Introduction:

The present Digital Library on Bruchids including database and digitized keys of bruchids have been developed under a Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India- funded project entitled: Preparation of digitized keys for quick and reliable identification of insect pests of Family Bruchidae of quarantine significance. Work under the project was initiated in 2007 when collection of literature on bruchids was the main activity. The various parameters for compiling information on Bruchids was finalised and data entry started.

Bruchids commonly known as seed beetles belong to Family Bruchidae is a family of beetles with > 1200 species reported from various parts of the world. Of these, > 48 species have been reported from India. Bruchids belonging to Family Bruchidae are serious pests of seeds and remain undetected for a major part of their life cycle because of their immature stages developing within the seed. The larvae mostly live in seeds of Leguminosae causing great injury to peas, beans, lentils etc. On account of this habit they are often carried from one country to another in cargoes of seeds. X-ray radiography is employed to detect their presence in seeds during quarantine processing. Hence, the risk of introducing Bruchids is very high and they are often intercepted during quarantine processing. These have been repeatedly intercepted during quarantine processing of germplasm of more than 340 plant genera at NBPGR. When intercepted in quarantine, the identity of the Bruchid species needs to be established speedily to determine the quarantine risk posed by the pest and the suitable disinfestations procedure to be applied.

The importance of insect taxonomy is further enhanced in the present era of WTO/ SPS Agreement which is now governing trade wherein this information is being used for trade negotiations. Under the SPS Agreement scientific evidence is required to substantiate claims regarding the presence or absence of pests. India being a country of diverse ecological conditions has a wide spectrum of insect pest population reported from various regions, yet, there are several species/ biotypes not recorded from India and they need to be looked for in imported material during quarantine. Identification of Bruchids is difficult because few institutions have an insect reference collection with representatives of all Bruchid genera. Also, information on Bruchid genera is available, but it is scattered in various journals and quick retrieval is a problem. This is perhaps because the taxonomists working on this group have largely restricted themselves to certain regions or to old and the new world genera. Therefore, an attempt would be made to consolidate the taxonomic information for the preparation of a digitised key for the identification of Bruchid genera and species of quarantine importance. It is hoped besides plant quarantine workers it will also be used by those engaged in the study of Insect Taxonomy and in identification of stored grain pests.

The importance of the work is further highlighted by the fact that during trade negotiations the occurrence and detection of insect pest infestations often assume a centre stage.

Project Objectives
• To compile an annotated checklist of insect pests belonging to Family Bruchidae of quarantine significance to India
• To compile information and develop a database comprising ecological and other features of Bruchid pests
• To conduct taxonomic studies in Bruchids associated with seed
• To prepare digitized diagnostic key for identification of the Bruchid species

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Kavita Gupta,
Senior Scientist,
Division of Plant Quarantine
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR),
New Delhi 110 012

Co- Principal Investigators:
Dr. B Lal, Principal Scientist, NBPGR, New Delhi
Dr. Manju Lata Kapur, Principal Scientist, NBPGR, New Delhi
Dr. Shashi Bhalla, Principal Scientist, NBPGR, New Delhi

Expert Advisor:
Dr. V V Ramamurthy, Principal Scientist, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

Project Staff:
Dr. Ruquaeya Bano, Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Chandra Shekhar Gupta, Senior Research Fellow

Technical Support:
Mr. Charan Singh, Technical Officer

Acknowledgement:
The information, diagrams, drawings, photographs collected and used in the Digital Library from the sources cited in the "Document Repository" is duly acknowledged.

The PI and Co-PIs gratefully acknowledge Dr. S K Sharma (Former Director, NBPGR); Dr. K C Bansal, Director, NBPGR; Dr. R K Khetarpal (Former Head, PQ Division, NBPGR) and Dr. P C Agarwal, Head, PQ Division, NBPGR without whose kind help, encouragement and support this work would not have been possible.

Disclaimer:
The information compiled in the database is based on available published literature and is subject to change in future. More information available with any user may kindly be provided to update the database which will be duly acknowledged.