The Elateridae (Insecta: Coleoptera) includes more than 700 genera and 14,000 species globally. Its wide distribution throughout the world, elusive systematics, and enigmatic biology have attracted considerable attention in terms of classification, phylogenomics, behaviour, ecology, management, and paedomorphic lineages. The Elateridae has undergone substantial restructuring with respect to placements of taxa in its classification. Comparatively, studies on the Elateridae from the Indian subcontinent are still in infancy and only 131 genera (c. 19% of the total) in 10 subfamilies and 28 tribes have been documented so far. Nevertheless, considerable scope remains for further discoveries, taxonomic revisions, and research on other aspects of Elateridae. The significant improvement in our current knowledge of the ecology and evolution of the Elateridae from around the globe, coupled with the absence of a major comprehensive database for the subcontinent, necessitated this review. With a focus on the Indian subcontinent, the present article consolidates existing knowledge on the classification, zoogeography, diversity, natural history, and ecology of the Elateridae, while also providing a brief overview of its characteristic clicking mechanism.
This study evaluated the growth performance and nutritional composition of cricket fed diets containing yeast-fermented cassava tubers (YFCT) and leaves (YFCL) as partial replacements for a commercial diet (CD). The results showed that the CD+YFCT (1:1) diet yielded no significant differences (p >0.05) in biomass yield compared with the CD treatment in either field crickets (708.30 g/ box) or house crickets (588.04 g/ box). Notably, this diet produced the highest fecundity, with 781.30 and 793.50 eggs/ female in field and house crickets, respectively, which were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those observed in the CD treatment. In contrast, diets consisting solely of YFCT or YFCL were insufficient to support optimal performance. Furthermore, the highest crude protein content was observed in crickets fed CD+YFCT (1:1) and CD+YFCT (1:2), reaching 65.35%dm in field crickets and 72.77% dm in house crickets.
An opportunistic survey of arthropod insects associated with the carcass of a black-footed gray langur, Semnopithecus hypoleucos Blyth, 1841, was conducted in Kali Tiger Reserve. Five arthropod species involved in the decomposition process were recorded. Among these, a hister beetle, Saprinus (Saprinus) splendens (Paykull, 1811) represents a new state record for Karnataka. Arthropod-mediated decomposition is a key ecological process contributing to nutrient recycling and ecosystem functioning. Such observations from natural forest habitats provide baseline data on scavenger assemblages and are relevant to forensic entomology and conservation studies.
Efficient laboratory rearing and reliable bioassays are essential for evaluating Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner toxicity against Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders. Larvae reared on a modified semi-synthetic diet showed improved biological performance compared to the standard diet. Incubation (3.10± 0.33 days) and larval duration (21.60± 1.24 days) were reduced, while hatchability (92.40± 1.08%), pupation (91.20± 1.39%), adult emergence (96.00± 0.84%) and fecundity (150.00± 3.54 eggs/female) increased resulting in a shorter life cycle (32.60± 1.67 days). Bioassays with B. thuringiensis HD1 showed higher toxicity with LC50 (0.09-0.37 µg µl- ¹) and LC95 (1.85-9.27 µg µl- ¹) and complete mortality within 72 hr. The modified diet ensured uniform larval development and improved bioassay reliability demonstrating its suitability for efficient rearing and toxicity evaluation of P. gossypiella.
The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is one of the most dangerous and widespread agricultural pests in Uzbekistan. Various biopesticides based on entomopathogen microorganisms can provide an ecofriendly alternative. Laboratory experiments have been conducted to identify virulence of the spores of the fungus Aspergillus flavus (isolated from naturally infected larvae of the codling moth Cydia pomonella in Bukhara orchards, Uzbekistan) against larvae of H. armigera. Larvae were treated using a feeding method in which mung bean sprouts were sprayed with the A. flavus spore concentration 1x107, 5x106, and 3x106 spores/ ml. Experiment conducted in summer season (2025) in laboratory conditions over 15 days. The highest virulence of spores was recorded at the titer 1x107 by the 7th day after treatment, larval mortality reached 80.8%.
