Introduction to Economic Entomology
Economic Entomology is a specialized branch of entomology focused on the study of
insects that influence the economy, either positively or negatively.
1. Definition
It deals with insects that have a direct or indirect impact on economic activities.
Mainly relates to sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and human health.
Includes studying insects as:
Pests causing damage,
Beneficial organisms aiding in ecological services,
Vectors of diseases affecting plants, animals, or humans.
Direct Impact:
This refers to the damage caused by insects directly feeding on or damaging the plant or animal itself.
Examples:
Insects that chew leaves, bore into stems, suck sap, or feed on fruits and seeds.
This damage reduces the quantity or quality of the crop or product, causing immediate economic loss.
Example: Aphids suck sap from plant leaves causing wilting and stunted growth — direct damage.
Indirect Impact:
This refers to the damage caused not by feeding or physical harm but through other means such as:
Insects acting as vectors or carriers of diseases (viruses, bacteria, fungi) that infect plants or animals.
Insects causing contamination or spoilage indirectly.
Effects that reduce yield or quality by affecting the plant’s health indirectly.
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Introduction to Economic Entomology
2. Scope
Covers harmful insects (pests) that:
Damage crops in the field,
Infest stored agricultural products,
Affect livestock health,
Cause health problems in humans.
Includes beneficial insects that:
Help in pollination of plants,
Provide biological control by natural predation or parasitism of pests,
Produce valuable products such as honey (by bees) and silk (by silkworms).
3. Objective
To study the biology, behavior, and ecology of economically important insects.
To develop effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable strategies for:
Controlling harmful pests,
Enhancing the utility of beneficial insects,
Minimizing economic losses due to insect damage or disease transmission.
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Introduction to Economic Entomology
Economic Classification of Insect Pests
Insect pests are classified based on their economic impact and the type of damage
they cause. This classification is useful to:
Identify the nature of the pest problem,
Develop appropriate pest management strategies.
1. Based on Type of Damage
Direct Pests:
These pests cause direct damage by feeding on important parts of the plant such as
leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits, or seeds.
Example: Aphids suck sap from plants, causing stunted growth.
Indirect Pests:
These pests do not cause direct feeding damage, but affect plants indirectly by
transmitting diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi.
Example: Whiteflies transmit viral diseases to plants.
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Introduction to Economic Entomology
2. Based on Economic Importance
Major Pests:
These pests cause significant and regular economic losses and generally require
continuous management.
Example: Cotton bollworm, rice stem borer.
Minor Pests:
These pests cause occasional or minor damage and usually do not need frequent control
measures.
Example: Certain species of leafhoppers.
3. Based on Host Specificity
Monophagous Pests:
Feed on a single plant species or genus.
Example: Silkworm (feeds only on mulberry leaves).
Oligophagous Pests:
Feed on a few closely related plant species.
Example: Some beetles that feed on legumes.
Polyphagous Pests:
Feed on many unrelated plant species, making them more adaptable and often more
destructive.
Example: Armyworms that attack various crops.
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Introduction to Economic Entomology
4. Based on Habitat or Crop Affected
Field Crop Pests:
Attack crops grown in open fields, such as wheat and maize.
Horticultural Pests:
Attack fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
Stored Product Pests:
Infest stored grains, pulses, and processed food products.
Example: Weevils in stored grains.
Forest Pests:
Damage trees and forest products.
Medical and Veterinary Pests:
Affect human and animal health by biting, stinging, or transmitting diseases.
Example: Mosquitoes, lice.
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Introduction to Economic Entomology
“If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate...; if insects were to
vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.”
— Edward O. Wilson
If humans disappear, nature will recover. But if insects vanish, ecosystems will collapse
— because insects are vital for pollination, decomposition, and food chains.
They are small but essential for life on Earth.
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Introduction to Economic Entomology
Economic Harm Caused by Insect Pests
Insect pests cause economic losses in multiple ways, categorized as follows:
a) Destruction of Crops and Plants
Insects feed on leaves, stems, bark, roots, buds, flowers, fruits, and seeds.
Some bore into internal plant tissues like roots, stems, and fruits.
Certain insects induce galls or cancerous growths for shelter and feeding.
Others cut and carry plant parts to build nests.
Many act as vectors of plant pathogens such as:
Viruses (e.g., leaf curl virus)
Bacteria (e.g., wilt diseases)
Fungi (e.g., rusts and smuts)
b) Annoyance and Injury to Humans and Animals
Insects create nuisance through buzzing or droning.
They emit foul odors or leave offensive tastes on food items.
Cause painful bites, blisters, or irritations.
May accidentally enter body parts like eyes, ears, nose, or digestive tract.
This can lead to conditions like myiasis (invasion of tissues by fly larvae).
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Introduction to Economic Entomology
c) Injection of Venom
Some insects cause injury by injecting venom:
Stinging insects: Bees, wasps.
Piercing mouthparts: Mosquitoes, bed bugs.
Nettling hairs: Some moth larvae.
Caustic secretions: Cause burns or skin irritation.
d) Living on or in the Human/Animal Body
External parasites: Lice, bird lice.
Internal parasites: Larvae of flies invade body cavities (e.g., horse bot fly).
Effects include mechanical damage, infections, and in severe cases, death.
e) Transmission of Human and Animal Diseases
Insects act as vectors for a variety of pathogens:
Viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, rickettsiae, nematodes, spirochaetes
Blood-sucking insects acquire these pathogens from infected hosts and transmit them during feeding
(e.g., mosquitoes in malaria).
f) Destruction of Useful Articles
Insects damage:
Stored grains, woolens, furniture, books, museum specimens, bridges, poles, etc.
Damage methods:
Feeding
Contaminating with eggs, feces, secretions, or dead bodies
Simply inhabiting the items, reducing their value.
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Introduction to Economic Entomology
Thank you
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