Efficacy of Selective Insecticides against the Spotted Pod Borer Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Green Gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

The present investigation was conducted at the research plot of the Department of Entomology at Central Research Farm (CRF), Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, during the Kharif season of 2024. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications and eight treatments, Spinosad 45% SC (T1), Thiamethoxam 25% WG (T2), Azadirachtin 0.03% EC (T3), Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC (T4), Beauveria bassiana 1.15% WP (1x108 spore/lit), (T5) Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + Thiamethoxam17.5% SC (T6), Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG (T7) and untreated Control (T0) were tested to compare the efficacy against Maruca  vitrata  and their influences on yield of Green gram. Each biopesticide was applied twice at 15-day intervals. Observations on the larval population were recorded one day before each treatment, three, seven and fourteen days after I and II spray on green gram. The outcomes showed that, in comparison to the control, the larval population greatly decreased in all of the insecticides and bio pesticides Among all the treatments, the plot treated with T6 Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + Thiamethoxam 17.5% SC (1.06) proved most effective followed by T4 (1.29), T1 (1.73), T2 (2.30), T7 (2.56) and T5 (3.13). Among the treatments applied, the best and most effective treatment was T6 Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + Thiamethoxam 17.5% SC (1:3.78), followed by T4 (1:3.23), T1 (1:3.20), T2 (1:3.19), T7 (1:2.97), T5 (1:2.95), T3 Azadirachtin 0.03% EC (1:2.75) as compare to control plot T0 (1:1.73)

Reassessing Environmental Impact Assessments in India: Implications for Species Conservation and Biodiversity Governance

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) serves as a foundational instrument in contemporary development planning, offering a structured approach to integrating environmental considerations at the inception of project design and execution. In the Indian context, EIA acts as a preventive and regulatory framework designed to mitigate ecological degradation by systematically assessing the potential environmental consequences of proposed activities on critical components such as air, water, soil, biodiversity, and public health. While EIA has contributed to advancing sustainable development and enhancing environmental accountability, its application in the realm of wildlife conservation—especially concerning birds and other ecologically sensitive species—remains fraught with limitations. A significant proportion of EIAs fail to adequately address the long-term, cumulative, and spatially diffuse impacts on species that navigate both protected and unprotected landscapes. These oversights are aggravated by the limited deployment of scientific tracking tools, insufficient ecological modelling, and a lack of attention to habitat connectivity. Migratory birds and wide-ranging species are particularly vulnerable to such gaps in assessment, often facing habitat fragmentation and ecosystem disruptions. To harmonize developmental objectives with the imperatives of wildlife conservation, it is essential to strengthen the EIA process through the incorporation of advanced ecological methodologies, real-time wildlife tracking, and landscape-level planning. Enhancing stakeholder participation and embedding species-specific conservation strategies within EIA protocols can further ensure that development does not come at the cost of biodiversity loss. Such an integrated and science-informed approach to EIA would support the ethical imperative of safeguarding wildlife, promoting ecological balance, and securing a sustainable future for both human and non-human life. Biodiversity plays a vital role not only in maintaining ecological balance but also in supporting agriculture, livelihoods, and the traditions of indigenous communities. Despite this, increasing human activities such as deforestation, pollution, infrastructure expansion, habitat fragmentation, and climate change are accelerating species extinction at an alarming rate

Morphological Notes on Marine Sponges of the Class Demospongiae and One Calcarea from Lakshadweep

This study expands knowledge on Lakshadweep’s sponge diversity, documenting a new species Scalarispongia androthensis n.sp. and four new regional records. These findings enhance understanding of coral reef ecosystems and support future conservation and biodiversity research

Cellulase-producing Microorganisms from Diverse Ecosystem: A Review

Cellulose is the most abundant organic matter present on the planet. It is made up of glucose molecules which is the ultimate energy currency. Still, cellulose is utilized by most the animals as energy source as they lack necessary enzymes for degradation of the molecule. The animals who are able to utilize cellulose based materials as source of energy are able to do so due to cellulase producing gut microflora. Cellulases are enzymes which are used by certain organisms to breakdown the cellulose. Very small number of organisms are able to produce different types of cellulases which can break the bonds present in cellulose molecules. Only few bacteria, fungi and protozoa have necessary genes for cellulase. It has been found that certain herbivorous insects are also able to synthesize their own cellulase but again this property is very limited in few insect types. The microorganisms who are able to synthesize cellulase are present in soil and water along with certain mammalian and insect guts. In soil and water such microorganisms decompose the dead plant matter containing cellulose and help in maintaining the carbon cycle along with getting energy from the molecule. Apart from ecological activity the cellulases are utilized for various industrial purposes. In the current review we have discussed different types of microorganisms which are able to produce cellulases. The source of such microorganisms are also discussed briefly to place them in the right context

