Department of Agricultural Entomology Technologies Developed

• Determined Economic Threshold Levels for rice gall midge (10% silver shoot), leaf folder (10% vegetative stage, 5% boot leaf stage)
• Evaluated black light trap as a monitoring tool for pest abundance for the FIRST TIME in the country.
• Determined the population dynamics of rice insect pests
• Developed screening methodologies for host plant resistance studies and standardized mass culturing of pests of crops.
• Identified resistance donors for BPH, WBPH, GLH, LF and GM.
• Developed MDU 3, a Gall Midge (GM) resistant rice variety in collaboration with breeders.
• Standardised the parasitoid release technique for rice GM.
• Isolated the nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) on ber hairy caterpillar, Thiacidas postica, for the FIRST TIME in the country.
• Perfected the mass culturing techniques of Chrysoperla zastrowii silemi, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, NPV of Spodoptera litura and Amsacta albistriga.
• Evaluated the performance of electrodyne spraying for cotton pest control.
• An area of 22,000 ha have been covered with inoculative release/ application of the biocontrol agents viz.,Trichogramma chilonis, Chrysoperla zastrowii silemi, NPVs of Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura and Amsacta albistriga.
• Developed Biointensive pest management module for senna, coleus and ashwaganda.
• Biodiversity of predatory mites (105 species: 6 families) in Pulney Hill Biosphere reserve was explored. Two new species of predatory mites were reported.
• Documented insect pests and natural enemy complex in aonla and reported new record of scutellerid bugs, Chrysocoris purpureus and Chrysocoris marginellus.
• Neem cake (500 kg/ha)/FYM (25t/ha) + two sprayings of Beauveria bassiana 1x 108 spores/ml) or 10% Ocimum sanctum leaf extract checks spider mite in bhendi, brinjal and muranai mite on chilli.
• Sett soaking of Rynaxpyr 20 SC at 75 g ai/ha was effective in controlling sugarcane early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus.
• Chemically mediated tritrophic interactions studies in rice revealed that  leaf folder infestation in TN1 emitted more volatiles especially Docosane, which attracted maximum parasitoids.
• Ethanolic leaf extract of Lantana, Clerodendron and Lippia 0.5%w/v were effective grain protectants in suppressing the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis damage.
• Ethanolic leaf extract of Lippia, Piper and Gloriosa 0.5%w/v possess insecticidal and repellent effect and could be a potential grain protectant against rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae.
• Split application of FYM , biofertilizers, lignite fly ash and neem cake reduced  major insect pests of rice.
• Basal application of inorganic sources of silica with foliar spray in rice resulted in systemic acquired resistance through increase of silica content, PPO, PALase activity, silicified cells and cell wall thickness.
• Application of Citrulus fruit extract @ 5% and three sprays at 15 days interval after mite incidence noticed in citrus was effective against leaf mite (64.36% reduction) with the highest fruit yield and BC ratio of 1:1.2.

A patent was obtained for an invention entitled “Water soluble gel formulation comprising of entomopathogenic nematodes and it’s preparation” for the term of 20 years from 14.12.2012 (Scientist involved: Dr. S.Prabhu, Asst. Prof. Nematology). 

A patent was applied for “Trap design for efficient trapping of brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis (Guenee) (3070/CHE/2012) by Dr.W.Baby Rani, Professor (Agrl. Entomology) and it is under examination.