ENTO 612: Insect Pest and Vector Management

Principles: Definition of pests and vectors. Formulation of pest problems; economic assessment of losses due to pests and vectors; making decisions to control pests; Ecological basis of pest and vector management; pest forecasting. Methods of pest and vector control. Integrated pest and vector management 
Biological Control: Principles and ecological basis of biological control. Taxonomy, identification and mode of action of entomogenous insects, bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and nematodes. Use of insects in weed control. Mass rearing and culturing of biological control agents; collection of entomogenous insects in weed control; mass rearing and culturing of biological control agents. Collection on entomogenous insects. Case studies in biological control. 
Novel Methods: Farming systems. Use of insect growth regulators, repellents and attractants including pheromones. Use of computers in pest management.