 Invasive species: def: Any exotic organism, having potential for severe attack and

establishment in a new ecosystem.

 Coconut pest which is serious threat of invasion to India is coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa
longissima.
 Papaya mealy bug Paracoccus marginatus, a highly invasive pest, has devastated not only
papaya but several other field crops—cotton, tapioca; vegetables—okra, brinjal, tomato,
besides silkcotton, mulberry, teak and a host of weed plants—parthenium, plumeria,
Acalipha indica, Tridex procumbens etc. in India. The NBAII has introduced three
parasitoids—Acerophagus papayae, Anagyrus loecki and Pseudleptomastix Mexicana.
The parasitoids are expected to bring about substantial suppression of mealybugs within the
year.
 Due to large scale adoption of Bt cotton , there is a considerable reduction in pesticide usage
which have paved the way to the emergence of a new pest, i.e. Mirid bug, Creontiades
biseratense, C. dilutes, C.sidni kingbergii, C.pacificus. Type of incidence caused by mired bug
is called “ Parrot beaking”.
 Insects belonging to order Mantophasmatodea are also called as heel walkers.
 As developmental rate of insect increases the developmental time decreases.
 In 2009,  for the first time, multiple gene Bt cotton occupied more hectares  (57%) than
single gene Bt cotton  (43%). 2009 was the first year for an indigenous public  sector bred Bt
cotton  variety (Bikaneri Nerma) and a hybrid (NHH-44) to be commercialized in India.
 in October 2009, a landmark  decision  was  made  by India’s  Genetic Engineering  Approval
Committee  (GEAC), to recommend the commercial release  of Bt Brinjal
(Eggplant/Aubergine),  which  is now pending, subject  to final clearance by the government
of India.

 The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

 has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates
various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries
and Departments. FSSAI has been created for laying down science based standards for
articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import
to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
 Highlights of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006:
 Began operations in 2009
  Various central Acts like Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 , Fruit Products
Order , 1955, Meat Food Products Order , 1973, Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order,
 1947,Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation)Order 1998, Solvent Extracted Oil, De- Oiled Meal
and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967, Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 etc will be
fall under the ambit of the food safety and standard authority of india.

 REFERENCES:
1. ICAR-News-July-Sept-2010
2. http://www.ncipm.org.in/recent-publications.htm
3. http://fssai.gov.in
4. Ecology of insects (concepts and applications) by martin R. Speight, mark D. Hunter
and Allan D. Watt