The book is a comprehensive and student-friendly reference that systematically covers the major insect pests affecting important agricultural, horticultural, plantation, and commercial crops cultivated in India. The book is designed to meet the academic requirements of undergraduate students of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Allied Sciences, while also serving as a practical guide for extension workers and field professionals.
The content is organized crop-wise and includes detailed coverage of insect pests of millets, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, plantation crops, fruit crops, and industrial crops such as sugarcane and cotton. Each crop chapter focuses on the major and economically important insect pests, their identification, host range, nature of damage, and basic management approaches. Emphasis is placed on understanding pest–crop relationships to support effective pest diagnosis and decision-making in the field.
Special attention has been given to commonly cultivated crops such as rice alternatives (millets), pulses, vegetables (brinjal, tomato, okra, chilli, potato, cucurbits), plantation crops (coconut, banana, cashew), and fruit crops (mango, citrus, guava, pomegranate, sapota, jackfruit). The book aligns well with ICAR syllabi and Sixth Deans’ Committee recommendations, making it suitable for semester examinations as well as competitive examinations.
Written in clear and concise language, this book bridges theoretical concepts with practical relevance, helping students develop a strong foundation in agricultural entomology and integrated pest awareness