Review on the Extinction of Fishes in Uttar Pradesh, India: Causes, Consequences, and Conservation Strategies

India is one of the most recognized mega-diverse countries in the world. India consists of 4 globally identified biodiversity hotspots which are the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, western Ghat, and Sundar land contributing 7-8 % of the recorded species of the world. It is also known as a repository center for the traditional knowledge associated with biological resources of the 91,200 species of animal and 45,500 species of plants. A checklist of endemic freshwater fish species found that 355 freshwater species are endemic, based on the taxonomy used in fish base 2004 and 13 March 2009 research data in India. This is a huge decline in fish species because increasing lots of human anthropogenic activity, pesticides, insecticides, and untested chemical hazards released in the environment. The loss of species would disrupt the delicate ecological balance, potentially leading to a cascade of negative environmental effects and, therefore loss of biodiversity of species in Utter Pradesh. This research paper reviews the major chemical compounds, drugs, and environmental factors that are directly and indirectly affecting fish species extension and discusses the cause, consequences, and conservation strategies of endemic species in freshwater Utter Pradesh

Assessment of Fish Diversity Associated with Water Quality Parameters of Burhi Gandak River, North Bihar, India

Burhi Gandak River is a left-bank tributary of River Ganga and a major riverine ecosystem in North Bihar. The river is home to different freshwater fish species, gastropods, bivalves, and other aquatic animals. The fish diversity and Water quality parameters data were collected in six sampling locations from the period of August 2020 to June 2021. The present study examined fish diversity and their relationship with water quality parameters. The study revealed that Burhi Gandak River is the home of 71 fish species (67 indigenous and 4 exotic species). Identified species belong to 28 families, 10 orders, and 52 genera. The Order Cypriniformes contributes (45%) and 19 fish species belonging to the family Cyprinidae constitute the major diversity of the river. The maximum number of species was documented from location S4 (Pusa) and minimum from S2 (Muzaffarpur) respectively. The four types of diversity indices i.e., Shannon–Wiener (2.886 to 3.206), Simpson’s (0.9235 to 0.9449), Margalef’s richness (4.768 to 6.82) and Pielou’s evenness (0.4935 to 0.5708) were also assessed, and values of diversity indices vary from each location. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicates that pH, free CO2, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen were the key water quality parameters in the Burhi Gandak River. Four exotic species namely Ctenopharyngodon idella, Barbonymus gonionotus, Carassius carassius and Cyprinus carpio were recorded. According to the IUCN RedList, out of 71 fish species, 4 Near Threatened (NT), 1 Vulnerable (VU) and 66 Least Concern (LC)

Morphometric Responses of Ross 308 Male Broilers to Yeast β-Glucan Supplementation during Feed Stress

Broiler chicken have been subjected to intensive genetic selection, making them the fastest growing farmed avians. The primary determining factor is the feed which is the success behind the rearing of broilers. Some growth-promoting substances and antibiotics have been used in the broiler industry, which can negatively impact the overall health. In this study, Yeast β-glucans are carbohydrates made up of complex glucose polymers which is known for immunomodulating capabilities and potential use in poultry diets. This study involved total of 54-day-old birds (3 replicates x 6 N x 3 diets) that were divided into three treatment pens based on the diet given for 7 weeks. Morphometric measurements were employed to analyse the body orientation and dimensions of organisms, which can be used for growth prediction. Results revealed significant changes in body weight in broiler chicks that were exposed to feed stress, which the broilers in pen-1 and pen-3 showed good morphometric changes compared to pen-2 showed decrease in changes after the fifth week. The positive correlation coefficient between body weight and morphometric traits supports previous research, with body weight being reliably predicted with other morphometric traits like head length and back length. The present study suggested that supplementing yeast β-glucan in broiler chicken diets can positively influence various morphometric characteristics, particularly when combined with other feed additives

Assessment of Apis mellifera and Other Insect Pollinators in Augmenting Seed Yield of Onion (Allium cepa. L).

