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Bugs 101: Insect-Human Interactions

Approx. 49 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Learn about the fascinating world of bugs and their behavior in this introductory course. Explore the diverse forms, habits, and habitats of insects, spiders, and other arthropods.

Key Learning Points

Discover the importance of bugs in ecosystems and human life
Understand the anatomy and physiology of different types of bugs
Learn about the behavior and communication of insects, spiders, and other arthropods

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

- USA: $61,000
- India: INR 5,99,000
- Spain: €28,000
- USA: $61,000
- India: INR 5,99,000
- Spain: €28,000
- USA: $35,000
- India: INR 2,50,000
- Spain: €16,000
- USA: $61,000
- India: INR 5,99,000
- Spain: €28,000
- USA: $35,000
- India: INR 2,50,000
- Spain: €16,000
- USA: $30,000
- India: INR 3,00,000
- Spain: €20,000

Learning Outcomes

Identify different types of bugs and their characteristics
Understand the role of bugs in ecosystems and their impact on human life
Develop an appreciation for the diversity and complexity of insects, spiders, and other arthropods

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

No prior knowledge of bugs required
Basic understanding of biology recommended

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Self-paced
Online
Video lectures

Similar Courses

Bugs and Humans: Friends or Foes?
Insect Identification and Classification

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Professor of Entomology
Research Entomologist

Related Books

Description

Of all the animals on earth, which are the strongest for their size? What about the fastest? Who were the first animals to evolve flight? Insects take all of these titles and more! As the most abundant animals on the planet, insects and other arthropods affect our lives in so many ways. From beneficial interactions like pollination and biological pest control, to the transmission of life threatening diseases; this course will teach you about the big ways that these little arthropods impact our lives.

In Bugs 101: Insect-Human Interactions, you will be plunged into the diverse (and sometimes alien) world of arthropods to learn how they work, what they do, and how insects and humans interact every day. After completing this course, you will be able to: Describe the evolutionary relationships between insects and their arthropod relatives Inventory major groups of insects and their diversity Demonstrate evolutionary adaptations that make insects successful Discuss insect biology and human-insect interactions Evaluate positive and negative interactions between insects and humans Propose practical and symbolic roles insects play in human societies

Outline

Module 01: Introduction to Insects and their Terrestrial Relatives
00.01 Welcome to Bugs 101
01.01 Introduction
01.02 Arthropods
01.03 Arthropod Evolution and Classification
01.04 Small Body Size
01.05 Metamorphosis, Dispersal, and Reproductive Capabilities
01.06 Major Insect Orders
01.07 Insect Collections in Museums
01.08 Starting Your Insect Collection
01.09 Module 01 Wrap Up
Royal Alberta Museum Bug Gallery Tour
Course Information Packet
Interactive Learning Objects
Meet the BUGS 101 Team
Course Glossary
Useful Biological Prefixes and Suffixes
Extra Study Material: Flashcards
Module 01 Course Notes
Module 01 Supplementary readings
Pre-Course Bugs Survey
Module 1 Quiz

Module 02: The Business of Being an Insect Part 1
02.01 The Business of Being an Insect
02.02 Insect Body Regions and Head
02.03 Insect Thorax and Abdomen
02.04 Digestion and Excretion
02.05 Circulation and Gas Exchange
02.06 Module 02 Wrap Up
Module 02 Course Notes
Module 02 Supplementary Readings
Module 2 Quiz

Module 03: The Business of Being an Insect Part 2
03.01 More Business of Being an Insect
03.02 Nervous System
03.03 Courtship and Mating
03.04 Male and Female Reproductive Structures
03.05 Modes of Reproduction
03.06 Mating Disruption and SIT
03.07 Module 03 Wrap Up
Module 03 Course Notes
Module 03 Supplementary Readings
Module 3 Quiz

Module 04: Insect Locomotion
04.01 Insects on the Move
04.02 Passive and Active Dispersal
04.03 Insect Musculature
04.04 Insect Legs and Modifications
04.05 Insect Wing Structure
04.06 Insect Wing Modifications
04.07 Insect Flight Muscles
04.08 Studying Insect Flight
04.09 Insect Migration
04.10 Insect Migration: Locusts
04.11 Insect Migration: Monarch Butterfly
04.12 Module 04 Wrap Up
Module 04 Course Notes
Module 04 Supplementary Readings
Module 04 Quiz

Module 05: Insects as Decomposers
05.01 Insects as Decomposers
05.02 Nutrient Cycling
05.03 Detritivore Feeding Guilds
05.04 Insect Development
05.05 Development and Succession in Forensics
05.06 Module 05 Wrap Up
Module 05 Course Notes
Module 05 Supplementary Readings
Module 05 Quiz

Module 06: Plant Feeding and Impacts of Herbivory
06.01 Plant Feeding and Impacts of Herbivory
06.02 Coevolution & Ecological Fitting
06.03 Levels of Diet Specialisation
06.04 Plant Defences
06.05 Plant Feeding Guilds
06.06 Impacts of Insect Herbivores
06.07 Module 06 Wrap Up
Module 06 Course Notes
Module 06 Quiz

Module 07: Pollination and Beekeeping
07.01 Pollination and Beekeeping
07.02 Pollination
07.03 Pollinator Challenges and Importance
07.04 Apiculture
07.05 Honey Bee Eusociality and Castes
07.06 Honey Bee Biology
07.07 Honey Bee Communication
07.08 Threats to Honey Bees
07.09 Module 7 Wrap Up
News: Varroa mites feed on fat body, not hemolymph
Module 07 Course Notes
Module 07 Supplementary Readings
Module 7 - Pollination and Apiculture

Module 08: Insects and Disease
08.01 Insects and Disease
08.02 Etiological Agents and Disease Vectors
08.03 Arthropod-borne Human Diseases
08.04 Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases
08.05 Arthropod-borne Plant Diseases
08.06 Module 08 Wrap Up
Module 08 Course Notes
Module 08 Supplementary Readings
Module 8 - Insects and Diseases

Module 09: Sustainable Human-Insect Interactions: IPM
09.01 Sustainable Human-Insect Interactions: IPM
09.02 Integrated Pest Management
09.03 IPM: Chemical Control
09.04 Types of Insecticides
09.05 Advantages and Limitations of Insecticides
09.06 Module 09 Wrap Up
Module 09 Course Notes
Module 09 Supplementary Readings
Module 9 - Sustainable Human-Insect Interactions I

Module 10: Sustainable Human-Insect Interactions: IPM (Biological and Cultural Control)
10.01 IPM: Biological and Cultural Control
10.02 Biological Control
10.03 Types of Biological Control
10.04 Pros and Cons of Biological Control
10.05 Cultural Control
10.06 Module 10 Wrap Up
Module 10 Course Notes
Interactive Learning Object - Pest Management in an Orchard - Capstone activity
Module 10 Supplementary Readings
Module 10 - Sustainable Human-Insect Interactions II

Module 11: Insect Conservation
11.01 Insect Conservation
11.02 Conservation of Insect Diversity
11.03 The Changing World and Insects
11.04 The Changing Climate and Insects
11.05 Invasive Species and Harvesting by Humans
11.06 Conserving and Managing Insect Diversity
11.07 Module 11 Wrap Up
Module 11 Course Notes
Road Map to Insect Conservation
Module 11 Supplementary Readings
Module 11 - Insect Conservation

Module 12: Insects in Human Culture
12.01 Insects in Human Culture
12.02 Myths and Symbols
12.03 Art, Literature, and Film
12.04 Products, Science and Technology
12.05 Entomophagy: Insects as Food
12.06 Module 12 Wrap Up
Module 12 Course Notes
Playlist of Entomology-inspired Music
Module 12 Supplementary Readings
Module 12 - Insects in Human Society

Module 13: Bugs 101 Wrap Up
Bugs 101 Wrap Up
Additional survey on MOOC learners
Acknowledgements
Post-Course Bugs Survey

Summary of User Reviews

Read reviews for Bugs 101 on Coursera. Students have rated this course highly for its informative content on insects and their behavior. Many students found the course to be engaging, well-structured, and informative.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

engaging content

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging and informative content on the behavior and biology of insects
Well-structured lectures with clear explanations
Instructors provide useful resources and additional information for further learning