ENT 317 Turfgrass Insect Management: Introduction to entomology and management of insect pests of cool- and warm- season turfgrass.
Overview
Turfgrass entomology requires a thorough understanding of insects and their relatives, an introduction to integrated pest (crop) management, a fundamental understanding of key pests of cool and warm season turfgrass and an introduction to control strategies. Students will be introduced to a wide array of educational and organizational web sites to strengthen their understanding of turfgrass entomology. Students also will be encouraged to develop a web based notebook which they can utilize upon completion of the course. Students will be invited to share their experiences with pest problems and methods of suppressing insects and mites through cultural, biorational, conventional and alternative management strategies.
The course is broken down as follows:
- Welcome Introduction to Turfgrass Entomology
- Insects and their Relatives
- Metamorphosis - The Life Cycle of Insects
- Characteristics of Adults in the Insect Orders
- Integrated Pest Management
- Management Strategies
- Cool Season Pests
- Warm Season Pests
- Lyme Disease
- Miscellaneous and Nuisance Pests
- Non Target Organisms
Course Objectives
Upon completion of ENT 317, students will have learned to:
- Develop diagnostic skills that will enable class members to differentiate an insect from related members of the Phylum Arthropoda (jointed-foot). Example: How can you distinguish a member of the Class Diplopoda from the Class Insecta? (Hint = how many pair of legs, how many major body parts, etc.)
- Develop skills which will allow you to implement an Integrated Pest Management Program at your place of employment.
- Become familiar with the Food Quality Protection Act (F.Q.P.A.), especially EPA's June 8, 2000 reassessment decision on chlorpyrifos. The course will also include introductions to pertinent web sites such as AUDUBON SOCIETY, BIRC, EPA, EXTOXNET, FQPA, RISE, USDA-IPM, and others.
- Become familiar with the identification and life cycles of Key Pests of Cool-Season and Warm-Season Turfgrass. Some of the key pests that you will be introduced to include the scarab white grub complex, annual bluegrass weevil, black cutworm, bluegrass billbug, hairy chinch bug, sod webworm, mole cricket complex, imported fire ants, fall armyworm, and other associated pests.
- Determine where you can locate current pest control suggestions from your current state or country. Class members will be provided with industry web sites in case you want to review a select label and the respective M.S.D.S. sheet. Also, why is it important to always check your local Pesticide Hypersensitivity Listing prior to applying a registered control measure?
- Become familiar with alternative pest control suppression strategies such as spinosyn, entomogenous nematodes, and related registered biorational formulations. Also, what is an endophyte?
- Develop an appreciation for beneficial nontarget organisms and how pesticides may affect their viability.
- Each class member will be encouraged to develop a web site bookmark-notebook which they can continue to use upon completing ENT317. Key web sites with special topics will be introduced via the Discussion Forum. These could include GCSAA, USGA, EPA, FQPA, etc. on select topics that relate to the course.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Assignments/Exams
For each week of study (and to receive Penn State credit) each student will:
- Go through each lesson and read (assigned only) related readings
- Participate in discussions that take place on the General Course Discussion Forum
- Complete all quizzes
- Complete all class assignments (submit answers via dropboxes)
- Complete reading assignment (submit answers via dropbox)
- Complete mid-term exam
- Complete the final exam
Quizzes: There will be 7 quizzes throughout the course. Each quiz will be taken online, within the online course environment and is worth 15 points. The lowest quiz grade at the end of the semester will be dropped.
Class/Lab Assignments: There will be 6 assignments throughout the course. Assignments will be based on information supplied by the instructor via the Assignment Discussion Forum and you will be given a set period of time to complete each assignment and return it online. Assignments are worth 20 points each.
Reading Assignments: There will be one reading assignment throughout the course. The assignment will be posted on the General Course Discussion Forum with a due date. The reading assignment has a point value of 15.
Exams: The Mid-Term Exam which covers Lessons 1-5 is worth 100 points, while the Final Comprehensive Exam is worth 150 points. Each exam is a 2 hour, online exam. Details about your exams is in your course content - within Getting Started lesson and after lesson 5 and 10 respectively.
Course Schedule
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
Requirement |
Point Value |
Quizzes (7 total @ 15 points each; but the lowest grade is dropped - so 6 @ 15 points) |
90 |
Class Assignments (6 total @ 20 points each) (Refer to General Course Discussion and Assignment Course Forum for instructions and due dates. Submit answers to dropbox.)* |
120 |
Readings Assignment(Refer to General Course Discussion Forum for instructions and due dates. Submit answers to dropbox.)* |
15 |
Mid-Term Exam |
100 |
Final Exam |
150 |
TOTAL: |
475 |
* Two points will be deducted for each day an assignment is turned in late.
Letter Grade |
Points |
A |
475-441 |
A- |
440-432 |
B+ |
431-422 |
B |
421-384 |
B- |
383-375 |
C+ |
374-370 |
C |
369-332 |
D |
331-285 |
F |
< 284 |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
University Policies
Accommodating Disabilities
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Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.