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Nesting biology and Seasonal dynamics of Halictid bee, Hoplonomia westwoodi (Nomiinae: Halictidae) was studied at ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR) Bengaluru, Yelahanka Campus (13.096792N, 77.565976E) India from July 2016 to May 2017. The bee built subterranean nests on a leveled soil surface with turrets with main shaft running to a depth of 70.1 cm. In total, nineteen cells were observed in clusters at diferente depths. Different life stages of the bee were observed in the cells. The life cycle of the bee was completed in 41.80 days. The bees were found actively foraging on different flora belonging to the different families like Acanthaceae, Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Malpighiaceae, Polygonaceae, Rubiaceae and Solanceae throughout the year with the peak population during the months of June to November. Marked preference and behavior of buzz pollination was observed on the flowers of Solanaceous crops like tomato and eggplant.

The whole genome of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) from India, HearNPV-L1, was sequenced and analyzed, with a view to look for genes and/or nucleotide sequences that might be involved in the differences and virulence among other HearNPVs sequenced from other countries like SP1A (Spain), NNg1 (Kenya) and G4 (China). The entire nucleotide sequence of the HearNPV-L1 genome was 136,740 bp in length having GC content of 39.19% and contained 113 ORFs that could encode polypeptides with more than 50 amino acids (GenBank accession number KT013224). Two ORFs, viz., ORF 18 (300 bp) and ORF 19 (401 bp) identified were unique in HearNPV-L1 genome. Most of the HearNPV-L1 ORFs showed high similarity to NNg1, SP1A and G4 genomes. HearNPV-L1 genome contains 5 h (hr1-hr5), these regions were found 84-100% similar to hr region of NNg1, SP1A and G4 genomes. A total of four bro genes were observed in HearNPV-L1 genome, of which broa gene was 12 and 351 bp bigger than SP1A and G4 bro-a, respectively, while bro-b was 15 bp bigger SP1A and NNg1 bro-b, whereas 593 bp shorter than G4 bro-b, while bro-c was 12 bp shorter than NNg1, however bro-c was absent in G4 genome. HearNPV-L1 bro-d was 100% homologous to bro-d of SP1A, NNg1 and G4 genomes, respectively. The comparative analysis of HearNPV-L1 genome indicated that there are several other putative genes and nucleotide sequences that may be responsible for insecticidal activity in HearNPV-L1 isolate, however, further functional analysis of the hypothetical (putative) genes may help identifying the genes that are crucial for the virulence and insecticidal activity.

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Artificial trap nesting of bees will help in their conservation in situ and utilizing them for enhancing pollination service in cropping systems. The present study was undertaken to study the nesting behavior and rate of acceptance of pithy stems for nesting by the different bee species at ICAR-NBAIR Yelahanka Campus (13.096792N, 77.565976E). Fifteen nests comprising of pithy stems of Caesalpinia pulcherrima each made into three bundles containing five nests each were placed at three places in two sites viz., Site 1 (Pollinator Garden) and Site 2 (Vegetable block). The days taken by the bees to accept the trap nests placed in the pollinator garden and vegetable field were found to be 5.87 and 11.53 days with a percent acceptance of 80 and 66.67 per cent, respectively. The average number of cells built by the bees in the nests obtained from the pollinator garden and vegetable ecosystem were found to be 6.00 and 5.33 respectively. Ceratina binghami, C. hieroglyphica, Megachile lerma and predatory sphecid wasps were found to emerge out from the trap nests. Diversity of the stem nesting bees was found to be higher in the nests placed in the pollinator garden as compared to vegetable block.

The trap occupancy rate and colony development parameters of swarms of stingless bee, Tetragonula iridipennis in coconut shell traps was studied in the research farm of ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR) Bengaluru, Yelahanka campus Karnataka, India. The trap occupancy rate by the stingless bees was 44.87% in a time period of 13.40 ± 4.38 days. New cells were constructed by the bees in 12.10 ± 2.13 days. The number of honey and pollen pots filled was 15.60 ± 3.92 and 6.61 ± 2.95, respectively. The brood cells were constructed 89.50 ± 6.07 days after acceptance of the shell traps with an average of 67.70 ± 20.83 brood cells per trap. The foragers preferred foraging for nectar, resin and pollen during the 15, 30 and 45 days after acceptance of the coconut shells for nesting. Coconut shell traps are easiest and economic way of trapping the swarming population of stingless bees.

Studies on the biology and feeding potential of Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff) on Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) were carried out at NBAIR, Bengaluru. Experimental results revealed that the total developmental period from egg to adult for male and female were 27.92±2.87 and 39.62±3.28 d, respectively. The life cycle of male and female passed through first, second, third, fourth and fifth nymphal instars (male: 2.42±0.51 d, 3.25±0.45 d, 3.25±0.45 d, 4.00±0.60 d, 4.42±0.51 d) and (female: 2.54±0.52 d, 3.46±0.52 d, 4.00±0.71 d, 4.38±0.65 d, 5.08±0.49 d), respectively. Total nymphal period is about 17.83±1.34 d for male and 19.46±1.20 days for female, respectively. Adult longevity of male is lower (10.25±2.96 d) compared to that of female (20.15±3.39 d). The premating period and mating period of adult E. furcellata was 2.33±0.50 days and 6.44±2.24 hrs, respectively. The pre-oviposition period, oviposition period of adult female was 2.89±0.60 and 11.22±1.72 days, respectively. The average number of eggs laid by the female was 209.29±28.11 in a single mated system. Egg incubation period was about 5.42±0.51 days. The predation rates of second, third, fourth, fifth instar nymphs, adult female and male on 2 nd, 4 th , 6 th instar prey of E.