Indian Insect Predators In Biological Control

This book presents the pest management by using predatory insects. It elucidates the characteristics features of predatory insects and their utility value in the field of Biological control and integrates them in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). During the last five to six decades voluminous scientific work on various aspects of predatory insects has been done at different Research Institutions and Universities in India. Since the scientific literature lies scattered in various journals, and not yet has been published in book form, it is considered desirable and essential to provide a concise account in a book form. The book entitled Indian Insect Predators in Biological Control is the first of its kind in our country. It has the following distinguished features: (1) Enlighted the distribution and diversity of insect predators in various agroecosystem. (2) Provide updated coverage of ethology, biology and life table parameters of predators. (3) Di and tri tropic interaction of crop-pest-predators. (4) Biological control potential of predators in laboratory, pots, controlled field cage and natural field conditions are elaborated. (5) Biosefty of synthetic and biopesticides are discussed. (6) Mass production with natural, faciated and oligidic diets are explained. (7) Text is illustrated with photographs, line drawings, tables and graphs to make the material more interesting to the students. (8) This book is intended as a text for use in teaching the concept of biological control to undergraduate and post graduate students of biology and agriculture. (9) This also immensely helps the researchers who are engaged in pest management, crop production and protection by using various natural predators. Contents Chapter 1: Insect Predators and Pest Control by K Sahayaraj; Chapter 2: Behavioral and Ecological Features of Mantids that Confer as Prospective Biocontrol Agents by M C Muralirangan, K P Sanjayan & N Senthikumar; Chapter 3: Dragonflies and Damselflies in Biological Control by F K Kakkassery; Chapter 4: Feeding Adaptations and Semiochemical Perception in Predatory Heteroptera by Pathipati Usha Rani; Chapter 5: Anthocorid Predators and their Biocontrol Potential by M Nasser & U C Abdurahiman; Chapter 6: How Efficient are Geocorid Bugs (Heteroptera: Insecta) as Crop Pest Managers? by Ananda Mukhopadhyay & Soma Das; Chapter 7: Reduviids in Biological Control by K Sahayaraj; Chapter 8: Biology and Behaviours of Coccinellid Beetles by T V Sathe; Chapter 9: Mass Production and Biological Control Potential of Coccinellids in India by Jagmohan Singh & K S Brar; Chapter 10: Syrphids: As an Important Predators of Aphids in India by T V Sathe & Sangit Visherad; Chapter 11: Indian Insect Predators on Insect Pests of Rice by K S Behera & A Prakash; Chapter 12: Role of Predators in the Control of Horticultural Crop Pests of India by M Mani & A Krishnamoorthy.

The theme of the book is highly relevant to the current emphasis on environment conservation, with focus on native biodiversity conservation in agro-ecosystems. The current impetus being given to organic farming and export oriented agri-hortculture in the country calls for access to relevant scientific knowledge base among the stakeholders. Research on biological pest control is more than a century old in India. Egg parasitoids, which are mainly tiny wasps, led by the family Trichogrammatidae, are the most widely utilized natural enemies for biological control globally. Over thirty countries are using these bioagents to protect over 10 million hectares of agricultural and forestry crops from many important insect pests. The book comprises 18 chapters, which are arranged in continuum, commencing with basic aspects of knowledge and ending in their utilization targets. The chapters cover broadly four areas: bio-diversity and natural occurrence of egg parasitoids, behaviour and adaptation of egg parasitoids, mass production and safe use of egg parasitoids and utilisation of egg parasitoids in different crop ecosystems. Some of the chapters cater to the needs of discipline-wise update on the current R&D scenario-like insect taxonomy, biotechnology, mass-production and quality control of the target organisms - egg-parasitoids, which are useful for laboratory scientists/researchers. There are also chapters devoted to knowledge status and scope for utilization of egg parasitoids in different target crops, which cater to requirements of field entomologists and extensionists for use in their tasks of guiding farmers/local guides. The book is different in approach, method, structure and content and ensures holistic coverage of the topic. The chapters are written by active and experienced workers in different crops and aspects and co-edited by four very experienced experts who have over three decades R&D experience in the subject. All the authors have uniformly focussed on comprehensive literature study and critical identification of knowledge gaps for future R&D, thus the book is novel in outlook, up-to-date in content and comprehensive in coverage of themes. This book will be useful for supplementary reading for MSc Agriculture and PhD Agriculture students, besides MSc/PhD research students in Zoology/Environmental Biology, who are specialising in Entomology. It would also serve as a very useful reference book for researchers worldwide, though focus is also there on Indian work. It addresses the special information needs of students and faculty, besides practitioners and extensionists in the Australasia and Africa regions and thus not limited to the R&D knowledge generated in developed countries.

