Department of Agricultural Entomology

Postal Address: 

Department of Agricultural Entomology

College of Horticulture

Phone No: 

0487 243 8335

Email ID: 

cohent@kau.in

Department of Agricultural Entomology

Genesis

The Department of Agricultural Entomology had its inception along with the formation of the College of Horticulture on 28 October, 1972. The Department has a long history of responsiveness, excellence in teaching students, training farmers as well as developing innovative and practical solutions to insect-based challenges in agriculture. The Department faculty provide excellent education, develop innovative research programmes and provide a creative, highly visible, problem- solving extension programmes.

 Vision/ Objective

·         To impart and maintain quality in education, research and extension activities in the field of Agricultural Entomology

·         To equip the post graduate students to conduct independent research in the field of Agricultural Entomology

·         To provide diagnostic services to pest problems of the farming community throughout Kerala

·         To develop advanced technologies in pest management and to disseminate the technologies to the farmers

 Mandate

To strengthen teaching, research and extension in the field of Agricultural Entomology

The priority areas include:

·         Documentation and biosystematics of insect pests, mites and nematodes associated with crops

·         Documentation and assessment of parasitoids and predators of major crop pests

·         Development of stress tolerant strains of natural enemies

·         Characterization and evaluation of botanical pesticides against insect pests, mites and nematodes

·         Isolation, characterization and evaluation of indigenous entomopathogens

·         Development of improved formulations of microbial pesticides

·         Screening crop varieties against insect pests, mites and nematodes

·         Evaluation of newer pesticide molecules against insect pests, mites and nematodes

·         Persistence, metabolism and dissipation of pesticides in crops and soil

·         Monitoring of pesticide residues in agricultural commodities

·         Monitoring and management of pesticide resistance of crop pests to agrochemicals

·         Conservation techniques of insectivorous birds

·         Eco-friendly management of slugs, snails, depredatory birds, rodents and other vertebrate pests

·         Bee health management and utilization of bees for yield enhancement in open field and protected cultivation 

·         Standardization of quality parameters of hive-based products

·         Identification of botanicals for the management of insect pests

·         Population dynamics and management of newly emerged pests

·         Metabolomics of Entomopathogenic Fungi

·         DNA barcoding of insects and phytophagous mites

·         Characterization of gut endosymbionts of insect, rodents, birds and higher animals

Facilities

·         Insect repository and insect identification services

·         Molecular entomology laboratory

·         Agro clinic for diagnosis of pest problems and their management

·         Toxicology laboratory

·         Pesticide residue analysis laboratory

·         Laboratory for rearing of biocontrol agents

·         Collection of plant protection equipment

·         Photo/ video documentation and editing system

·         Vertebrate pest management laboratory

·         Collection of indigenous rodent traps

·         Poly house and insectary

·         Acarology laboratory

·         Insect pathology laboratory

·         Class rooms and Council room

Faculty strength:

S. No.	Name	Designation
1	Dr. Mani Chellappan	Professor and Head
2	Dr. Haseena Bhaskar	Professor
3	Dr. Madhu Subramanian	Professor
4	Dr. Berin Pathrose	Assistant Professor
5	Dr. Smitha M.S	Assistant Professor
6	Dr. Deepthy K.B.	Assistant Professor
7	Dr. Smitha Revi	Assistant Professor
8	Dr. Sreeja P	Assistant Professor
9	Dr. Ranjith M.T.	Assistant Professor
10	Dr. Neena Lenin	Assistant Professor

Professional Recognition/ Award/ Prize/ Certificate/ Fellowship received:

·         Best Innovative Award for showcasing of Eco-friendly Technologies – Dr. Mani Chellappan (2014)

·         IBOL Excellence Award - Dr. Ranjith MT (2015)

·         Young Scientist Award – As part of the National Seminar on ‘Contextual Relevance of ITKs in Plant Protection’ Organised by ICAR-NCIPM and ICAR-IARI during 28-29 October, 2015 (Dr. Berin Pathrose)

·         Acarology Development Foundation fellowship (Ohio State University, Columbus, USA, 2017) (Dr. Haseena Bhaskar)

·         Best Teacher Award (Kerala Agricultural University, 2018) (Dr. Haseena Bhaskar)

·         Best Teacher Award (Kerala Agricultural University, 2019) (Dr. Mani Chellappan)

·         Best Extension Professional Award 2019 of Kerala Agricultural University (Dr. Berin Pathrose)

·         Fellow of Entomological Society of India – Dr. Mani Chellappan (2020)

·         Best research work (Poster presentation) (National Conference on Cashew, 2016)- (Dr. Smitha, M.S)

·         Best research paper - International Conference on Biocontrol and Sustainable Insect Pest Management. AC&RI Killikulam, Tamilnadu Agricultural University, 2018, (Dr. Haseena Bhaskar)

·         Best research paper (I^st International Conference on Biological Control Approaches and Applications, Bengaluru,2018) (Dr. Haseena Bhaskar)

Achievements /Major Accomplishments

·         Spectacular control of the aquatic weed Salvinia molesta (African payal) was realized by releasing the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae in backwaters and rice fields of Kuttanad. This has saved the annual expenditure to the tune of crores of rupees for the removal of the weed.

