The native isolates of facultative entomopathogenic nematodes (Metarhabditis amsactae, Metarhabditis rainai and Oscheius myriophilus) and insect parasitic nematode (Acrobeloides saeedi) were tested against larvae and pupae of Clostera cupreata (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) under laboratory conditions to assess their virulence. The native isolates were obtained from soil samples collected from poplar growing regions of North-western India. Overall, native nematodes were found effective against both stages tested under laboratory conditions. The values obtained for lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) of the tested nematode species differed significantly. The LC50 values of the nematode species against the larval and pupal stages were 59.3 and 93.6 IJ/ml for M. rainai, 34.6 and 89.8 IJ/ml for A. saeedi, 25.2 and 71.8 IJ/ml for M. amsactae and 15.8 and 63.6 IJ/ml for O. myriophilus respectively. Results of the present investigation demonstrate the biocontrol potential of native EPNs and insect parasitic nematode isolates against C. cupreata. However, multi-location field trials need to be conducted to confirm their efficacy in IPM programme for C. cupreata.

Poplar plantations are increasingly threatened by the defoliator Clostera cupreata, necessitating the identification of resistant planting material for sustainable pest management. In this study, 23 poplar clones and two reference checks (the resistant clone G-48 and the susceptible clone D-82) were evaluated for their effects on insect development, feeding performance, and biochemical defense traits. Developmental parameters varied significantly among clones, with larval duration being longest on G-48 (14.80 ± 0.17 days) and shortest on D-82 (11.15 ± 0.08 days), indicating delayed insect development on resistant clones. Fecundity ranged from 120.8 to 223.2 eggs ♀⁻1, while survival varied from 52.4

Populus deltoides, commonly known as poplar, has gained immense significance due to its versatile applications. Consequently, farmers of Northern India have significantly adopted its cultivation in the agro-forestry plantation in the northwestern India. However, poplars worldwide, facing a serious challenge in the form of infestations of insect pests. The spectrum of insect pests affecting P. deltoides encompasses 65 species reported from India. The present study was undertaken at Forest Entomology Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. The study exhibited that leaf defoliator named Cupha erymanthis nicobarica Felder was identified for the first time on P. deltoides. Additionally, this is the first distribution record of C. e. nicobarica from northwestern region of India. The observations also revealed that the presence of this insect was recorded between April and July in the field and complete its life cycle from 28 to 31 days on P. deltoides leaves under laboratory condition. The research delved into studying the biology, seasonal occurrence, and the nature of damage caused by this particular insect pest on poplar trees for the first time in India.

Silver oak, Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. is an important exotic tree species component of urban forestry in India. However, the occurrence of insect-pests in exotics causes tremendous impact on the production and yield in nurseries as well-established plantations; consequently, reducing profits and inducing high expense to stakeholders. Thus, a detailed account of insect-pests infestation and their impact becomes important. Therefore, present study was undertaken to find out the insect pest occurrence on G. robusta in the nursery, plantation established at different geographical region of northern India from 2018-2022. The study result exhibited infestation of ten insect-pests for the first time on G. robusta. Six species were defoliator in nature viz. Ascotis selenaria, Chrysodeixis includens, Ectropis bhurmitra, Helicoverpa armigera, Hyposidra talaca, and Olene inclusa; while infestation of four species of sap sacking nature viz. Asterolecanium sp., Ceroplastes rusci, Drosicha stebbingi, and Oxyrachis tarandus. The seasonal incidence and nature of damage were also recorded for the first time of these insects on G. robusta. This is the first attempt to report insect-pests of G. robusta, which gave an overview of the possible potential threat in India. The study would be beneficial for future reference with respect to pest management of G. robusta, when the species is taken up for tree improvement program in the long run.

The genus Synedrus Graham, 1956 is recorded from India for the first time. The male of Synedrus kasparyani Tselikh, 2013 is described. Additional characters and images of female are also provided.