Their natural enemies largely determine the population size and dynamic behavior of many plant-eating insects. Any reduction in enemy number can result in an insect outbreak. Applied biological control is thus one strategy for restoring functional biodiversity in many agroecosystems. Predators and Parasitoids addresses the role of natural enemies i

India is especially suitable for agricultural products, its vast plains containing alluvial soil with rich natural contents. The major economy of India is based on agricultural products. The green revolution in India brought high hopes for Indian farmers. Several new scientific information helped crop production to grow by leaps and bounds: the more researches, the more intricacies. Further knowledge of pests makes scientists consider several new solutions. The use of chemicals was immediately adopted to decimate the population of pests and, at first, good results were obtained. But later on, harmful effects of the pesticides became known. It was realized later on that the regular use of chemicals in pesticides is extremely dangerous for human health. Generally, chemical pesticides are used to curb the harmful effects of insects and pests. But the immediate gain of this process has an adverse effect on the environment in the long run. Regular use of chemicals leads to insecticide resistance. Then, biodiversity is distributed by pest resurgence and pesticide residues. So, the immediate gain of one generation creates serious problems for the next generation. To sustain agriculture towards its natural mode some new solutions are to be traced. The solution to reduce pesticides is present in the preference for biological management. Predators and parasitoids may be used as natural enemies. In order to gain control over the thrips pests by less harmful means for the agricultural crops, more research work needs to be done. Certain other methods have to be explored in favour of the environment, biodiversity and other useful flora and fauna. We need to maintain the tritrophic interactions in which eating relationships between several species may be traced for biological control.

Pest predators are gaining more importance in pest management programme since pesticides lead to many serious problems like air and water pollution, health hazards, killing of beneficial organisms pest resistance, pest resurgence, secondary pest out break, interruption in ecocycles etc. The book includes taxonomical details of insect pest predaceous lady bird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae) and collection, preservation, rearing and biology. It also contain predatory pray relationships, predator pest index and biocontrol programmes designed with predator in India and abroad. The book will be useful guide to students, farmers, teacher and researchers in the pest management. Contents: Chapter 1: Introduction, Chapter 2: Collection, Preservation and Rearing, Chapter 3: Taxonomy Family - Cocinelidae, Sub family - Chilocorinae Genus - Brumoides Chapin, Brumoides kolhapurensis, Genus - Chilocorus Leach, Chilocorus suryaphuli, Sub family - Cocinellinae, Tribe - Coccinellini, Genus - Coccinella Linneaus, Coccinellini transversalis (Fab.), Coccinella madhuri, Coccinella bhuimungi, Coccinella yaminii, Cocinella yoginii, Genus - Coelophora Mulsant, Coelophora orientalis, Genus - Harmonia Mulsant, Harmonia soyabinii, Genus - Menochilus Timberlake, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fab.), Menochilus tuljapurensis, Menochilus shivajiensis, Menochilus kharipi, Genus - Vernia Mulsant, Vernia polyphagi, Tribe - Psylloborini, Genus - Illeis Mulsant, Illeis satheri, Illeis darbari, Sub family - Scymniae, Genus - Horniolus Weise, Horniolus mirajensis, Genus - Scymnus Kugelann, Sub genus - Scymnus Kugelann, Scymnus (Scymnus) indica, Sub genus - Pullus Mulsant, Scymnus (Pullus) marathi, Chapter 4: Biology, Chapter 4 : Predator Pray Relationships, Chapter 5: Predator Pray Index and Biocontrol Programmes, Chapter 7: Summary.

Publisher Description

Insect Pest Predators Is Major Component Of Integrated Pest Management Programme In Modern Agriculture. Pesticides Create Many Serious Problems Such As Air, Water And Food Pollution; Health Hazards, Ill Effects And Killing Of Beneficial Organisms; Pest Resistance, Pest Resurgence, Secondary Pest Outbreak, Interruption In Ecocycles, Etc. Therefore, In The Present Text, Very Relevant Information Is Given On The Insect Predators Such As Praying Mantids, Tiger Beetles And Lady Bird Beetles On Taxonomy, Biology, Seasonal Abundance, Habitats, Rearing Techniques And Pest Predator Index. This Book Will Be Helpful For Understanding Various Aspects Of Insect Predators Of Pest And Future Directions In Research And As Guide To Students, Teachers, Farmers And Scientists In The Field Of Pest Management. Contents Chapter 1: Introduction, Chapter 2: Rearing Of Predators, Chapter 3: Survey And Surveillance, Chapter 4: Habitat Identification, Chapter 5: Taxonomy; Coccinelids, Tiger Beetles, Praying Mantids, Chapter 6: Biology Of Predators, Chapter 7: Pest Predator Index.