Syllabus
Practical
Methods of collection and preservation of insects including immature stages; external features of Grasshopper/Blister beetle; types of insect antennae, mouthparts and legs; wing venation, types of wings and wing coupling apparatus. Types of insect larvae and pupae; dissection of digestive system in insects ( Grasshopper) dissection of male and female reproductive systems in insects ( Grasshopper ) study of characters of orders Orthoptera, Dictyoptera, Odonata, Isoptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera and their families of agricultural importance. Insecticides and their formulations. Pesticide appliances and their maintenance. Sampling techniques for estimation of insect population and damage.
Unit 1
History of entomology in India. Major points related to dominance of Insecta in animal kingdom. Classification of phylum Arthropoda up to classes. Relationship of class Insecta with other classes of Arthropoda. Morphology: structure and functions of insect cuticle and molting. Body segmentation. Structure of head, thorax and abdomen. Structure and modifications of insect antennae, mouth parts, legs, wing venation, modifications and wing coupling apparatus. Structure of male and female genital organ. Metamorphosis and diapause in insects. Types of larvae and pupae. Structure and functions of digestive, circulatory, excretory, respiratory, nervous, secretary ( endocrine) and reproductive system, in insects. Types of reproduction in insects. Major sensory organs like simple and compound eyes, and chemoreceptor
Unit 2
Insect ecology: Introduction, environment and its components. Effect of abiotic factors– temperature, moisture, humidity, rainfall, light, atmospheric pressure and air currents. Effect of biotic factors – food competition, natural and environmental resistance.
Unit 3
Categories of pests. Concept of IPM, practices, scope and limitations of IPM. Classification of insecticides, toxicity of insecticides and formulations of insecticides. Chemical control importance, hazards and limitations. Recent methods of pest control, repellents, anti feed ants, hormones, attractants, gamma radiation. Insecticides Act 1968- Important provisions. Application techniques of spray fluids. Symptoms of poisoning, first aid and antidotes.
Unit 4
Systematics: Taxonomy –importance, history and development and binomial nomenclature. Definitions of Biotype, Sub-species, Species, Genus, Family and Order. Classification of class Insectaupto Orders, basic groups of present day insects with special emphasis to orders and families of Agricultural importance like Orthoptera: Acrididae, Tettigonidae, Gryllidae, Gryllotalpidae; Dictyoptera: Mantidae, Blattidae; Odonata; Isoptera: Termitidae; Thysanoptera: Thripidae; Hemiptera: Pentatomidae, Coreidae, Cimicidae, Pyrrhocoridae, Lygaeidae, Cicadellidae, Delphacidae, Aphididae, Coccidae, Lophophidae, Aleurodidae, Pseudococcidae; Neuroptera: Chrysopidae; Lepidoptera: Pieridae, Papiloinidae, Noctuidae, Sphingidae, Pyralidae, Gelechiidae, Arctiidae, Saturnidae, Bombycidae; Coleoptera: Coccinellidae, Chrysomelidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae, Bruchidae, Scarabaeidae; Hymenoptera: Tenthridinidae, Apidae. Trichogrammatidae, lchneumonidae, Braconidae, Chalcididae; Diptera: Cecidomyiidae, Tachinidae, Agromyziidae, Culicidae,Muscidae, Tephritidae.
