Department of Entomology
Identity of Department, aims and objectives
The Department of Zoology and Entomology was established in the year 1947, in the erstwhile University of Udaipur to coordinate and strengthen teaching, research and extension activities in Entomology and allied areas. Now it is renamed as Department of Entomology in year 2014. Following are the aims and objectives:
1. To offer education in Plant Protection and the related aspects keeping in view the changing global scenario in agriculture and allied subjects. At present, 5 major courses and one elective course is running in the UG, 7 courses in PG and 4 courses are running in Ph. D programme.
2. To develop cost effective, ecologically sustainable plant protection measures for agricultural, horticultural and forestry crops.
3. To facilitate effective transfer of plant protection technologies to the stake holders.
4. To facilitate development of entrepreneurship among the stake holders in biopesticides production.
Completed Projects/ Schemes
(A) Ad-hoc Projects (ICAR AP Cess fund)
1. Studies on phytophagous mites in Rajasthan (1987-90).
2. Management of brown wheat mite, Petrobia latens (Muller) in Rajasthan (1994-97).
3. Bio-ecology and management of insect pests of stored grain pests of different commodities in Rajasthan (2005-07).
(B) RKVY projects
1. Eco-friendly management of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis on different pulses in Rajasthan (2016 – 2018).
2. Studies on Insect Pests and Natural Enemies Diversity in Major Semi-Arid Agro-ecosystems of Rajasthan (2017 – 2019).
Facilities or infrastructure
Presently, the Department operates five UG and PG laboratories, two UG class rooms, one seminar room, one culture room, sufficient store rooms and sitting rooms. All the required basic facilities of research and teaching are available in the Department. Various equipment available are: Fermenter, Autoclave, Humidity chamber, Incubator, microscope with image capture, digital camera, hot air blower, laminar flow, Corcyra rearing cages, Spectrophotometer, pH meter, colony counter, D-freeze, Mechanical shaker, Grinding machine, Electronic balance, oven, Digital moisture meter, Grain hardiness equipment, etc.
Experiential Learning Unit: Mass production of biopesticides (Tricho cards and Entomopathogenic Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae) under student READY Programme.
Insect Biodiversity Lab: The specimens of insect pests of agriculture importance and their natural enemies prevalent in the State are preserved to keep the updation of knowledge. This is a requirement of continuous quest to improve the laboratory.
Storage Entomology Lab: All the required facilities with regards to the researches in stored grain pests and their management are available for M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. Entomology scholars.
Name: Dr. Akhter Hussain
Designation: Associate Professor & Head
Specialization:
Contact: 9414821555
Email: akhter.ento@sknau.ac.in
AEIS Profile Link:
Staff Information
Name: Dr. R.K. Meena
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization:
Contact: 8005842512
Email: rkmeena.ento@sknau.ac.in
AEIS Profile Link:
Name: Dr. S.L. Sharma
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization:
Contact: 9114823708
Email: slsharma.ento@sknau.ac.in
AEIS Profile Link:
Name: Dr. Suman Choudhary
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization:
Contact: 8619602277
Email: suman.ento@sknau.ac.in
AEIS Profile Link:
Name: Dr. Manisha Sharma
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization:
Contact: 7568697732
Email: manisha.ento@sknau.ac.in
AEIS Profile Link:
Name: Dr. Jugal Kishor Bana
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization:
Contact: 9601091425
Email: jugalbana.ento@sknau.ac.in
AEIS Profile Link:
Name: Dr. Dewa Ram Bajya
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization:
Contact: 9968996213
Email: drbajya.ento@sknau.ac.in
AEIS Profile Link:
Name: Dr. Purushottam Sharma
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization: IPM
Contact: 9887223325
Email: psharma.ento@sknau.ac.in
AEIS Profile Link:
Former Heads
Research Achievements
Developed Integrated Pest Management strategies against insect pests and mites of important field crops, vegetables, fruit plants and seed spices besides stored grain commodities. Emphasis has been given on the host plant resistance, cultural practices and biorational practices.
Achievements, recommendations and findings
• No. of students awarded Ph.D.: 68
• No. of students awarded M.Sc. (Ag): 205
• Developed IPM modules against insect pests of important vegetables, fruits, spices and field crops besides stored grain commodities.
• Fabrication of a rearing cage for the study of biology of leaf feeding mites.
• Management of gall mite, Larvacarus transitans through pruning of ber plants.
• Management of brown wheat mite, Petrobia latens utilizing predators and pesticides.
• During the survey, seven different types of storage structures viz., bags, metal containers, loose, kothi, bukhari, stone bin and Pusa bin were observed for storage of grains in different parts of Rajasthan. The insects found from the collected samples during survey were Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts, lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Fab.), rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (Linn.), rust red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (St.), almond moth, Ephastia cautella (Wlk.) and grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Oliver). Different varieties of wheat were screened against Khapra beetle and lesser grain borer. Developed management strategies of different storage pests with eco-friendly approaches.
• Mass Production of entomopathogenic fungus and Tricho-Cards in EL unit under student READY programme.
Trainings organized
• Ten days Entrepreneurship Development short course training on “Entrepreneurship in Bee Keeping” have been organized from 01.02.2023 to 10.02.2023 under the aegis of IDP-NAHEP, SKNAU, Jobner by Dr. Akhter Hussain as training coordinator.
• One week Hands-on Training on “Mass Production of Biocontrol Agents and Biopesticides” has been organized from 26.10.23 to 01.11.23 under the aegis of IDP-NAHEP, SKNAU, Jobner by Dr. Akhter Hussain as Training Coordinator.
One month Vocational Certificate course on “Mass Scale Production of Biopesticides” has been started from 23.11.23 to 22.12.23 under the aegis of IDP-NAHEP, SKNAU, Jobner by Dr. Akhter Hussain as Organizing Secretary.
