NPLK13002U Human Benefits From Insects

The course will cover various ways, that human have benefitted from insects, with emphasis on present and future perspectives. Today only a few, yet very important, insect species have been domesticated in big scale. Insects are, however, a tremendous natural resource, as direct products or due to their beneficial ecosystem functions.

The course will consist of the following major components:

- Insect diversity, structure and function
- Honeybee breeding and honey production
- Model systems; social structures, immunity and disease transmission
- Insect rearing, maintenance and insect disease control
- Production of chemical compounds, incl. silk, in insects
- Entomophagy, nutritional and socio-economic values
- Waste stream recycling and feed production using insects
- The role of insects in ecosystem services: pollination and biological control
- Insects in medical services: curing diseases and a tool in forensic
- Ethical, cultural and public aspects: awareness and acceptance

The major groups of insects and other selected terrestrial arthropods (spiders and mites) will be presented but focus will be given to the groups with highest potential for use. Morphology, life cycles, metabolic pathways and ecology will be dealt with in particular where relevant for human utilization. The course will have world wide coverage of examples. There will be an introduction to taxonomy, morphology and physiology of insects.