This document is a master's seminar paper submitted by Arun Kumar to Dr. M. K. Mishra on biological control of insect pests of oilseed crops. It provides an introduction to important oilseed crops in India and lists their major insect pests. It then discusses the history of biological control and problems with chemical control. It describes the different types of beneficial bio-agents used for biological control, including predators, parasitoids, and entomopathogenic microorganisms. It provides examples of commonly used species for each type of bio-agent and how they are applied. The document concludes that biological control provides effective, cost-efficient pest control while avoiding toxicity issues of chemical pesticides.

1. Master’s Seminar (ENT-591)
On
Biological control of Insects-Pests of Oilseed Crops
Submitted to: Dr. M. K. Mishra
(Assistant Professor)
Department of Entomology
Submitted by: Arun Kumar
Id. No.: 1364
M.Sc. (Ag.) Entomology
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
BANDA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND
TECHNOLOGY, BANDA (U.P) 210001

2. INTRODUCTION
▪ India is one of the largest producer of oilseeds in the world and occupies an
important position in the Indian agricultural economy .
▪ Total oilseed production in the country during 2018-19 is estimated at 31.42 million
tonnes .
▪ There are nine important oilseeds crops grown in India out of which seven are of
edible oils (Rapeseed-Mustard , Soybean , Groundnut , Sunflower , Sesame and
Niger) and two are of non- edible oils (Castor and Linseed).
▪ India ranks first in the production of Groundnut , third in Rapeseed-Mustard and
fifth in Soybean.
▪ Several insecticides used against insect pests on oilseed crops get accumulated in fat
and transferred to human beings when consumed and cause severe health problems.
History of Biological control
➢ In China Pharoah’s ant Monomorium pharaonis was first used to control stored grain
pest and Red ant Oecophylla spp. used to control foliage feeding caterpillar.
➢ Year 1762 - ‘Mynah’ bird imported from India to Mauritius to control of locust.
➢ During 1888 citrus industry in California (USA) seriously threatened by cottony
cushion scale, Icerya purchasi
➢ Vedalia beetle (Rodolia cardinalis) was imported in 1888 into USA and allowed on
cottony cushion scale infested trees.
➢ 1898 - First introduction of natural enemy into India
➢ In 1898- A coccinellid beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri was imported into India
from Australia and released against coffee green scale, Coccus viridis.
➢ 1920 - A parasitoid Aphelinus mali introduced from England into India to control
Wooly aphid on Apple, Eriosoma lanigerum.
➢ 1929-31 - Rodolia cardinalis imported into India (from USA) to control cottony
cushion scale Icerya purchasi on Wattle trees.

3. Problems due to Chemical control
✓ Environmental pollution.
✓ Pest resistance
✓ Pest resurgence.
✓ Secondary pest outbreak
✓ Increase cost of production
✓ Killing of pollinators.
✓ Menace to human health
✓ Residual effect.
✓ Harmful effect on population of soil micro-organisms.
Biological control ?
▪ The term biological control was first used by Smith in 1919 to signify the use of
natural enemies to control insect pests.
▪ Biological control is “the action of biocontrol agents against the target species to
suppress the population below the level of economic damage by keeping
environment hormonized .’’
▪ Definition- Paul DeBach (1973) “ The utilization of parasitoids , predators and
pathogens for the regulation of host population density is called as biological
control.”

4. List of Different Oilseed Crops grown in India
S.N. Common name Scientific name
1. Rapeseed-Mustard Brassica spp.
2. Soybean Glycine max
3. Groundnut Arachis hypogeae
4. Sunflower Helianthus annus
5. Castor Ricinus communis
6. Linseed Linum usitatissimum
List of Different Oilseed-Pests
S.N. Crops name Common name of
Insects
Scientific name of Insects
1. Rapeseed-
Mustard
Aphid Lipaphis erysimi
Flea beetle Chromatomyia horticola
Painted bug Bagrada hilaris
Saw fly Athalia lugens
2. Soybean Girdle beetle Obereopsis brevis
Stem fly Melanogromyza sajae
White fly Bemicia tabaci
Pod borer Helicoverpa armigera
3. Groundnut Lab lab Aphid Aphis craccivora
Leaf miner Aproaerema modicella

5. Red hairy caterpillar Amsacta albistriga
Pod bug Elasmolomus sordidus
4. Sunflower Head borer Helicoverpa armigera
Tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura
Semi looper Trichoplusia ni
Cut worm Agrotis spp.
5. Castor Semi looper Achaea janata
Slug caterpillar Parasa lepida
Shoot & Capsule borer Dichocrocis punctiferalis
Tussoc caterpillar Orgyia postica
6. Linseed Bud fly Dasyneura lini
Pod borer Helicoverpa armigera
Semi looper Autographa nigrisigna
Pea Leaf miner Chromatomyia horticola
Beneficial Bio-agents of oilseed crops
A. Predators
B. Parasites
C. Parasitoids
D. Entomopathogenic microbes:
▪ Entomopathogenic Fungi
▪ Entomopathogenic Bacteria
▪ Entomopathogenic Virus
▪ Entomopathogenic Mycoplasma
▪ Entomopathogenic Nematodes

