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Introduction
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Publications
Publications (80)
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is native to the neotropics and invaded Africa and Asia in 2016 and 2018, respectively, and Nepal in 2019. Even though it is a polyphagous pest, the population that reached Africa and Asia prefers maize. As native parasitoids and predators form the first line of de...
The invasion of fall armyworm (FAW) to the Eastern hemisphere poses a major challenge to the food security efforts of several nations including India. Invasive FAW population is primarily composed of two predomi-nant strains differentiated based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COI) gene, known as COI-RS (hybrid strain) and COI-CS (corn s...
The solitary wasp, Rhynchium brunneum brunneum (Fabricius), constructs nests in hollow cavities of bamboo, provisions her brood cells with caterpillars, and partitions the cells using mud. The wasp larva, upon hatching, feeds on the provisioned lepidopteran larvae and completes its development inside the cell. The fitness and development of immatur...
Ecofriendly agricultural practices encourage pheromone usage, but cost is a major limitation for pheromone-based techniques. Hence, various slow-release technologies have been developed to provide—controlled release, reducing the cost of source compounds. Here, we have identified a graphene oxide edifice that allows the controlled release of a comp...
Colony multiplication of stingless bees, Tetragonula iridipennis, largely relies on the
eduction of wild colonies from their natural nesting sites in India. During the hiving
of wild colonies, colonies were destroyed with the loss of robust wild foragers and
built-in storage reserves over the years. The present study was conducted to devise a techn...
Colony multiplication of stingless bees, Tetragonula iridipennis, largely relies on the
eduction of wild colonies from their natural nesting sites in India. During the hiving
of wild colonies, colonies were destroyed with the loss of robust wild foragers and
built-in storage reserves over the years. The present study was conducted to devise a techn...
This study aimed to identify the differences among three species of palm white grubs at morphological, ethological, ecological and molecular levels to develop a tool to aid in distinguishing the three species. A comprehensive survey was conducted in palm gardens in southern India. Third-instar larvae and adults of Leucopholis spp. were collected an...
Floral specificity is a behavior that evolved due to mutualistic interactions between the plant-pollinator community. Flowers advertise themselves using visual or chemical cues to attract pollinators and gain reproductive success through pollination. Pollinators forage for rewards such as nectar or pollen produced by the flowers. We found that an a...
Hostplant' location and conspecific aggregation on the hostplant are the key behaviors of several herbivore insect species. The cues used by insects for host identification and aggregation initiation have been researched mainly using a single hostplant species. The chemical repertoire of plants, including volatile and non-volatile secondary metabol...
Use of plant essential oils in insect pest management and how it can be scaled up by utilizing polymer matrix technology
Aedes aegypti is the main vector of yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika, and dengue worldwide and is managed by using chemical insecticides. Though effective, their indiscriminate use brings in associated problems on safety to non-target and the environment. This supports the use of plant-based essential oil (EO) formulations as they are safe to use wi...
BACKGROUND
The occurrence of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Asia was reported for the first time from Karnataka in 2018. This pest is widely distributed in India, causing significant damage to maize. Management of this recent invasive pest in maize‐growing regions of India relies on chemical control. Resistance is the greatest obstacle to th...
Cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a major sucking insect pest of cotton in India. Indiscriminate use of pesticides has led to the development of resistance to most of the recommended pesticide groups. Though there are multiple mechanisms and principles of insecticide resistance development in insec...
The concept of regenerative agriculture has received increasing attention worldwide as a method to restore and conserve natural resources while maintaining crop productivity. However, there remains a lack of consensus as to what conditions define regenerative agriculture, making it difficult for decision-makers, researchers, the agricultural sector...
Biological control is an important pillar of integrated pest management (IPM). The various components of IPM are not meant to act independently, and in some cases, for example with the use of parasitoids and predators, extra precautions may be needed when using pesticide applications. This is especially true in maize, where an IPM program must addr...
Ocimum basilicum essential oil (EO) was evaluated for its biological effects on M. domestica. Characterization of O. basilicum EO revealed the presence of methyl chavicol (70.93%), linalool (9.34%), epi-α-cadinol (3.69 %), methyl eugenol (2.48%), γ-cadinene (1.67%), 1,8-cineole (1.30%) and (E)-β-ocimene (1.11%). The basil EO and its constituents me...
Mirid bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis is a voracious predatory bug that is spontaneously present in horticultural crops. Recently, it has been reported and practiced as a biocontrol agent against several insect pests. In the present study, we have evaluated mirid bug’s predatory potential against Tuta absoluta developmental stages. Eggs, 1st, 2nd and 3rd...
