Establishment of the Discipline – ‘Entomology’
With the inception of Agriculture Department in the Annamalai University a small but compact unit of Entomology came into existence as part of the Department of Agriculture mainly to cater to the instructional needs of B.Sc. (Ag.,) degree. Notably persons like    Dr. N. P. Kalyanam, who later became Professor of Zoology in Pachaiyappa’s College, Madras, nurtured the unit with dedication. The Section of Entomology in 1959 was staffed with young teachers like Mr. Chidambaranathan, and Dr.M.Balasubramanian whose dedication to the subject was an inspiration to students of Agriculture. Their efforts had the constant backing, reviewing and guiding by no less a person than Dr. G. Rangaswami whose academic services to the Faculty, as Dean remain to be cherished for ever.   They were followed by Dr.M.Thirugnanam, who later left for USA to pursue Ph.D degree programme and consequently joined M/s. Rohm&Haas Co., Philaldelphia, and Mr.V.Chandrasekaran and Dr.K.Natarajan, also later left for banking profession and Tamilnadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore respectively.  The Section was further developed by the unique privilege of having the services of a number of Entomologists like Dr. J.J. Krishna, who served here as the CSIR Pool Officer and  Mr.V. Sitarama Rao from Bapatla.  When these Entomolgists left the institution either to attain elevation in their career or to get higher degree in other institutions, Dr.S.Chelliah, a renowned Entomologist of TNAU, Coimbatore and then worked in a USDA PL 480 project on Muskmelon resistance against Fruit fly as a Research Scholar under the guidance of Prof.C.N. Sambandam, then Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture shouldered the academic commitments along with   Mr.V. Chandrasekaran and   Dr.K. Natarajan.
       Dr.M. Balasubramanian after acquiring Ph.D degree in Rutgers University, USA took charge of the discipline in 1970.  In an effort to share the responsibilities, the university had the services of Dr. P. Baskaran from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during late 1971. He was succeeded by Dr.Rm. Nachiappan and Dr.P. Narayanasamy in heading the Department.
In 1972 Dr. Balasubramanian was responsible for bringing in a new Post Graduate degree programme in Plant Protection in collaboration with Department of Agricultural Microbiology.    The course, being maiden in India, was thought to meet the requirements of plant protection specialists in various pesticide establishments. 
       During 1980, as part of the reorganization of the Faculty, the Division of Entomology retained its identity and was to handle M.Sc. (Ag.) in Agricultural Entomology in lieu of the Plant Protection course.  In 1982, the Division was elevated into Department of study by the university.

Key thrust areas

• Microbial pest control
• Herbal pest control
• Indigenous knowledge based pest control
• Host plant resistance
• Bio - taxonomy of parasitoids
• Fly ash in pest control
• Economic Entomology

Courses offered:
   On campus:
          B.Sc.(Ag)
          B.Sc.(Horti)
          M.Sc., (Ag) Entomology
          M.Sc., (Integrated) – Herbal sciences
          Ph.D. Entomology
    Off campus:
          Diploma in Biopesticides production & Biofertilizer technology
          Post Graduate Diploma in Plant Protection
          Diploma in Urban Pest Management
          Diploma in Commercial Entomology

    Degrees awarded    
           i.  Ph.D                       -   17   
          ii. M.Sc.(Ag.)                -   171

Research
Besides teaching, the research activities of the Department are well recognized nationally and internationally which is evidenced by the research publications and conduct of sponsored research projects.
The Department has so far completed 45 major and minor projects and 10 students projects entailing a funding support of about Rs. 163.7934 lackhs. Currently projects amounting to an outlay of Rs. 300 lakhs were are being out in the Department.

Research Collaborations

   International

• International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippines
• USDA – ARS Entomopathogenic Fungal Museum, Ithaca, New york
• Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China

   National

• Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited, Ministry of Coal, Govt.of India, Ranchi.
• Centre for Applied Research and Development, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd., Neyveli
• Flyash Unit, Dept.of Science & Technology, Govt of India
• Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry
• M/s. Sun Agro Biotech Research Centre., Porur, Chennai.

