Agricultural Entomology

Entomology is the study of insects.

  • Insects are part of the group of animals known as arthropods. Arthropods are animals with exoskeletons, which is a hard outer covering and jointed legs.
  • They are an extremely successful group of animals throughout history and evolution.
  • More than one million different species of insect have been described to date.
  • They are the most abundant group of animals in the world and live in almost every habitat.
  • Insects have lived on earth for more than 350 million years.
  • Entomology is crucial to our understanding of human disease, agriculture, evolution, ecology and biodiversity.

various courses under 4 year degree programe

Agronomy is a division of agricultural science embracing preparation of soil in accordance with crop demands, enriching the soil with organic matter and plant nutrients, choice of crops and varieties to fit the climate, crop rotation and intercropping, suitable dates of sowing, moisture regulation and drainage, weed management, harvesting and processing to an extent. It deals essentially with all aspects of soil, crop and water management to increase productivity of crops. It is therefore essential that the students of agriculture have a good grasp of the principles of agronomy.
  • 2nd Sem- Fundamentals Of Entomology
  • 3rd Sem- Insect Ecology And Integrated Pest Management
  • 4th Sem- Pests Of Horticultural Crops And Their Management
  • 5th Sem- Pests Of Crops And Stored Grain And Their Management- 1
  • 6th Sem- Management Of Beneficial Insect
  • 8th Sem- Mass Production Of Bio-agents And Bio-pesticides
  • 8th Sem- Commercial Bee Keeping
  • 8th Sem- Silkworm Cocoon Production Technology

WHY ARE INSECTS IMPORTANT?

Pollination and food production

Insects play a key role in producing agricultural crops such as oilseed rape, field beans, apples and raspberries. 84% of crops grown in Europe rely on pollinators like bees, flies, wasps, beetles, butterflies, moths and even houseflies. Insect-pollinated plants attract insects with nectar to then carry pollen to other plants and fertilize them to create seeds and fruit.

Biological control of more harmful insects

Some insects are predators that feed on other invertebrates that may cause harm to humans or human crops. Ladybirds for example are fantastic bio-control for aphids that eat away at food producing plants.

Animal feed

Many birds, fish and mammals, including agricultural animals like cattle, have a diet consisting of invertebrates. Black soldier fly larvae, for example, are a natural source of methionine – an important nutrient for chickens, their natural diet consisting of mealworms, crickets, and earthworms all containing more essential amino acids than grain feed.

Recycling and waste clearance

Lots of insects will eat and help to break down dead and decaying debris which can clog or infect soil and water streams. Their role in recycling is very important as this break down of waste helps create healthy, fertile soil.

Insect protein

In some parts of the world, insects are considered a delicacy and regular addition to one’s everyday diet. Around two billion people around the world would consider them a very normal and imperitive ingredient in meal preparation as they are packed full of protein.

WHY SHOULD WE STUDY INSECTS?

1. Over half of the two million living species described in the world are insects. If you’re interested in global or local biodiversity, then insects need to be studied.
2. Insects have been around for over 350 million years and have evolved solutions to many physical and chemical problems. Engineers are increasingly looking to insects for solutions in material science and chemistry. The more understanding we have of insects, the more we can put that understanding to use.
3. You can travel the world working on insects. Insects are found on all seven continents, even Antarctica.
4. Insects are hugely economically important in agriculture. They can be beneficial as pollinators and decomposers, or they can be detrimental as pests and vectors of plant diseases.
4. Insects are hugely economically important in agriculture. They can be beneficial as pollinators and decomposers, or they can be detrimental as pests and vectors of plant diseases.
5. Insects are vectors of many serious human, animal and plant diseases across the world. Understanding the biology of insects is key to understanding the diseases that they carry and spread.
6. Insects are excellent models for physiological and population processes. For example, the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has been used as a model species in genetic studies for over 100 years. Its short generation time, small size and the ease with which it can be reared in the laboratory makes it an ideal organism for such studies.
7. More species of insect have had their genome sequenced than any other group of multicellular organisms. Insects are an excellent model for studying the molecular basis of life.
8. Insect are everywhere. No matter where you live in the world or what language you speak, you will come into contact with insects.