Radiation Entomology

A. Nagaratnam

doi:10.14429/dsj.50.3749

A. Nagaratnam Former Consultant, DRDO, Hyderabad

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.50.3749

Keywords: Radioisotopes, Entomological studies, Insect pests, Entomology, Pilot field studies, Culex fatigans

Abstract

The article reviews the use of radiation and radioisotopes in entomology with special reference to the use of radiotracers in entomological studies and the use of sterile insect techniques in the control of insect pests. It also presents' a profile of Shri Koshy and his contributions to defence entomology, including design of an efficient device for the rearing of cockroaches, evaluation of different repellents against leeches, laboratory and pilot field studies on the use of radiation-sterilised males for the control of the mosquito Culex fatigans.

Author Biography

A. Nagaratnam, Former Consultant, DRDO, Hyderabad

Shri A Nagaratnam has been involved in-various capacities with the DRDO during 1952-97. He was associatedwith the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi, since its inception. At INMAS,he nurtured a strong school of scientists in the field of radiological protection. He was then posted as Director,Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, where he established advanced facilities for radioisotopic applications in defence.He subsequently served for ten years as Emeritus Scientist and Consultant to DRDO. His areas of interestare: medical and industrial applications of radiation, radiological protection, and scientific problems to desertwarfare. He is the author of a monograph on radiological protection and has published over 150 researchpapers. He is an elected Fellow of the Institute of Physics, UK, and a Fellow of the Indian College of NuclearMedicine.

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