Abstract The present study conducted in Uttarakhand, India aimed to investigate the insect pests associated with Dalbergia latifolia, commonly known as rosewood. Rosewood is an economically important timber-producing tree species indigenous to South and Southeast Asia. Although insect pests have been reported to attack rosewood trees, their impact and threat to nurseries and plantations in India have been insignificant thus far. The periodic survey was done and insect pest were recorded infesting D. latifolia nursery and plantation. The study recorded ten different insect species on D. latifolia in the region, with eight of them being reported for the first time on this particular species. The newly recorded insect species included Gastrophysa viridula, Chrysochus cobaltinus, Apoderus crenatus, Hyposidra talaca, Ricania speculum, Leptocorisa acuta, Leptocentrus taurus, and Dorsicha stebbingi. Further, nature of damage caused by these insect pests, and seasonal incidence was also studied. This investigation aimed to gather valuable information on the insect pest fauna associated with rosewood in Uttarakhand, India, and assess their potential effects on this valuable timber species. By studying the insect pests and their damage patterns, researchers can develop effective pest management strategies to mitigate any potential economic losses caused by these pests. Such information is crucial for the sustainable management and conservation of Dalbergia latifolia in the region.

Poplar, Populus deltoides is very susceptible to defoliator Clostera cupreata which causing about 50% tree infestation and economic growth loss nearly 66% every year. Resistance against the herbivore in plants govern by the genetic makeup of the tree species or clones, stands out major resources for managing the herbivore insect. Targeting the genetic variation and superiority of the clones against herbivore insect, present study was conducted. Forty-seven clones were studied for their superiority against leaf consumption by C. cupreata insect pest. Study was experimented through two methods ‘choice’ and ‘no-choice’ of leaf feeding. The results revealed that six clones developed by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (FRI-PD-FS-19, FRI-PD-AM-44, FRI-PD-AM-112, FRI-PD-FS-194, FRI-PD-FS-13, and FRI-PD-AM-96) along with two clones, WSL-22 and WSL-18, developed by ITC Seedlings Ltd, exhibited the highest resistance against the poplar defoliator C. cupreata. The feeding data from both the 'choice' and 'no-choice' experiments showed a positive correlation. Therefore, these clones are recommended for plantation in farm forestry in northwestern India to enhance the growth of poplar trees.

The present study conducted in Uttarakhand, India with aim to examine the insect pests of Dalbergia latifolia. The commonly known as rosewood and naturally not grown in the study area. Rosewood is a significant timber-producing tree species native to South and Southeast Asia and holds economic importance. This species was introduced in Uttarakhand in the year 2010 and again in 2020 another introduction programme was initiated by ICFRE, Dehradun. Though, there was no study on insect pest of D. latifolia at introduced regions of Uttarakhand, India. To assess the status of insect pest in newer growing region, periodic survey was conducted and insect pests were observed infesting D. latifolia at nurseries and plantations. Total six insect pests were recorded in this study, out of which five insect species viz. Gastrophysa viridula, Chrysochus cobaltinus, Apoderus crenatus, Ectropis bhurmitra, and Hyposidra talaca were recorded for the first time, while previously recorded Plecopte rareflexa was also recorded from Uttarakhand. The research also delved into the nature of damage caused by these insect pests and their seasonal occurrence. By understanding the behavior of these insect pests and the patterns of damage they inflict, researchers can develop effective pest management strategies to mitigate any potential economic losses they may cause. Such knowledge is crucial for the introduction of D. latifolia in any newer region and conservation of Dalbergia latifolia in the region.

Melia azedarach is a multipurpose tree of high medicinal properties and used for therapeutic purposes in ayurveda, siddha and unani system of Medicine. The infestation of Araecerus fasciculatus on M. azedarach fruits was recorded first time in the year 2000 during field survey in Uttarakhand, India. Maximum infestation was observed on fruits of M. azedarach collected from Udham Singh Nagar. Female beetles laid their eggs in the matured fruits making a hole in the pulp. The grub feeds on the pulp making gallery surrounding the seed kernel and do not feed on kernel or seed coat. After emergence, the adult beetle feeds on the fruit pulp only and come out through an exit hole of about 2 mm. The biology was studied in details; adult longevity was 22.00 (F) and 28.33 (M) days. The total life cycle of this beetle was completed in 50.91 (F) and 59.67 (M) days. Body size of male was shorter than the female but the legs of male were longer than female. Detailed morphometrics of different biological stages was also measured. Egg measured 0.898 mm, grub from 1(st) to fourth instar measured 2.13 mm, 3.49 mm, 4.20 mm and 4.80 mm, respectively. Subsequently, morphometrics of adult body part was also studied and color pictures of all the stages were provided.