Ongoing Research Projects

CONFERENCES ORGANIZED

• National Symposium on the ‘Role of Potassium on Crop Resistance against Insect Pests and Diseases’ during October 17-18, 1982 (Dr. N. N. Prasad & Dr. P. Baskaran, Organizing Secretaries)

• UGC sponsored Colloquium on ‘Biopesticides in Agriculture: “Problems and Prospects” held under the auspices of UGC Interdisciplinary Forum during May 12, 1995. (Dr.P. Narayanasamy, Organizing Secretary)
• First National Seminar on ‘ Use of Lignite Flyash in Agriculture’ during December 20-22, 1995 in collaboration with the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd., Tamilnadu Pollution Central Board, Chennai and the Fly ash Mission, TIFAC, Dept.of Science & Technology, Govt.of India, New Delhi.(Dr.P.Narayanasamy, Organizing Secretary)
• Second National Seminar on ‘ Use of Flyash in Agriculture’ during March 30-31, 2001 in association with the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd and the Fly ash Mission, TIFAC, Dept.of Science & Technology, Govt.of India, New Delhi.        (Dr.P. Narayanasamy, Organizing Secretary)
• National Seminar on ‘Futuristic usage of Botanical pesticides in the Management of crop pests’ during March 4-5, 2002.(Dr.R. Veeravel, Organizing Secretary)
• National Seminar on ‘Biomanagement of Insect pests’ during March 29-31, 2003 (Dr.P. Baskaran, Organizing Secretary)
• National  Seminar on “Towards pest Free Grains and Seeds in Storage” during March 26 – 27, 2007  (Dr.P. Narayanasamy, Organizing Secretary & Dr. Y. Hariprasad)

REFRESHER COURSE ORGANISED

• Organised a UGC – sponsored refresher course on “Organic Pest Control” from 21.01.08 to 10.2.08 at Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. 27 Participants undergone the course.

TRAINING PROGRAMMES ORGANIZED
   FAO’s Season - long Programme:

• For the first time in India, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome selected the Department of Entomology, Annamalai University to Organize a ‘Season long Trainers Training in Rice IPM during December 3, 1993 - 14, February 1994.  Forty Agricultural officers participated in the programme.

   Asian Development Bank Sponsored training in Rice IPM:
         Two batches of Agricultural offices numbering 10 – 15 each from the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Bangladesh were given training.
   FAO sponsored programme summer fallow cotton IPM:
         This was organised in 1996 at Kadavachery and Ayepuram each for 2 days in 10 hectares of cotton, through Farmers Field Schools.

ACHIEVEMENTS ACCOMPLISHED

Discovered flyash, a waste from lignite and coal based thermal power plants as a pesticide and as a carrier in chemical and herbal pesticides formulations such as dust, wettable powder and granule (Narayanasamy, 1993).

• Occurrence of an entomogenous fungal pathogen, Pandora (Erynia) delphacis (Horti)  Humber infecting brown planthopper and green leafhopper of rice has been reported  for the first time in India and South Asia (Narayanasamy,   Udaya Prabhkar and Richard A. Humber, 1991).

Pandora delphacis (Hori.) Humber on rice BPH

• Reporting of an entomogenous fungal pathogen, Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko infecting rice leaf folder has been done for the first time in India and Asia (Narayanasamy and Udaya Prabhakar,  1994).

Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko on rice leaf folder

• Reporting of four mothcidal fungi, Cladosporium SP, Mucor hiemalis, Fusarium      monoliforme and Scopularipsis Sp from rice field has been made for the first time  Yasoda and Narayanasamy,2001.