6. A. Predators ?
‘‘A predator is a free-living organism throught its life; it kills its prey, is usually larger than
its prey and requires more than one prey to complete its development.’’
1. Predatory insects-
i. Lady bird beetles- Larvae of coccinellids feed upon the body fluids of their prey.
Following type of Predators suppress the aphid population.
▪ Coccinella septempunctata
▪ Cheilomenes sexmaculata
▪ Hippodamia variegata
Apply -
Releases of 2nd
instar larvae of coccinella septempunctata and Cheilomenes sexmaculata
in the mustard field @ 1000/hectare.
ii. Lace wings
▪ Chrysoperla carnea
▪ Mallada boninensis
Apply –
Release @ 5,000-50,000 eggs per acre or Release Green lacewing larvae @10,000-
50,000 larvae per acre.
iii. Hover flies
▪ Episyrphus balteatus

7. iv. Preying mantis-
▪ Mantis religiosa
Apply –
Release @10-100 egg cases per acre , per egg case contains 50 to 200 individual eggs
and eggs hatch within 10 to 50 days.
Feeding potential of predators on Aphid population
Kuldeep singh and Narendra singh- (2013)
Lady bird beetle/day
consumption
Hover fly/day
consumption
Lace wing/day
consumption
Ist instar- 21.43 Ist instar- 7.63 Ist instar- 16.37
IInd instar- 46.90 IInd instar- 32.70 IInd instar- 16.75
IIIrd instar- 76.61 IIIrd instar- 41.57 IIIrd instar- 89.66
IVth instar - 102.60
Total - 243.54 Total- 81.90 Total- 122.78

8. Predatory Birds
Black drongo-
• Dicrurus adsimili a bird preyed on larvae of Helicoverpa armigera and reduced
capsule damage from about 10% to 3-5%
Common Myna-
• Acridotheres tristis work as predator for Insects.
B. Parasitoids ?
‘‘A parasitoid is a special kind of parasite which is often about the same size as its host,
kills its host and requires only one host for development in to a free-living adult.’’
1. Mummified aphids
• Diaeretiella rapae
• Aphidius colemani
• Aphidius ervi
• Aphelinus abdominalis
• Aphidius matricariae
• Lysiphlebus testaceipes
2. Gryon spp. - Egg parasitoid of Painted bug (Bagrada hilaris)
3. Alophora spp. - Adult parsitoid of Painted bug (Bagrada hilaris)
Egg parasitoids-
• Trichogramma chilonis
• T. japonicum
• T. achea
• Telenomus remus
• Perilissus cingulator

9. Larval parsitoid of Mustard saw fly-
• Campoletis chloridae- Larval parasitoid of Helicoverpa armigera
• Cotesia plutella- Larval parasitoid of Diamond back moth
Larval parasitoids of Hairy caterpillars-
• Cotesia flavipes,
• Cotesia bosei
• Glyptapanteles creatonoti
• Exorista civilodes
• Sturmia inconspicuella
• Tachina fallax
Larval parsitoids of Linseed gall midge-
• Systasis dasyneurae
• Elamus spp.
• Eurytoma spp.
• Torymus spp.
• Tetrastichus spp.
Tricho-cards
❖ Method:
▪ Staple the pieces of Tricho cards at lower side of plant leaves. Tricho card of 15
X 7.5 cm contains approximately 18000- 20000 parasitised eggs.
▪ About 0.3 to 0.5 million parasitised eggs (15 to 25 Tricho-cards) are required for
one hectare crop.
Apply-
Release Trichogramma chilonis @ 50,000 parasitised eggs/ha.
Advantages of Trichogramma
• Efficient host searching ability of adults.
• Kill the pest in egg stage before it could cause damage.
• Ability to multiply themselves while destroying the pest in the field.

10. • Easy to release in the field.
• Safe for environment.
• No adverse effect on other beneficial insects.
• Not harmful to human and pet animals
Entomopathogenic Microorganisms
‘‘Microbial control refers to the exploitation of diseases causing organisms to reduce the
population of insect pests below the economic injury level’’
Entomopathogenic Fungi
✓ Entomopathogenic fungi are a group of fungi living in soil that infect insects by
penetrating their cuticle to penetrate their bodies to eventually kill them and feeding
on them (Dara et al, 2017).
✓ Entomopathogenic fungi: Beauveria bassiana, and Metarrhizium anisopliae fungi
are play important role in the regulation of insect populations.
✓ Metarrhizium anisopliae was the first fungus worldwide to be mass produced and
utilized for insect-pest control.
ENTOMOPATHOGE
NIC
MICROORGANISMS
FUNGI
BACTERIA
VIRUSES
PROTOZOA
MYCOPLASM
A
RICKETTSIA
NEMATODES