The aim of the present work was to study the impact of boron and calcium on growth and yield of groundnut cv . BG-4 ( Arachis hypogaea L.) under red and lateritic soil (Alfisols) of Jharkhand, India. The experiments were carried out during the Kharif seasons of two years i.e. , 2017 and 2018 at research field of Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The experiment consisted of four levels of boron ( i.e. , @ 0.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 kg ha -1 ) and four levels of lime was used as source of calcium ( i.e. , @ 0/0, 1/5, 1/10 and 1/15 LR). Each experiment was conducted in Split Plot Design (SPD) with 3 replications by using boron and lime and their interactions was improved in plant growth and yield as compared to the experiments conducted without lime and boron that is in control with the applicable dose of N, P, K and S (@ 80, 60, 40 and 20 kg ha -1 ). The significantly superior improvement was observed in plant height and number of pegs and pods per plant in where plot was treated with lime @ 1/5 LR followed by @ 1/10 LR and @1/15 LR among the mean values of both years i.e. , 2017 and 2018. In case of grain and straw yield, significantly increased with increasing boron application, in where significantly higher was observed in B 3 (@ 3.0 kg B ha -1 ) followed by B 2 (@ 2.0 kg B ha -1 ) and B 1 (@ 1.0 kg B ha -1 ) among the mean values of both years. The optimum improved in growth and yield of groundnut was recorded from where boron application at the rate of 3.0 kg ha -1 and lime application @ 1/5 LR. Hence we can be recommended that boron and lime play an important role in red and lateritic soil (Alfisols) of Agro climatic sub zone IV th of VII th ACZ (Hill and plateau region) of Jharkhand.

To assess the impact of artificial leaf defoliation of Populus deltoides on its different growth parameters, a study was conducted on G-48 clone under field condition and four defoliation treatments, i.e. 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, were done in addition to control.Defoliation pattern was simulated with insect defoliator Clostera spp.feeding and the experiment was conducted from July to December.Significant variation was observed in tree height and DBH growth loss in all the treatments with respect to control, and 24.16-66.03%volume increment loss was observed under 25-100% leaf defoliation respectively.

A survey for the host plants of Fig Wax Scale Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus, 1758) was conducted in the Uttarakhand province, India. Among the six new host plants recorded during the study, four are new host records of C. rusci. A global check list of host plants of C. rusci was also prepared.

Bamboo leaf roller Algedonia coclesalis is a noxious pest of bamboo species in India. In this paper the infestation level of Algedonia coclesalis on 17 different bamboo species has been studied for four years in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. It has been resulted that A. coclesalis infestation initiates in the month of July and remains till October. Tree clustering result categorised all the bamboo species into three different relative susceptibility groups in which D. strictus, B. nutans and B. vulgaris were found to be the most threatened and susceptible species to bamboo leaf roller A. coclesalis in the region.

The problem of bark eating caterpillar, Indarbela quadrinotata infestation has been observed from variety of horticulture and forest tree species in India. The estimation of infestation of this caterpillar using conventional sampling methods was found difficult because counting the number of caterpillar in each tree is practically not feasible. Ranked set sampling (RSS) is a cost efficient method which provides improved estimators of mean and variance when actual measurement of the observations is difficult to obtain but a reasonable ranking of the units in the sample is relatively easy. In the present study, poplar, Populus deltoides plantation of Western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand was taken for the assessment of Indarbela quadrinotata infestation. The RSS estimator of population mean and variance have been discussed and compared with the corresponding estimators from simple random sampling (SRS). The relative precision (RP) of RSS procedure with respect to the SRS for four different set sizes of k = 3, 5, 7, and 10 has been deliberated. It was seen that RP increase with the increment in k. The method of RSS was found suitable for the assessment of insect pest infestation. Keywords: Indarbela quadrinotata, Populus deltoides, simple random sampling, ranked set sample, order statistics.

