In the present investigation the coriander plant volatiles for the tritrophic interactions on the egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii is evaluated. The GCMS profile study of the foliage extract of coriander in both hexane and dichloromethane showed presence of 2-Dodecenal-(E), (E)-Tetradec-2-enal, Octadecane, Nonacosane, Hexadecane, Pentadecane and Heneicosane, which are of biologically active fractions in insects. In laboratory study the maximum parasitization was recorded in hexane extract treated Corcyra card (31.04 eggs/card) compared to 28.16 eggs per card observed in untreated control. The data gathered on number of parasitized eggs hatched into adult indicated that in hexane extract treated Corcyra card had 91.19 per cent while parasitoid emergence was 29.30 eggs per card followed by 87.76 per cent in untreated control 24.90 eggs per card. The GCMS profile study of the foliage extract of coriander in both hexane and dichloromethane showed presence of 2-Dodecenal-(E), (E)-Tetradec-2-enal, Octadecane, Nonacosane, Hexadecane, Pentadecane and Heneicosane, which are of biologically active fractions in insects. The above findings reveal the possible role of such active chemicals in parasitoid compatibility of the intercrop.

The specimens collected and reared to an adult stage on their respective hosts utilized to characterize the species of the genus Glyphodes based on morphological and genital characters of adults, revealed three species of the genus Glyphodes and were documented from Karnataka viz., Glyphodes caesalis Walker, Glyphodes pulverulentalis Hampson and Glyphodes vertumnalis Guenee on jack-fruit, mulberry and jasmine, respectively. These three species differ morphologically in having entire body green colour in G. vertumnalis, abdomen with oblique lateral stripes in G. pulverulentalis wherein, G. caesalis having sub-marginal black edged patch on costa with four spots. In genitalia, uncus greatly curved and beak shaped in G. vertumnalis, uncus slim and slightly curved in G. caesalis, whereas in G. pulverulentalis uncus long, narrow and slightly curved with short setae at apex.

Investigation to evaluate the toxicity of carbofuran pesticides on haematological parameters of third instar larvae of Oryctes rhinoceros L. Indicated alterations in total haemocyte count and differential haemocyte count for toxicity assessment. Various doses of carbofuran (0.05g, 0.010g and 0.015 g) applied on insect through oral route and its impact after 24 hours of its application revealed that various doses of carbofuran exert specific alterations in both total and differential haemocytes of insect haemolymph.

Rinamba opacicollis Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was collected from Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, India for the first time from the larvae of white stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes Chevrolat infesting arabica coffee. Its role in the biological or integrated control of X. quadripes remains to be evaluated. White stem borer could be the first host record of this parasitoid all over the world.

Celosterna scabrator (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) is reported from Goa for the first time. The diagnostic characteristics, colour images and geographical distribution of C. scabrator are given.

Effect of four essential volatile oils viz., clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex steud)) and pepper (Piper nigrum L.) on mortality of rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. in stored rice was studied under laboratory conditions. Preliminary toxicity bioassays (without food and with food) were carried for fixing the concentrations of these oils. Percentage mortality of weevils by volatile essential oils increased with increase in concentration and period of exposure. Pepper oil @ 200 μl/500 cm-3 volume caused cent per cent mortality without any progeny emergence whereas cinnamon oil @ 30 μl 500 cm-3 caused 95.55 per cent mortality of weevils with 98.81 inhibitions on progeny emergence. The highest concentration (30 μl 500 cm-3) of clove oil caused 76.67 percentage mortality of weevils while lemon grass oil (200 μl 500 cm-3) caused 68.89 percentage mortality.

Crotonothrips polyalthiae Mound & Nasruddin (2012), a member of phlaeothripid (Insecta: Thysanoptera: Tubulifera) has been recorded for the first time from India, which was erstwhile known only from Malaysia and Indonesia. The diagnostic characters of this species are discussed along with the key to identify other known species of Crotonothrips.

Survey conducted to document the diversity of mite pests and their natural enemies associated with vegetables grown under polyhouse, recorded tetranychids - Tetranychus truncatus on cucumber and amaranthus, T. urticae, T. okinawanus and Eutetranychus orientalis on cucumber and T. macfarlanei on cowpea and French bean and tarsonemid, Polyphagotarsonemus latus on cowpea, chilly, tomato, capsicum, cucumber, bittergourd and amaranthus. Insect predators - Stethorus pauperculus, Oligota sp., Scolothrips sp. and an unidentified species of Cecidomyiidae and predatory mites - Neoseiulus longispinosus, Amblyseius paraaerialis, Tydeus gossabaensis, Agistemus garrulus, Cunaxa sp. and Cheyletus sp., as natural enemies.

The Indian subcontinent is rich with gall-inducing insects. The varieties of galls they induce offer bountiful opportunities to explain the dynamics of insect-plant interactions. Close to 90% of gall-inducing insects across the world are known to be specific to certain plants and such specialist behaviour offers them for use as ideal models to explain and characterize insect-plant relationships, which bear long-term advantages in managing insects that live and feed on economically important plants. In such a context, I illustrate in this paper, the intimacy of relationships between two gall-inducing Hemiptera (Apsylla cistellata tied to Mangifera indica and Mangalorea hopeae tied to Hopea ponga), which are native to the Indian subcontinent. In this article I emphasize that studying the biology of gall-inducing insects unequivocally demands a clear understanding of the stress and reparative physiology of the plant as well, further to that of the feeding biology of the inducing insect. Since all known gall-inducing insects (Hymenoptera excepted) induce galls by feeding action, I have explained the vitality of knowing about mouth parts, salivary secretions, and the mechanisms that arise in plants consequent to insect feeding with regard to the Hemiptera. My plea is that with the vast variety of various gall-inducing insects, we in India have a large canvas to paint the details of the physiology and metabolomics involved in insect-plant interactions clearly, because these insects are highly specialized in selecting their hosts, and also because these insects live embedded within plant tissues for certain period of time. In an ecological context, these insects are more easily amenable to monitor in field contexts than other free-living insects.

A survey conducted in the ginger growing areas of Thrissur and Palakkad districts of Kerala, during 2013 and 20 14, revealed the presence of three species of flies infesting both healthy as well as diseased ginger rhizomes. The predominant, most injurious one was identified as Mimegralla sp. nr coeruleifrons (Macquart) (Diptera: Micropezidae). The biology of the same was studied in the laboratory on diseased ginger rhizomes. The mean incubation period was 3.75 days, while the mean duration of first, second and third larval instars was 2.25, 3.15 and 6.70 days respectively. The mean pupal period lasted for 8.80 days. The longevity of adult male and female flies was 43.90 and 51.00 days respectively, and the sex ratio was 1:1. The morphometric observations of each life stage are also described, with a note on the taxonomy of the fly.