·         Classical biocontrol of papaya mealybug by the encyrtid parasitoid Acerophagous papaya (2011)

·         Survey conducted in the kole lands of Thrissur district has indicated the occurrence of a very rich and diverse natural enemy fauna. Altogether 84 species of hymenopteran parasitoids belonging to 60 genera under 19 families were identified from paddy fields.

·         Against water hyacinth weed, Eichhornia crassipes the exotic weevil Neochetina eichhorniae and the mite Orthogalumna terebrantis have established all over the release sites and spread far and wide giving partial suppression of the weed in some of the locations.

·         Inundative release of the egg parasitoids Trichogramma chilonis and T. japonicum was proved to be effective and economic in the integrated management of leaf folder and stem borer. This has become well adopted technology in rice cultivation which resulted in the bare minimum use of insecticides.

·         Local isolate of Beaveria bassiana was found to be as effective in managing rice bug Leptocorisa spp. in rice.

·         Large scale validation of BIPM practices in rice at Vadakkenchery demonstrated the superiority of BIPM practices over farmers’ practices, which involved substantial use of insecticides.

·         Production of Trichogramma parasitoids by farmers’ group was initiated in Palakkad District.

·         Trunk release of the larval parasitoid Goniozus nephantidis @ 10 nos. /palm is effective for the control of coconut leaf caterpillar.

·         Metarhizium anisopliae var. major was found effective in managing the grubs of coconut rhinoceros’ beetle.

·         Evaluated the role of fungal pathogens against coconut eriophyid mite

·         Studied the biology and bionomics   of many major pests of wide importance viz., rice blue beetle, banana root mealy bug, root knot nematods, in rice thippali, etc.

·         Screened varieties for host plant resistance viz., cowpea to pod borer, brinjal to fruit borer, turmeric to shoot borer, rice to blue beetle, etc.

·         An olfactometer that can monitor the responses of insects to odours was developed

·         Identified six species of platygasterid parasitoids of rice gall fly.

·         Developed CMG trap or Moncompu trap, to capture the rice field rats (Rattus novergicus)

·         Metalized reflective ribbon supplied from the centre has been used widely used for managing the depredatory birds in different crop ecosystems of Kerala and and adjoining South Indian states. 

·         Metagenomic studies on bird fecal pellets have been standardized and Cattle egret gut metagenomics showed the presence of Bacillus thuringiensis indicating the bird’s dropping is also a source of spreading the entomopathogenic bacteria for the insect pest management

·         Vaneleurla oleracea olearcea (Bennet) sub adult female was trapped for the first time in polyhouse condition

·         Recapturing of  Rattus ranjiniae Agrwal and Ghosal (confirmed the identity by the Zoological Survey of India), from rice field for the first time after 1966)

·         Formulated and standardized the olfactory repellents viz., Borep (wild boar) and Deerep (Sambar deer) and producing in large-scale for supplying throughout Kerala and other Indian states. 

·         Fabricated a new box hive for the stingless bees

·         Studied the bioecology of small green barbet, Megalamia viridis, a depridatory bird of orchard crops

·         Fabricated the artificial nests for the cavity nesters as a conservation measure

·         Evaluated the ecotoxicological effects of agrochemicals on rice field avi –fauna

·         The anthocoreid bug Cardiastethus exiguus was found to be efficiently preying on the eggs and neonate larvae of coconut leaf caterpillar, Opisina arenosella.

·         Fungal pathogen viz., Hirsutella thompsonii as a pathogen specific for coconut eryophid mite in all agroecological situations in kerala.

·         Studied taxonomy, diversity and abundance of spiders in rice and vegetable agroecosystems in kerala

·         Tetranychus truncatus was found to be the predominant species of mite infesting vegetable crops in Kerala

·         Tetranychus okinawanus was recorded on the ornamental plant, Adenium obesum for the first time in India.

·         The flat mite, Tenuipalpus pacificus was reported on Phaelenopsis orchid for the first time in India

·         Identified the potential of the spider mite species T. okinawanus and T. truncatus to turn invasive in kerala’s ecosystems.