Lac insect, Kerria lacca Kerr. is the only commercial lac producing insect in the world. This tiny insect reared commercially on many specific host plants. Lac product is a natural resin of outstanding properties which is utilized in many products worldwide. Lac insects get settled on the host tree and take their nutrition continuously from the same part. Hence, additional fertilizer application becomes most important component for sustainable host plant growth and lac cultivation. Therefore, to determine the effect of chemical fertilizers (NPK) on Flemingia macrophylla and lac productivity, present study has been conducted. The result revealed that chemical fertilizer combination N15:P5:K5 was found to be the best for Flemingia macrophylla growth which gives best lac yield and least pest infestation on Kerria lacca. The correlation study has also proved that NPK has positively influences on plant growth and lac productivity. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3551585

The fast growing and multipurpose timber species G. arborea has problem of multiple insect pest attack in India. To understand the diversity of insect pest infestation abundance on Gmelina arborea, the data was collected on insect pest infestation (%) in three agro-climatic zones (Zone IV, V and VI) of Jharkhand province of India over a period of 3 years. Results shows that the plants were infested with total twenty insect pests species, out of these ten insect pest were recorded as new for G. arborea. Various diversity and similarity indices were calculated to explore the relationship of insect pest infestation among zones. It was found that Zone V have the maximum species infestation diversity followed by the zones IV and VI, whereas, zones IV and V were most similar and zone VI was differ from others. Duncan’s multiple range test determined that Phyllocnistis amydropa was the most abundant species for G. arborea. Additionally, ten insect pests viz. Maladera sp., Hyperops coromandelensis, Lobotrachelus sp., Apion sp., Ectropis bhurmitra, Belippa lalean , Pagyda sp., Phromnia marginella, and Homeocerus inornatus, Megalurothrips peculiaris were found to be as new insect pest records, infesting to G. arborea first time. The study may helpful to understand the expending range of insect pest fauna of G. arborea in the country and framing insect pest management policy more effectively.

The screening of some insecticides viz . monocrotophos, chlorpyriphos, cypermethrin and imidacloprid was done to determine the LC 50 values against Trichogramma chilonis . Imidacloprid was found most toxic to Trichogramma chilonis , at thirty minute, one, two and six hour after treatment with their lowest LC 50 value of 0.07, 0.03, 0.075, and 0.00004 per cent respectively followed by cypermethrin. While, chlorpyriphos and monocrotophos was found least toxic to the T. chilonis with its higher LC 50 value. Thus, the monocrotophos and chlorpyriphos can be safely used in field application with T. chilonis in I.P.M. programme. While, imidacloprid should be avoided or used in alternatively with T. chilonis under strict supervision in field application.

An attempt was made to assess the toxicity of some novel molecules of insecticides against Spodoptera litura (Fab.). The dose mortality response to the 7 d old larvae of S. litura indicated that spinosad at 24 h was 4.773 times more toxic than cartap hydrochloride at LC 50 value. By the lapse of time this ratio further increases to 82.5 at 48 h and 71 times at 72h. The relative toxicity ratio (RTR) of novel molecules at LC 50 value in comparison to cartap hydrochloride at 24h and 48h were: spinosad (4.77, 9.9)> fipronil (1.59, 3) and at 72h the values were spinosad (10.14) and fipronil (2.54). LC 50 values of cartap hydrochloride, fipronil, spinosad, as 0.44% and 0.126%; 0.0418% and 0.079%; 0.004% and 0.0264% respectively at 24 h.

Plant growth stimulants 'Miraculan' gradually decreased survival of the larvae of Spodoptera litura from 86.67 to 46.67 per cent at 3.22 to 100 ppm. Similar trend was also observed in adult emergence. Growth indices were lower in all treated diets as compared to control. The results of the experiment showed that artificial diet fortified with different levels of Miraculan (plant growth stimulant) has adverse effect on the survival and development of Spodoptera litura . Reduction in per cent pupation, adult emergence and larval survival of S.litura indicates the role for these growth regulators in IPM.