Aspergillus terreus   on rice grass hopper

• Mycoinsecticide, a 70% wettable powder formulation of Pandora delphacis against rice brown planthopper was developed for the first time in India  (Narayanasamy, 1993).
• An indigenous rat trap designed  and used by the tribals of some hills in Tamilnadu  was detected,   and remodelled for more  convenience and sustained use.  This is a new type of rat trap developed for the first time in Tamilnadu and projected for obtaining patenting rights  (Kathirvelu and  Narayanasamy, 2001)

Remodelled Tribal rat trap	Tribal rat trap

• Microvelia douglasi douglasi Scott (Veliidae: Hemiptera) a predator of rice brown planthopper was recorded for the first time in India ( Narayanasamy,  Nirmala & John Polehemus, 1992)

• Of 325 tomato accessions including wild/native/tribal/cultivated tomatoes gathered and screened for resistance against fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner, accessions namely Varushanadu Local and Ac 238 have been found promising against the fruit borer. They are being popularized and used to develop new hybrids (Selvanarayanan and Narayanasamy, 2004).

	A polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma floridanum Ashmead (Encyrtidae : chalcidoidea) was reported with 1893 adult parasitoids emerging  from single larva of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). This is the first report from India.     (Manickavasagam.and. Kanagarajan, 2000).
Varusanadu Local

• An Eulophid Polyembryonic parasitoid has been detected for the first time (Polyembryony has not been reported so far from this group of family globally.( Manickavasagam and  Kanagarajan, 2002 ).
• Anagrus diversicornis (Howard) a parasitoid of Coccids has been  named after our Founder Pro – chancellor, Dr. Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar described for the first time in India. . (Manickavasagam, Suresh Hayat)

• A new species Pseudotorymus annamalaicus (Torymidae) has  been described (Narendran, Kanagarajan and Manickvasagam 2000)

• Caenohomalpoda koreana  (Encyrtidae) has been recorded for the first time in India. (Hayat, Manickavasagam, and Suresh, 2002)
• Cheiloneurus nigricornis (Encyrtidae) was recorded as a hyperparasitoid of Dryinid for the first time in Asia.(Manickavasagam, Prabhu and Kanagarajan, 2006).

Publications
       The Department has to its credit, publications of 20 books, 375 articles in National Journals, 53 in International Journals,  25 Book chapters and a score of extension publications.

During the last five years, 5 international articles with impact factor ranging from 0.50 to 1.85 were published

It is proud to indicate that the Department of Entomology has a remarkable publication in ‘Nature (British)’ in 1962 by Dr.M. Balasubramanian and Dr.G. Rangaswami.
	Dr.M.BALASUBRAMANINAN	Dr.G. RANGASWAMI

Special grants received

• DST FIST programme for 2006.  The Department  could obtain financial support, for a sum of  Rs. 30 Lakhs and from this, a green house has been constructed.
• UGC has sanctioned Non SAP grant for Rs. 10 lakhs for improving infrastructure facilities for the year 2008 – 2009.

General Activities

• Entomology Society for Innovations was inaugurated on February 2007 by Dr. M. Rathinasabapathi, Registrar, Annamalai University Dr.B. V. David, Chairman, Sun Agro Biotech Research Centre, Chennai delivered keynote address, Dr. P. Narayanasamy, Professor & Head, Department of Entomology welcomed the gathering. This is mainly meant to tap knowledge and creativities of students, scholars and teaching staff in insects. Periodically, contests on photography, drawings etc. of insects will be organized.

       Under the aegis of the Society Competitions were held among Students of agriculture in connection with the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Faculty of Agriculture. Six students were given the Prize for producing clay models, Butter fly showcases and Glass models with insects.

          Also insect Greeting’s cards were designed and displayed.

• Two metallic light traps have installed on a permanent basis one at field area and anothers at the University Orchard to monitor incidence of insect pests of the region and forecast for guidance of the farmers for taking plant protection at proper time. Insect populations in the Faculty farm area are monitored.


• Mass production Egg parasite, Trichogramma chilonis has been undertaken and a first batch of 27 egg cards was delivered to the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University for field use in    sugarcane and 100 egg cards in second batch were sold to framers.


• Production of a new insect Viricide has been undertaken for the problem of tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura for commercial purpose.