HC02 N Lesson 1 LContent
HC02 N Lesson 1 LContent
HC02 N Lesson 1 LContent
Content
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Course Name Apiculture, Sericulture and Lac Culture
Lesson 1 Importance of beneficial insects and brief
Content Creator Name Dr. Tamoghna Saha
University/College Name Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour Bhagalpur
Course Reviewer Dr. Kalmesh Managanvi
University/College Name Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour Bhagalpur
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Apiculture, Sericulture and Lac Culture
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Apiculture, Sericulture and Lac Culture
Improve Nutrient cycling or Soil Builders: Insects which live in soil make tunnels,
creating channels for smaller organisms, water, air and roots to travel through.
Insects improve soil aeration and earthworm activity can enhance soil nutrient
cycle along with the soil physical properties such as soil structure and tilth and
activity of other beneficial soil organisms. Examples- Beetles, ants, cut-worms,
larvae of flies, crickets, termites, wasps etc.
As human food: Over 500 spp. viz. cockroaches, silkworms, crickets, grasshoppers,
beetles, caterpillars, termites are used as food by human beings in different parts
of the world.
Aesthetic value: Brightly coloured butterflies and beetles are used for various
decorations.
Study tools or research purpose: Cockroach, house fly, vinegar fly (Drosophila).
Insect collection can be adopted as a hobby: Water beetle.
Scavengers: Insects which feed on dead and decaying matter of plants and animals
are called as scavengers. Insects (scavengers and decomposers) help in the
biochemical cycling of the nutrients. Examples: Bark beetle, water scavenger
beetle, termites, ants etc.
Weed Killers: Prickly pear Opuntia dilleni feed by Dactylopius opuntiae, Congress
grass or Carrot weed, Parthenium hysterophorus is controlled by Zygogramma
bicolorata.
Production of Cochineal: Cochineal pigments use in Painting: Cochineal pigment is
extracted from these scale insects.
Honey bees are one of the few insects directly beneficial to man. Apiculture is the
commercial production of Honey. Honey is the only sweetener, viscous fluid,
produced by honeybees. It is collected from nectar from nectaries at base flowers.
The pollens collected by pollen trap from ingoing pollen foragers is rich protein
source. Bee pollen is a "complete" and good supplement in diet. It is available in
health food stores.
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Apiculture, Sericulture and Lac Culture
The royal jelly is secreted by hypo pharyngeal gland of nurse bees when the glands
are fully active (7-14 days age). It is very nutritious food and is fed to the young
workers larvae and queen larvae and adult. Royal jelly is milky and light pale in
color. And it is also a good ingredient of some expensive skin care products, which
helps in reducing wrinkles and works as anti-aging.
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Apiculture, Sericulture and Lac Culture
References
Srivastava, K.P., and Dhaliwal, G.S. (2010). A Text Book of Applied Entomology.
Kalyani Publication New Delhi-110002.
Saxena, R.C., Srivastava, K.C. and Somani, L.L. (2018). Entomology at a Glance.
Agrotech. Publishing Academy Udaipur-313002.
More suggestions
Atwal AS. (2006). The World of the Honey Bee. Kalyani Publ., New Delhi.
David, B.V., Ramamurthy, V.V. (2011). Elements of Economic Entomology 6th
Edition, Namrutha Publications, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Singh, D., Jayaswal, J. and Singh, D. P. (2012). A Hand Book of Bee Keeping.
Agrobios, Jodhpur, India.