Background
The cellular response to nanoparticles (NPs) for the mechanical clue and biochemical changes are unexplored. Here, we provide the comprehensive analysis of the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1) cell line to study cell behaviour following the exposure of mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and zinc oxid...
The Ocimum basilicum essential oil (EO) was evaluated for its biological effect on M. domestica . Characterization of O. basilicum EO revealed the presence of methyl chavicol (70.93%), linalool (9.34%), epi-α-cadinol (3.69 %), methyl eugenol (2.48%), γ-cadinene (1.67%), 1,8-cineole (1.30%) and ( E )-β-ocimene (1.11%). The basil EO and its constitue...
Housefly, Musca domestica L. is a pest of public health importance and is responsible for spreading diseases like typhoid, diarrhoea, plague etc. Indiscriminate reliance on synthetic insecticides has led to development of insecticide resistance and ill effect to humans and nontarget animals. This demands an alternative and safer pest control option...
Plants, though immovable, are able to defend themselves from insect pest attack through production of low molecular weight volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They also use these volatiles for crosstalk with other plants and insects for their growth and well-being. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) help in communication in the trophic system. Th...
House fly Musca domestica L. is a pest of humans, poultry, and livestock across the world. Dependence on chemical insecticides to contain the flies provided varying results and their continued use has led to development of insecticide resistance. Bioactive compounds in plants are an alternative source to manage M. domestica. Lemon grass, Cymbopogon...
Housefly, Musca domestica is used as an alternate host to rear a eulophid, Nesolynx thymus (Girault), a pupal parasitoid of the tachinid fly, Exorista bombycis (Louis) which in turn is an endolarval parasitoid of Bombyx mori (L.). An attempt was made to evaluate
the host factors like pupal size, age and exposure periods of N. thymus for developing...
Comprehensive and conclusive real time data of these new age materials is urgently required in order to their safe use in myriad number of fields and for a better understanding of signal transduction induced via NMs which will also be helpful to discover potential Biomarker and towards nanomedical delivery applications. Figure: Effects on Female re...
Red palm weevil (RPW) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a lethal pest of coconut in India and various palms across the world. Fermenting toddy has been traditionally used for trapping RPW. The traditional method of collecting neera, the coconut inflorescent sap, in an open earthen pot emanates volatiles that attract these insects. In this study, the v...
Red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), is a destructive pest of palms across the globe. Concealed nature of the pest is a hurdle in its management. Pheromone traps are a vital component in integrated management of the pest. Previous experiences reveal that use of pheromone, in isolation, trapped lower number of weevils as compared to...
Rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros L. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), causes damage to coconut palms by feeding on the unopened fronds affecting photosynthesis Management measures adopted include use of chemical insecticides and bioagents. Though chemical insecticides are effective, the undesirable effect on human and non-target organisms have led t...
Conogethes punctiferalis Guenee is a polyphagous insect pest that is difficult to manage because it feeds within plant tissue. Management by mass trapping using semiochemicals, especially pheromones, represents a viable option to control such borers. Herein, pheromonal compounds were extracted from male and female moths and assessed using headspace...
Occurrence of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), commonly known as fall armyworm, in southern India is reported along with associated natural enemies. Severe damage was noticed in Chikkaballapur, Hassan, Shivamogga, Davanagere and Chitradurga during July-August 2018. The incidence ranged from 9.0 to 62.5 percent...
Leucopholis coneophora Burmeister is a subterranean pest associated with coconut based cropping systems in south India. Feeding damage causes yellowing of fronds and yield reduction. To develop appropriate IPM strategy a basic knowledge on insect behaviour is essential. Four years studies indicated that, adult emergence of L. coneophora was commenc...
The increasing use of nanomaterials has naturally caused heightened concerns about their potential risks to human and animal health. We investigated the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) on steroidogenesis in the corpus luteum (CL) of pregnant mice and testis of male offspring. Pregnant albino mi...
In the last few decades, nanotechnology has had a huge tremendous impact on society. Nanomaterials (NMs) may cause great concern to the female reproductive system as they are found to penetrate the blood-placental barrier and gain access to the ovary. Hence, there is lack of knowledge about how the MWCNT, ZnO and MSN NMs influence the ovarian funct...
An exploratory study, for the first time, was conducted to identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in dichloromethane extracts of uninfested and O. arenosella infested leaves of three varieties of coconut palms, viz. WCT, MGD and COD, as well as from the frass produced by the caterpillars while feeding on these varieties. Many VOCs r...
White grubs, Leucopholis spp. are subterranean pests of arecanut grown in South India. Grub infestation leads to yellowing, stem tapering, and crown size and yield reduction. Use of chemical insecticide to mage the white grubs gives varying degree of success. Hence an attempt was made to screen newer and safer insecticides. Imidacloprid (LC50 at 12...
