K. J. David

Biography

Studied fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) fauna of peninsular India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, prepared an illustrated key and checklist for 126 species of fruit flies in 46 genera and four subfamilies which serve as an efficient identification guide for research scholars, scientists and plant protection officers in Quarantine department. Prepared the digital distribution maps of 14 species of Bactrocera Macquart (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Kerala with special reference to Western Ghats, one of the unexplored biodiversity hotspots of India. Barcodes were generated for 28 species of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of economic importance from India, which facilitate rapid screening of invasive and native fruit flies when intercepted at ports of entry. Described 17 species of Tephritidae infesting various crops, medicinal plants, forest trees and bamboo new to science. Thirteen species and four genera of fruit flies were recorded for the first time from India. Subfamily Tachiniscinae, Ortalotrypeta isshikii (Matsumura) of Tephritidae was recorded for the first time from India.

Research Interest

Taxonomy of Tephritidae