Endophytic fungus is a fungus that is associated with healthy host tissues without causing disease symptoms. T h i s f u n g u s can be developed as the biological control agent of chilli pests. This study i s aimed a t isolating, selecting and evaluating the potency of endophytic fungi from chilli crops (Capsicum annuum L.) as bioinsecticides. Endophytic fungi were isolated from leaves, trunk, branches and roots of chilli. Screening endophytic fungal isolates pathogenic to insect were conducted using fifth instar larvae of Tenebrio molitor. The isolates with the highest mortality were further assayed against Spodoptera litura larvae. The results of the research showed that of the 46 isolates of endophytic fungi that were successfully isolated from chilli, 22 isolates were pathogenic (47.82%) and 24 isolates not pathogenic in insects. Mortality of T. molitor larvae ranged from 15- 30% and the percentage of sporulation ranged from 11.11- 100%. Endophytic fungi werealso able to infect S. litura larvae. Mortality of second instar S. litura larvae ranged from 23.34-64.99%, depending up on the conidial concentrations. Endophytic fungi from chilli were pathogenic in insect and can be developed as bioinsecticides identified as Aspergillus flavus.

The knowledge on diversity and distribution of spiders in Rajasthan is sparse as compared to other regions. There is a dire need of research regarding species composition, distribution pattern so that their role in controlling insect pests could be ascertained. Present study examined a novel approach for documenting the diversity of spider fauna in arid and semi- arid (Ajmer and Jodhpur) region of Rajasthan, India. A regular survey of spider faunal complex was conducted in four major habitats namely, woodland, wetland, pasture and caves/crevices/rocky area. Maximum number of spiders was found in woodland habitat and the minimum number of spiders were collected and identified from caves/crevices/rocky area with 31.86 and 17.61 relative abundance, respectively. Similarly, diversity indices viz., richness, evenness, Shannon-Weiner and Simpson indexalso indicated the maximum species richness in woodland and minimum in caves/crevices/rocky area. In woodland, Araneidae and Oxyopidae were found as most abundant families with 41.44 and 15.78 percent of total spider fauna while Lycosidae wasfound as the most abundant family in wetland but was at par with Araneidae in pasture habitats. In Caves/crevices/rocky area, family Pholcidae was found as the most abundant.

Studies were conducted to determine the pathogenicity of Lecanicillium lecanii, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana against papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) II instar nymphs under laboratory conditions. The nymphs of P. marginatuswere susceptible to all three entomopathogenic fungi at varying levels. In general, insect mortality was increased with an increase in the exposure dose and period. When L. lecanii, M. anisopliae and B. bassiana were tested against P. marginatus nymphs, L. lecanii recorded the highest mortality of 73.33 % at 144 hrs after treatment (HAT). M. anisopliae and B. bassiana recorded 63.33 and 56.66% mortality, respectively, at 144 HAT. The LC50 values of L. lecanii, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana for II instar nymphs of P. marginatus were 1.7 x 106 CFU/ml, 1.3 x 107 CFU/ml and 7.0 X 107 CFU/ml, respectively.