11. Application of Beauveria bassiana
Trade name:
Beauveria, Ankush, Boverin, Bio-powder, Daman, Multiplax, Mycotrol, Naturalis
etc.
Target pests:
Aphids, Thrips, Whiteflies, Termites, Grass hoppers , Caterpillars, Beetles etc
Dosages :
Spores at 1.5 kg/ha, Dose 2-4gm (30X10⁹ Conidia /gm)
Mode of Action :
When the spores of the fungus come into contact with the body of an insect host,
they germinate, penetrate the cuticle, and grow inside than killing the insect.
Symptoms:
The fungus produce white muscardine disease on treated larvae.
Application of Metarrhizium anisopliae
Trade name :
Myco-meta , Biomax , Bio-magic, Kalichakra etc.
Target pests:
Leaf hoppers, cutworms, termites, spittle bugs, grubs, Beetles, weevils, flies, Gnats,
thrips etc.
Dosages:
Seed Treatment- Mix 20ml of Myco-Meta with 1 kg of seeds and sowing the treated
seeds after 30 minutes.
Field application:
For one acre- 1000ml of Myco-Meta can be mixed with sufficient quantity of water and
this solution is sprayed.
Symptoms-
Metarhizium anisopliae grows upon insect host cuticle turned in to green colour called
Green muscadine disease.

12. Mortality percentage of Entomopathogenic fungi
S.N. Fungi name Highest Mortality
%
Pathogenecity
(in days)
Concentration of
Fungal spores
1. Metarrhizium
anisopliae
72 3 1x10⁹
2. Beauveria bassiana 69.6 7 1x10⁹
3. Nomuraea rileyi 60 6 1x10⁸
4. Verticillium lecanii 60 6 1x10⁸
Entomopathogenic Bacteria
Spore forming Non-Spore forming
e.g. Bacillus spp.
Obligate Facultative
e.g. Bacillus popillae
Crystelliferous Non crystelliferous
e.g. Bacillus thurigiensis e.g. Bacillus cereus
(Dr. D.S Reddy 2010)

13. Application of Bacillus thurigiensis
Bt is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming entomopathogenic bacterium.
Mode of action- Stomach poison
Symptoms-
▪ Larvae becomes inactive and stops feeding.
▪ The head capsule becomes large compared to body size.
▪ The larvae becomes flaccid and dies.
▪ The body contents turn brownish-black colouration.
Entomopathogenic Virus
• Nuclear polyhedrosis virus
• Granulosis virus
Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus
▪ Dose - 250-500 Larval equivalent/ha.
▪ Mode of action - NPV work as stomach poison.
▪ Symptoms -
✓ Stop feeding
✓ Discoloration
✓ Decomposition
✓ Hang on top of plant

14. Advantages of Biological Control
✓ The biological control agents are eco-friendly and do not have any side effects on
Humans, Livestock’s etc.
✓ The pest is unable to develop a resistance.
✓ Bio-control methods are also comparatively cheaper than other Agrochemicals like
pesticides.
✓ No toxicity or residue problems.
✓ The use of bio-control agents causes a significant and noticeable deterioration in
the quality of Produce .
✓ Play key role in Integrated pest management
Constraints of Biological Control
✓ Research costs are high and sometimes may not produce results.
✓ Take long time to pest control.
✓ It is difficult and expensive to develop and supply.
✓ It has slow process.
✓ It is not applicable to all species of the pests.
✓ Only a skilled farmer can adopt biological control.
✓ Biological control can effect on biodiversity through predation , parasitism ,
competition , or other attacks on non-target species

15. Conclusion
Biological control of insect pests is characterized by a persistent, strong reduction in the pest
population which is less costly and cheaper than any other methods. Besides it
provides protection to the crop throughout the crop period and they do not cause toxicity to
the plants as well application of biocontrol agents is safer to the environment.
References
1. Kalia, A., Shukla, G., Mishra, D., Mishra, B.P. and Patel, R.R., 2021. Comparative
Trend Analysis of Mustard in Bundelkhand Region, Uttar Pradesh and India. Indian
Journal of Extension Education, 57(1), pp.15-19
2. Singh, K. and Singh, N.N., 2013. Preying capacity of different established predators
of the aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) infesting rapeseed-mustard crop in laboratory
conditions. Plant Protection Science, 49(2), pp.84-88.
3. Deka, A.C., Goswami, N.K. and Sarma, I., 2017. Biocontrol prospects of
entomopathogenic fungi for management of mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi Kalt.)
on rapeseed-mustard. Adv Appl Sci Res, 8(4), pp.21-29.
4. Nawaz, A., Ali, H., Sufyan, M., Gogi, M.D., Arif, M.J., Ranjha, M.H., Arshid, M.,
Waseem, M., Mustafa, T., Qasim, M. and Rizwan, M., 2019. Comparative bio-
efficacy of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) and Spinosad against American
bollwormm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). Revista Brasileira de
Entomologia, 63(4), pp.277-282.