Fall 2026 · Utah Valley University
Entomology
ZOOL 3430 / 3435 · Dr. Carl Hjelmen · Fall 2026
Mon / Wed lecture · Fri lab
Upper Division · 3+1 Credits
16 Weeks
Required Insect Collection
Course Schedule
Subject to change — check Canvas for updates
Lab session
Exam / practical / collection due
No class / break
Reading
1
W Aug. 19
F Aug. 21
It’s Entomology, Not Etymology — Syllabus & Course Intro
Hand Out Collections; How to Collect & Curate Lab
Section 3: pp. 279–302
2
M Aug. 24
W Aug. 26
F Aug. 28
I Think… — Systematics & Tree Thinking
No… a Spider Is Not an Insect — Evolution of Insects from Other Arthropods
Local Field Trip (required collecting trip) Lab
Section 1: pp. 1–8
3
M Aug. 31
W Sep. 2
F Sep. 4
The Anatomy of "Outside Bones" — Insect Body Plans, External Anatomy
External Anatomy (cont.)
Local Collecting Trip (into evening, required) Lab
Section 1: pp. 8–34
4
M Sep. 7
W Sep. 9
F Sep. 11
Labor Day — No Class
Internal Anatomy — Digestion, Circulation, Nervous System
Internal Anatomy; Practice Pinning & Spreading Lab
Section 1: pp. 8–34
5
M Sep. 14
W Sep. 16
F Sep. 18
3M: Mating, Metamorphosis, Molting
Where Do These Terms Keep Coming From?! — Insect Ecology: Habitats & Impact
NHMU Collection Tour Lab
Section 1: pp. 8–34
6
M Sep. 21
W Sep. 23
F Sep. 25
All These Little Guys, Where Are They Hiding? — Basal Hexapods & Soil Dwellers
The Good Die Young — Mayflies & Evolution of Wings (Ephemeroptera)
Basal Hexapods Lab
Section 2: pp. 37–43, 45–51, 60–68
7
M Sep. 28
W Sep. 30
F Oct. 2
House of the Dragon(flies) — Odonata
Camouflage, Behavioral Plasticity & Acoustic Communication (Polyneoptera)
Basal Hexapods & Polyneoptera Lab
Section 2: pp. 51–59, 73–118
8
M Oct. 5
W Oct. 7
F Oct. 9
Did You Know Termites Are Cockroaches? (Polyneoptera)
What’s Biting Trees, Books & Other Animals? (Psocodea)
Hemiptera, Thysanoptera, Psocodea Lab
Section 2: pp. 73–118, 123–134
9
M Oct. 12
W Oct. 14
F Oct. 16
Viruses from Something Other than Mosquitos? (Hemiptera)
Sucking & Screaming: The Real "Bugs"
Fall Break — No Class
📋 Midterm Exam window — Oct. 8–11 (due 11:59pm Oct. 11)
Section 2: pp. 134–155
10
M Oct. 19
W Oct. 21
F Oct. 23
An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles (Coleoptera)
Acid, Flashing Lights & Chemical Warfare
Midterm Lab Practical — Coleoptera & Neuroptera Lab
📋 Midterm Lab Practical — Oct. 23
Section 2: pp. 172–189
11
M Oct. 26
W Oct. 28
F Oct. 30
Are These Aliens? Ambush Predators (Strepsiptera & Neuropterida)
That Wasn’t a Mosquito in Jurassic World (Diptera)
Hymenoptera, Trichoptera, Lepidoptera Lab
Section 2: pp. 156–171, 189–227
12
M Nov. 2
W Nov. 4
F Nov. 6
Something’s Gotta Eat That — Flies & Decomposition Ecology (Diptera, Mecoptera, Siphonaptera)
Waterworld, Minus Kevin Costner (Plecoptera & Trichoptera)
Siphonaptera, Mecoptera, Diptera Lab
Section 2: pp. 69–73, 196–235
13
M Nov. 9
W Nov. 11
F Nov. 13
Insect–Plant Interactions
Lepidopterans
Work on Collections & Practice IDs Lab
Section 2: pp. 235–255
14
M Nov. 16
W Nov. 18
F Nov. 20
This Is How We Get Ants…
To Bee or Not to Bee (Hymenoptera)
Work on Collections & Practice IDs Lab
Section 2: pp. 255–277
—
M Nov. 23
W Nov. 25
F Nov. 27
Thanksgiving Break — No Class
15
M Nov. 30
W Dec. 2
F Dec. 4
Do You Want to Build a… Phylogeny?
Come On, Let’s Go and Play — Phylogeny Reconstruction
Collections Due & Lab Practical Final Lab
🏆 Insect Collection due by 2pm
📋 Lab Practical Final
Reading & PDF Repository
Text excerpts, guides & collection resourcesLecture and lab readings for ZOOL 3430/3435, plus collection and identification resources.