·         Identified the potential of rose to harbour many species of spider mites indicating the need for imposing strict quarantine regulations for movement of planting materials of rose to avoid entry and invasion of mite species into new areas

·         Species specific DNA barcode was generated for the first time generated for the spider mite species, Tetranychus marianae based on the gene mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I locus

·         The novel acaricides, fenazaquin 10 EC and spiromesifen 240 SC were identified as effective molecules for the management of spider mite in rice and banana as well as against arecanut palm mite

·         Standardised technique for mass production of the native predatory mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus for the management of spider mites

·         Biocontrol potential of Neoseiulus longispinosus against spider mite infesting cucumber at predator:  prey   ratios   of   1:20   and   1:25  

·         A locally isolated acaropathogen, Acremonium zeylanicum was found effective against spider mite infesting cucumber in polyhouse at the concentrations, 1×10⁷spores ml/1 and 1×10⁸ spores ml/1.

·         Horticultural mineral oil at 2.5 per cent was identified as an effective acaricide against spider mite infesting vegetables both under open field and protected cultivation.

·         The tapioca based botanical pesticide, Nanma proved effective in managing spider mites infesting cucumber in polyhouse

·         Development of resistance to the novel acaricides spiromesifen, fenazaquin and diafenthiuron was documented in the field populations of Tetranychus truncatus infesting okra in Thrissur district

·         A phagostimulant based bait formulation was developed for the management of Spodoptera litura, which was effective in managing the pest at 25 per cent of the recommended dose of insecticides such as emamectin benzoate, thiodicarb and chlorpyriphos

ACADEMICS

 

List of Courses offered

Under graduate level

Catalogue No.	Course title	Credit
Ento 1201	Fundamentals of Entomology	2 + 1
Ento 2102	Ecology and Integrated pest management	2 + 1
Ento 2203	Pests of Crops and their management I	1 + 1
Ento 3104	Pests of Crops and their management II	1 + 1
Nema 3201	Plant parasitic nematodes and their management	1 + 1
Ento 3205	Management of beneficial insects and non-insect pests	1 + 1
El. Pt. 4201	Experiential learning course - Biopesticides (UG)

Post graduate level

Catalogue No.	Course title	Credit
ENT 501	Insect morphology	1+1
ENT 502	Insect anatomy, physiology and nutrition	2+1
ENT 503	Insect systematics	2+1
ENT 505	Insect pathology	1+1
ENT 506	Biological control of crop pests and weeds	1+1
ENT 507	Toxicology of Insecticides	2+1
ENT 508	Plant resistance to insects	1+1
ENT 509	Principles of integrated pest management	1+1
ENT 511	Pests of horticultural and plantation crops	1+1
ENT 512	Storage Entomology	1+1
ENT 514	General Acarology	1+1
ENT 516	Vertebrate pest management	1+1
ENT 520	Plant nematology	2+1

Ph. D level

Catalogue No.	Course title	Credit
ENT 602	Immature stages of insects	1+1
ENT 601	Advanced insect systematics	1+2
ENT 612	Advanced Integrated pest management	2+0
ENT 607	Advanced insecticide toxicology	2+1
ENT 606	Recent trends in biological control	1+1
ENT 605	Insect behaviour	1+1
ENT 603	Advanced insect physiology	2+0
ENT 611	Molecular Approaches in Entomological research	1+1

EXTENSION SERVICES:

Training, seminars and other services

·         Popularization and demonstration of biopesticides in the tribal areas of Thrissur

·         Mass production and sale of biopesticides, biocontrol agents, borep, deer rep, reflecting ribbon and cue lure and methyl eugenol traps

·         Training programs on mass production of bioagents for farmers and stakeholders

·         Training programme on integrated pest management in various crops

·         Training programme on apiculture

·         Training programme on rodent pest management

·         Training programme on depredatory bird management

·         Training programme onhigher vertebrate pest management

·         Diagnostic services to the farmers

·         Participation in Exhibitions of VAIGA, and various other public events

·         Organizing meetings for efficient dissemination of technologies on biopesticide production

·         Consultancy services are provided to farmers and entrepreneurs

Externally Aided Projects:

Completed Projects:

