Research Projects

Egg parasitoids, especially the Trichogrammatidae family, are widely used in Biocontrol programs around the world. Researchers have demonstrated that the behavior of these entomophagous insects is influenced in various ways by chemicals produced by their host or prey. Such chemical cues help the parasitoids in the host habitat location, host location, host recognition, host acceptance, and foraging activities. Chemicals like kairomones emanating from host insects are used by the parasitoids to distinguish the host from the non-host. Kairomones are the chemical substances released by one insect species that evoke behavioral and physiological responses in the receiver such that the subsequent actions are favorable to the receiver and not the emitter. Among the Trichogramma species, Trichogramma pretiosum, has been exploited as a potential biological control agent for S. frugiperda. The Fall Armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda is the most destructive pest of many economically important crops across the globe. It originated from America's tropical and subtropical region, and it recently has invaded many nations including India in 2018, causing enormous economic losses. There is a significant yield loss when larvae feed on vegetative and reproductive plant stages. Considering the invasiveness and damaging potential of FAW, it is essential to prevent its infestation in the early stages in the field. Although there are various managements tools of FAW, the adoption of biocontrol agents is desirable as it is sustainable and eco-friendly approach coupled with the desirable attributes such as host searching ability, self-perpetuating, host specificity. Also, biocontrol agents can be used as bioinsecticide. Northeastern states of India is rich in biodiversity due to its unique geographical location and distinct climatic conditions. Also, there are many unexplored ecologies that could harbor a rich number of novel parasitoids in these regions of the country. Therefore, exploring these ecologies could lead us to a great understanding of biological agents present in the region. Hence the investigation has been proposed so as to study the parasitoid populations of the northeastern state of Meghalaya, which is largely unexplored and the importance of kairomones in eliciting parasitic response.