Aquatic insects for monitoring the health status of riverine potholes: A case study in Chalakudy river basin, Kerala, India.

Potholes are microhabitats in riverine ecosystems that substantially contribute to the unique regional faunal diversity and community composition. Investigations on the ecological status of potholes in riverine habitats are very scanty. The present work is of utmost importance, particularly as a pioneering study to evaluate the health status of riverine potholes using aquatic insects as potential biological indicators.

A new species of mealybug (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) from Tectona grandis L.f. (Lamiaceae) in southern India.

A new species of mealybug, Formicococcus tectonae Joshi, Bindu Gullan sp. n., is described and illustrated based on adult females collected from teak, Tectona grandis (Lamiaceae), in plantations in Thrissur district, Kerala, southern India.

A simple method for evaluating stereotactic accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Imaging in Frame Based Radiosurgery.

Purpose: To design a simple and reproducible method with minimum uncertainty for evaluating the stereotactic accuracy of Computed Tomography imaging and Magnetic Reso-nance Imaging and to compare the results.

Methods: 3D phantom has been designed with 1 mm diameter targets in eight sectors for stereotactic MR imaging and CT imaging. The phantom was connected to Leksell stereotactic frame and the images obtained are exported to treatment planning system.

Quantitative estimation of Hyblaea puera NPV production in three larval stages of the teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera (Cramer).

Hyblaea puera nucleoployhedrovirus (HpNPV) is a potential biocontrol agent of the teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Hyblaeidae). To quantify the growth of the virus in the host larvae, three larval stages of the teak defoliator were subjected to quantitative bioassays using specified dilutions of HpNPV. The HpNPV production was found to be dependent on the dose, incubation period as well as stage specific responses of the host insect used.

Influence of virus inoculation method and host larval age on productivity of the nucleopolyhedrovirus of the teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera (Cramer).

Hyblaea puera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HpNPV) is a potential biocontrol agent against the teak defoliator H. puera (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Hyblaeidae). As part of optimization of the mass production of this nucleopolyhedrovirus, three methods of inoculation were evaluated against the host larvae with various yield parameters as selection criteria.