To identify best mulberry variety for chawkie rearing and its impact on economic characters of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.), experiments were conducted in three seasons viz., autumn -2019, spring -2020 and autumn- 2020, with six mulberry varieties (C-2038, Tr-23, PPR-1(S-140), S-1635, S-146 and G-2). Based on the weight of 10 mature larvae (g), cocoon yield by weight (kg), single cocoon weight (g), single shell weight (g) and shell ratio (%), S-1635 and S-140 (PPR-1) were found suitable for chawki rearing in sub-tropical conditions.

Dimensions of different types of scales on the wings of the moth Creatonotos transiens Walker were analyzed using micrometry. A total of 65 morphologically distinct types of scales were investigated, including 35 from dorsal side and 30 from ventral portion. Dorsal side scales have a length range of 82.7 to 141.3? and width range of 55.1 to 78.8?. The length of scale on the ventral region ranged from 82.7 to 133.9? and width 63 to78.8?. On comparison with ventral side of wing most of the dorsal side scale forms are long narrow and dentate.

Foraging rate of different pollinator species under the genus Apis and non-Apis studied on two castor (Ricinus communis) hybrid under agro-ecological conditions of Haryana, revealed that irrespective of interspecific variation, the maximum foraging rate was found associated with Apis florea followed by A. dorsata, A. cerana and A. mellifera. Further, Eristalnus sp. visits of flowers were the lowest. Adding to the visiting frequency, honey producing bees (Apis sp.) visited significantly more flower per unit time compared to other pollinators (non-Apis) species. The study gave an idea of different foraging rates of different pollinators on castor flower.

Periodical field surveys were conducted in bitter gourd fields at weekly intervals in two locations at N. Poolampatti village, Vaiyampatti block, Tiruchirapalli district to study the diversity of insects visiting bitter gourd flowers. During the study 51 species of flower visitors/ pollinators were recorded which include 19 species of Hymenoptera, 15 species of Lepidoptera, seven species of Diptera and six species of Coleoptera. Tetragonula iridipennis was the most abundant pollinator followed by Apis florea, Halictus sp. and Apis cerana indica; while Syrphus ribesii was the dominating Dipteran pollinator. Among the Lepidopterans, Pachliopta hector was the major pollinator followed by Danaus chrysippus, Tirumala limniace and Delias eucharis. Species richness (S) was at its maximum (26 species) at 0800 – 1000 hours and minimum (07 species) at 1600-1800 hours. Shannon’s and Simpson’s diversity indices were maximum at 1000-1200 hours with 2.52 and 9.13 respectively. Shannon’s evenness ranged from 0.44 – 0.86 and Simpson’s evenness was 0.28 – 0.54 with maximum at 1000-1200 hours.

A study was undertaken on the ovicidal and larval repellent activity of Tagetes erecta leaf and flower extracts on Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806), an important tick species in the world from an economic and medical point of view. Ethanol and methanol extracted plant products tested against the eggs and larvae of R. sanguineus indicated that the ethanol extract of flower had maximum ovicidal activity (86.1%), followed by the ethanol extract of leaf (75%) at 25 mg ml-1 concentration. In all analyses, the homogeneity of variance was significant. The probit analysis clearly indicated that the ethanol extract of the flower has a higher ability to kill the eggs. In the case of larval repellency tested, both extracts of leaf showed the highest repellency (83%) at 2.5 mg ml-1. Significant tick repellency (> 90%) was found in both methanol and ethanol extracts of flower at 2.5 mg ml-1. GC-MS analysis of extracts revealed the presence of bioactive insecticidal compounds such as yangambin, cyclohexane and neophytadine.

Chiggers, the larval Trombiculid mites are the vectors for scrub typhus. Rodents and shrews are the preferred host. Study made at different habitats of chiggers collected in rodents and shrews, revealed more number to Rattus rattus 95(63%) and Suncus murinus 33(22%). Rattus rattus 31(54%) and Suncus murinus 17(30%) alone contributed more in chigger positivity. Chigger mites belonged to eight species under five genera. Leptotrombidium deliense (66%), Schoengatiella ligula (15%), and other chiggers (9%) were collected from 57 positive rodents. Seasonally, there was a significant difference in rodent positivity, and there was no significant difference in the number of chiggers collected. The study indicated the prevalence of chiggers in the various hosts and their variation in rodent/shrew hosts. R. rattus 31(54%) and S. murinus 17(30%) contributed more in chiggers infestation and seasonally wet-cool months favored more chiggers and host positivity from different habitats.

The Asian pseudoscorpion genus Tullgrenius Chamberlin, 1933 is revised. A neotype is designated for Tullgrenius indicus Chamberlin, 1933, based on topotype material and a detailed description of its male is provided. Two new synonymies are proposed: Tullgrenius vachoni Murthy, 1962 syn. nov. and Tullgrenius orientalis Sivaraman, 1980 syn. nov. = T. indicus. Two distinct colour morphs of T. indicus are recognized: a brown and black morph. Supplementary descriptions and illustrations for Tullgrenius afghanicus Beier, 1959 and Tullgrenius compactus Beier, 1951 are detailed with current distribution of all the known Tullgrenius spp..

Field experiment was conducted to check the efficacy of the pongamia oil soap along with Spiromesifen and Neem oil soap at different concentrations in controlling chilli mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus and its impact on spider population. Spiromesifen was found effective against chilli mite and showed persistent action in the field, whereas pongamia oil soap reported an immediate control over the pest but its effectiveness declined with time and concentration. Among the botanicals, 3% pongamia oil soap was found effective and was followed by the 2% pongamia oil soap. Pongamia oil soap proved effective against mite up to seven days after the treatment and the effect declined by 14 days after the spray. The botanicals as well as the chemical spiromesifen were found safe to spiders in the field.

Three species of parasitoids viz., Telenomus dignus Gahan, Trichogramma japonicum, Ishii and Tetrastichus schoenobii Ferriere were recorded from the egg masses of rice yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) in a field study. The extent of parasitism was high during Rabi (43.33 – 93.33 %) and low during Kharif (0 - 40.00 %). Parasitism by T. dignus was maximum in October (50.00 %), T. japonicum, in November (23.08 %) and T. schoenobii in February (55.55 %). dignus and T. schoenobii in combination parasitized maximum number of egg masses (41.82 %). Multiple parasitism by the three species was high in December (8.33 %) and January (7.14%). Parasitic potential was maximum, when T. schoenobii alone parasitised the egg masses followed by T. dignus and T. schoenobii in combination. Host density in the field influenced the extent of parasitism.

A study of spider diversity of Kerala University Campus, conducted for a period of four months revealed a total of 116 species of spiders belonging to 20 families. Among the families, Salticidae was found as the most common family and among the species Hersilia savignyi and Hippasa agelenoides were found as the most common species. Plexipus petersi, Plexipus pykulli, Xysticus minutes and Tibellus elongates were also noted as the commonly found spider species.