Insect Behavior [F-21-9]

As much fun as birds are to watch, I’ll wager that insects provide even better viewing. There are more types, you can get closer to them, and they do some fascinating things about which we can try to make some generalizations about animal behavior in general.

For the first session of this SOAR course, I will make a virtual presentation about everything you always wanted to know about insect behavior but were afraid to ask! Specific topics I will cover include: foraging, predator avoidance, territoriality, and mating. Many of the examples will come from local butterflies, bees, ants, flies, and aquatic insects.

The second session will be an optional field trip. We will meet in Potsdam and search (socially distanced) for insects doing interesting things. As in bird watching, our emphasis will be on watching and trying to explain what they are doing rather than collecting.

Bill Romey recently retired from SUNY Potsdam where he taught Entomology, Behavior, and Limnology at the biology department. His research interests include grouping formations of insects and the diversity of native bees in the Adirondacks.

Special Instructions: You will be emailed a Zoom invite two days before the class starts. Click on the link in the invite to open your Zoom app.

Cap: 100