting systems. 6. Ecology of agricultural plant pests and population dynamics. Plant immunity. 7. Factors influencing the spread of agricultural plant pests, methods of predicting the spread of diseases, harmfulness, limits of harmfulness. The phenomenon of the development of pest resistance to plant protection products, management possibilities and methods. 8. Plant protection methods: quarantine, agrotechnical, organizational and economic, physical, mechanical, biological, genetic and chemical. Strategy for the application of plant protection methods in agroecosystems that meet economic, ecological and toxicological standards. 9. History of use of plant protection products (PPP) for control of agricultural plant pests, current situation, range and analysis of products registered in the Republic of Lithuania, properties of PPP and possibilities of use for control of infectious plant diseases. 10. Plant protection legislation regulating the control of pests of agricultural plants, registration, import, transport, storage, use, placing on the market, utilization of PPP intended for pest control. Durability of chemicals used for pest control, impact on the environment, product quality, permissible residues.

1. The analysis of the concept and characteristics of agricultural plant pests. 2. Biotic and abiotic factors that influence the abundance of agricultural plant pests. 3. Environmental, biological, genetic and cultural factors that influence the spread of agricultural plant pests. 4. Evaluate methods that are used for pest diagnosis and testing. 5. Properly interpreted documents regulating the use of insecticides and stains. The appropriate application of them in practice has been chosen. 6. The harmfulness of agricultural plant pests. 7. Selected and justified plant protection system. 8. Selected methods that are used for the management or control of agricultural plant pests in different farming systems.