Mosquito-borne communicable diseases are a potential threat to public health worldwide. Mosquitoes are vectors for various life-threatening diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis and Zika. Aedes mosquito-borne diseases are becoming deadly in most of the subtropical and tropical countries. Synthet...
In the present work, we took two nanomaterials (NMs), mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and compared their in vivo toxicity taking albino mice as a test animal model. Presently, conflicting data persist regarding behavior of these NMs with macromolecules like protein and lipid at the cellular level in...
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) carrying symbiotic bacteria represent one of the best non chemical strategies for pest management. Isolation and identification of native isolates in the field are necessary for successful control of insect pests due to their better adoption in local environment. An native isolate of EPN was identified as Steinerne...
Black pepper root endophytic Bacillus BP17 was identified as Bacillus megaterium (BmBP17) by a panel of phenotypic and genotypic methods. BmBP17 was found genetically close to industrially significant B. megaterium WSH002 and divergent from clinical Bacillus strains. Tracking with genetically tagged BmBP17 revealed its endophytism in diverse plant...
In Lepidoptera sexual, oviposition and adult
emergence behaviour follows a specific periodicity and
is limited to either the day or the night. The knowledge
on biology and behaviour are prerequisites for semiochemical
based pest management. The periodicity of
adult emergence, calling, courtship, mating and oviposition
behaviour of Opisina arenosell...
The oviposition preference assay was conducted to determine the role of host kairomones for oviposition
behavior of Opisina arenosella. Results revealed that, ovipositing females are significantly attracted to coconut leaf and larval frass volatiles than control. The chemicals present in leaf and frass viz., linalool (91.54%), acetophenone (87.58%)...
Black pepper associated bacterium BP25 was isolated from root endosphere of apparently healthy cultivar Panniyur-5 that protected black pepper against Phytophthora capsici and Radopholus similis - the major production constraints. The bacterium was characterized and mechanisms of its antagonistic action against major pathogens are elucidated. The p...
Insecticide imidacloprid and entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Heterorhabditis indica alone and in combinations of imidacloprid and EPN were evaluated against early and late 3rd instars of coconut white grub, Leucopholis coniophora. Field collected 3rd instars white grubs were placed in pots with sweet potato treated with imidacloprid, the EPN, or b...
Observations were recorded on traits associated with mite infestation related at two stages of button on six different coconut cultivars over three years. Highly significant correlation was found between mite damage score with color or weight of tepal. Step-wise multiple regression of the data analysis showed color of inner tepal as major trait ass...
The chafer beetle, Holotrichia serrata F. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in its larval stage is a serious pest on sugarcane, vegetables, groundnut and coconut in many parts of India. The antennal response of adults to host volatiles and pheromone gland extracts was assessed by electroantennography. Among the preferred host of H. serrata, the volatiles...
The reproductive success of herbivorous insects largely depends on the mother’s oviposition preference. In nocturnal insects,
olfaction is arguably the most important sensory modality mediating mate finding, foraging, and host location. In most habitats,
gravid females select among a number of plants of varying suitability, yet assessment of the ne...
Average amplitude ratio histograms for all O. nubilalis populations. Frequency distributions of average sensillum amplitude ratios combined from each cross shown in Figure 2. Populations are listed as in Table 1 and Figure 2: 1) parent E 2) parent Z 3) F1 hybrid EZ 4) F1 hybrid ZE 5) backcross EZxE 6) backcross EZxZ 7) backcross ZExE 8) backcross Z...
Single sensillum response amplitude ratios comparing the spike amplitude of the response to the E pheromone isomer and the Z for all sensilla in each O. nubilalis strain or cross. A) Populations are ordered according to predicted genotype assuming sex linkage of the peripheral amplitude trait (Table 1). B) Sensilla are arranged from lowest to highe...
The European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), is a keystone model for studies on the evolution of sex pheromone diversity and its role in establishing reproductive isolation. This species consists of two sympatric races, each utilizing opposite isomers of the same compound as their major pheromone component. Female production and male respo...
In the present study, attempts are made to capture and track coconut black headed caterpillar, Opisina arenosella and its parasitoid, Goniozus nephantidis with respect to their path and orientation. We devised an automatic tracking system using Artificial Neural Network for tracking both insects. The tracking system is based on the extracted featur...
Insect behavioral studies are time consuming but essential in pest management. Tracking different kinds of insects is an integral part of these studies. In this paper, we present a new approach to track multiple insects especially the larva which is elastomeric in nature. This study demonstrates the use of image processing techniques for segmenting...
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