To identify the pollinator community of insects and its role in onion (Allium cepa L.) pollination, an investigation was carried out at the vegetable research field of SKUAST-K, Shalimar at two hourly basis from 8:00hr-18:00 hr in the bloom period of crop during the year 2021-2022. The observations on diversity of pollinators showed that large number of insect pollinators were found visiting onion bloom. The insect pollinators were found active during the blooming period, however the foraging activity differs significantly at different time intervals of the day, that too among the different insect pollinators. It was also concluded that the insect visitors may not necessarily be the potential pollinators as well. Out of seven insect species visiting onion bloom Hymenopterans (Apis mellifera, Apis cerana and Vespa spp) were the main visitors, but the foraging activity of Syrphids was highest, followed by Apis mellifera, Apis cerana and others. The highest foraging activity of syrphids (6.88) was observed at 1000-1200 hr followed by (5.72) at 1200-1400 hr, whereas, in case of Apis mellifera highest foraging activity (4.86) was observed at 1200-1400hr followed by (4.30) at 1000-1200 hr. The impact of managed pollination on the yield and quality of onion seeds was assessed by using four treatments: plants enclosed in nets without pollinators (T1), plants enclosed with honey bees (Apis mellifera) as the sole pollinator (T2), plants enclosed with syrphids as the sole pollinators (T3), and plants exposed to all pollinators (T4). The number of umbels produced per plant was not influenced by pollination. However, both honey bee pollination and open pollination resulted in 232.14 seeds/umble and 227.60 seeds/umble and 3.95 and 3.87 as 1000 seed weight/gm respectively, and seed yield of 568.22 and 590.98 kg/ha honey bee as pollinator and open pollination conditions, respectively. Pollination by honeybees showed better performance followed by open pollination and least performance in the yield and yield attributing parameters were observed in pollination exclusion treatment

Remote Sensing and Automated Monitoring Systems for Insect Pest Detection and Surveillance

Insect pests pose a significant threat to agricultural production, requiring effective monitoring and management strategies. Recent advancements in remote sensing and automated monitoring technologies offer promising solutions for early detection and surveillance of insect pests in agricultural systems. This review paper explores the current state-of-the-art remote sensing and automated monitoring approaches for insect pest detection, including satellite imagery, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), wireless sensor networks, and machine learning algorithms. We discuss the advantages, limitations, and potential applications of these technologies in precision agriculture and integrated pest management. Case studies highlighting successful implementations of remote sensing and automated monitoring systems for major insect pests are presented. Furthermore, we outline future research directions and challenges in developing cost-effective, scalable, and reliable pest monitoring solutions. The integration of remote sensing and automated monitoring systems with decision support tools and precision pest control strategies holds great promise for improving crop protection and ensuring sustainable food production in the face of increasing pest pressures

Study the Effect of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles on Corneal Injury Healing in Rabbits

Background: Injury in the cornea in animals tends to heal slowly due to a vascular structure. Therefore, treatments that accelerate the healing of the cornea need to be investigated. Objective: To enhance and evaluate the healing process of corneal injury using clinical assessments and fluorescent dye examinations. Materials & Methods: Thirty-six rabbits (Britannia Petite) were used in this study. Under general an aesthesia by injection of (10 mg/kg) xylazine and injection of (25 mg/kg) ketamine HCl, corneal injury was induced with NaOH 0.4%, applied to the cornea of the right eye for 20 seconds. The animals were divided into three groups: group one (control group, 12 rabbits), group two (treated group, 12 rabbits), and group three (treated group, 12 rabbits). The animals were examined clinically during the studied period, and fluorescence dye evaluation was performed at the 1st, 3rd, and 4th weeks post-operation. Results: After 28 days of inducing a corneal injury, the control group still had a fibrous tissue layer and corneal opacity on the corneal surface. However, corneal opacity exhibited greater transparency. While, in the treated group, we will observe the complete healing of the eye, with the restoration of blood and nutrient supply to the cornea, resulting in the total resolution of all corneal damage. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated the Nano cerium oxide acceleration and enhanced of the corneal wound healing because have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties