Entomology is the study of insects and their relationship to humans, the environment, and other organisms. Entomologists make great contributions to such diverse fields as agriculture, chemistry, biology, human/animal health, molecular science, criminology and forensics. Agricultural entomology is a subdivision of Entomology which is the study of pests and beneficial insects of field crops, fruits and vegetables. It also includes non-insect pests such as invertebrates (eg. nematodes), vertebrates (eg. rats), etc.
Objectives
The major objectives of the department of agricultural entomology is to teach various courses related to insects and their role in agricultural systems. Also, it aims to graduate students, to maintain an inventory of major insect/vertebrate pests of crops and develop suitable technologies for minimizing the production losses caused by them. At present the division has focused its effort to develop integrated pest management technologies as follows
i. To survey, surveillance and taxonomical identification of major agricultural insect pest and their predators, parasitoids and parasites in each crop commodity
ii. To teach and develop suitable strategies for IPM technologies
iii. To develop technologies based on bio-control methods to manage insect pests and weeds
iv. To develop suitable technologies based on botanicals and organic products to manage insect/ non-insect pests (mite, snail, slug and rodent)
v. To develop technologies to minimize hazardous effect on human health and environment caused due to injudicious use of synthetic chemical insecticides
vi. To develop suitable mass rearing technologies for economically important insects
vii. To develop suitable technologies for rodent management
Courses Offered
1) Fundamentals of Entomology
2) Economic Entomology and Introductory Nematology
3) Pests of Crop Plants, Stored Products and their Management
4) Insect Ecology and Principles of Integrated Pest Management
5) RAWEP - Crop Protection (Entomology and Plant Pathology)
6) Commercial Production of Bio-pesticides and Biocontrol Agents