Sl. No.	Project	Principal Investigator	Funding Agency	Total Financial Outlay
1	State plan project - Standardisation of technique for mass production and release of the predatory mite, Neoseilus longispinosus (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) for biocontrol of spider mites on vegetables (2013-18)	Dr. Haseena Bhaskar	KAU	20.66 lakhs
2	Development of technologies including alternatives for banned pesticides for the management of pests and diseases of major crops in Kerala (2013-18) – Vegetables, coconut, areacanut and black pepper	Dr. Haseena Bhaskar Dr. Madhu Subramanian	RKVY	61.99 lakhs
3	SHM project on Establishment of biocontrol laboratory (2008-2010)	Dr. Babu Philip	SHM	50.00 lakhs
4	ATMA project on ‘Popularisation of Biointensive Integrated Pest Management (BIPM) in Kerala’ (2017-2018)	Dr. Madhu Subramanian S.	Department of Agriculture	8.9 lakhs
5	ATMA project on Depredatory bird management in rice and vegetables (2016-2019)	Dr. Mani Chellappan	Department of Agriculture	10.00 lakhs
6	GOK Plan project - Severity of mealybug infestation studies  in Kerala (2013-18)	Dr. Mani Chellappan	KAU	55.00 lakhs
7	KSCSTE project - Development and validation of integrated pest management  under major poly house vegetables (2014-17)	Dr. Sreeja	STEC	16.92 lakhs
8	State Plan project - Boosting crop yield through solitary pollen bees and improving their  pollination service (2018-19)	Dr. Mani Chellappan	KAU	2.00 lakhs
9	Multilocational trial of Avana	Dr. Berin Pathrose	EID Parry	1.67 lakhs
10	State Plan project  - Monitoring the susceptibility of insect pests to insecticides in different parts of Kerala (2017-2019)	Dr. Berin Pathrose	KAU	2.00 lakhs

 

Ongoing Projects

 

Sl. No.	Project	Principal Investigator	Funding Agency	Total Financial Outlay
1	Establishment of a unit for production of liquid formulations of microbial agents	Dr. Madhu Subramaniam	SHM	70.00 lakhs
2	Strengthening of biopesticide production facility at AICRP on BCCP	Dr. Madhu Subramaniam	State plan	5.00 lakhs
3	AICRP on Biological Control of Crop Pests and Weeds	Dr. Madhu Subramaniam	ICAR
4	Establishment of biosystematics laboratory for research on agriculturally important insect and mite	Dr. Haseena Bhaskar	Plan project	2.00 lakhs
5	All India Network project on Vertebrate Pest Management	Dr. Mani Chellappan	ICAR
6	All India Network project on Agricultural Acarology	Dr. Haseena Bhaskar	ICAR
7	Establishment of pesticide residue lab	Dr. Berin Pathrose	RKVY	293.00 lakhs
8	Monitoring of pesticide residues in/on vegetables and fruits from GAP clusters/ Ecoshops in the central districts of Kerala	Dr. Berin Pathrose	Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala	20.00 lakhs
9	Monitoring of pesticide residues in/on vegetables and fruits in the central districts of Kerala	Dr. Berin Pathrose	State Plan	10.00 lakhs
10	Network project on monitoring  pesticide residues in/on vegetables and fruits in central and northern districts  of Kerala and obtaining NABL accreditation (ISO 17025) to the existing  Pesticide Residue Laboratories of College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, RARS, Kumarakom and College of Agriculture, Padannakkad	Dr. Berin Pathrose	State Plan	9.00 lakhs
11	Bioecology and management of myrmecophilous root mealybugs in Kerala	Dr. Deepthi K.B	RKVY	52.00 lakhs
12	Wild animal intrusion in cropped areas	Dr. Mani Chellappan	Department of Agriculture	10.00 lakhs
13	Isolation and screening of native entomopathogens and development of a stable formulation against major sucking pests in black pepper ecosystem	Dr. Deepthi K.B	State plan	2.00 lakhs
14	Faunal diversity of spider mites (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) associated with agricultural ecosystems of Kerala’ for three years	Dr. Haseena Bhaskar	DST- Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)	38. 83240 lakhs
15	Capacity building for small and marginal beekeepers in scientific beekeeping, hygiene harvesting and value addition of bee hives products	Dr. Mani Chellappan	NABARD	4.00 lakhs

Projects on Revolving Fund

·         Production, sale and distribution of methyl eugenol traps

·         Mass production of biocontrol agents

·         Income generation through scientific bee keeping

·         Large scale production of vertebrate pest management products

Services provided by Department of Entomology

1. Farm Advisory Services to Farmers and Agriculture Department Officials

2.Pest surveillance details and pest management
3.Pesticide residue testing in fruits, vegetables and food grains
4.Hands on training on bio control agents production
5.Honey bee rearing and value Addison to bee hive products
6. Production and sale of Vertebrate pest management devices and technique

7. Production and sale of Pheromone Trap for fruit flies in vegetables and mango

8. Production and sale of Bio agents like Tricho cards and Entomopathogenic Fungi

Metarhizium, Beauveria etc.

9. Production and sale of Disease antagonists like Trichoderma, Pseudomonas etc.