eChapters

Objective: To investigate and comprehend the taxonomic traits of family Mantidae, specifically cockroaches and praying mantises, through detailed examination and diagrammatic representation.

Objective: To explore and document the taxonomic characteristics of cockroaches belonging to the family Blattidae through detailed observation and analysis.

Objective: To explore and record the taxonomic features of insects in the family Pentatomidae through thorough examination and analysis of their morphology.

Objective: To thoroughly examine and record the fundamental taxonomic traits of insects belonging to the family Cicadellidae through detailed observation and analysis.

Objective: The objective of this practical exercise is to explore and document key taxonomic characteristics of Aphididae, focusing on specimens like cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) and bean aphids (Aphis craccivora).

Objective: To study and identify key taxonomic features of whiteflies in the family Aleurodidae, which are small insects crucial as vectors of plant diseases like mosaic viruses.

Objective: To elucidate the taxonomic characteristics of Psocoptera and Mallophaga, emphasizing their distinctive morphological features, ecological roles as parasites, and significance in entomology and veterinary sciences

Objective: To differentiate and identify orthopteroid and hemipteroid groups based on their distinct taxonomic characteristics.

Objective: To study the habitat, habits, and key morphological characteristics of Dermaptera (earwigs).

Objective: To study the habitat, habits, and key morphological characteristics of Embioptera

Objective: To differentiate and document the key morphological characteristics of insects from the families Arctiidae (tiger moths) and Acrididae (grasshoppers).

Objective: To identify and understand the taxonomic status and relationships of orders within Endopterygota, focusing on their distinct larval and adult stages and current sister group hypotheses.

Objective: To explore and document the taxonomic characteristics of Strepsiptera and Mecoptera, highlighting their unique morphological features and biological adaptations.

Objective: To study and document the taxonomic characteristics of Siphonaptera and Trichoptera, emphasizing their unique morphological features and ecological adaptations.

Objective: To identify agriculturally important insect orders and understand their key morphological characteristics relevant to their impact on agriculture.

Litchi, Litchi chinensis, is one of the important fruit crops of South East Asia and Australian Continent. The crop thrives well in sub-tropical areas experiencing cool dry winters and warm wet summers. India and China are the major producers of litchi in the world. In India, Bihar, Uttarakhand and West Bengal contribute maximum in litchi production. Few major insect pests and mites are of concern, the details of which are as under:

Red rust, Eriophyid mite, Aceria litchii Keifer (Eriophyidae: Prostigmata) and red rust alga, Cephaleuros virescens Kunze (Trentepholiaceae: Trentepohliales)

Pollination is one of the most essential ecosystem services which is effectual for crop productivity, biodiversity and human livelihood. Pollination is the process of transferring pollens from anther to stigma for plant reproduction and has direct impact on crop productivity. Conservation and management of pollinators is still ignored in the agriculture development program by the policy makers. In agricultural ecosystem, many agricultural crops are dependent on insects for their pollination, and assisted pollination may have to be done when natural pollination is insufficient in order to reduce potential yield loss (Klein et al., 2007). About 80% of the world’s flowering plant species are dedicated to animal pollination, mostly by insects (FAO, 2007). In 2005, globally, pollinators’ pollination services economic value was estimated to be about €153 billion (Gallai et al., 2009). The United Nations also reported that the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity by insect pollination was valued at £134 billion.

Introduction

Pollination is a process in which pollen grains are transferred from male gametes to the female gamete, thereby enabling fertilization and reproduction through growth of the pollen tube and eventual release of sperm. Fertilization is the union of the egg and sperm. In plants, this may happen after pollination; however, pollination doesn’t always result in fertilization. Fertilization occurs when the pollen grains germinate on the stigma and grow in the style. Reproduction is the process to produce offspring by fusion of male and female gametes, which simply means that the sperms of the pollen unite with the ovules in the ovary of the flower and subsequently produce seed. Flowers may facilitate out-crossing (fusion of sperm and eggs from different individuals in a population) or allow selfing (fusion of sperm and egg from the same flower). Some flowers produce diasporas without fertilization (parthenocarpy).