Through the Lens of an Entomologist: Dr. Shashank P.R. on Taxonomy, Tech, and Tomorrow's Pests
- Indian Entomologist
- Jan 1
- 8 min read
by Chethankumar M
Dr. Shashank P.R. is a Senior Scientist in Entomology at ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Trained as an agricultural entomologist with gold-medal degrees in both M.Sc. and Ph.D., he has built his career at the interface of classical insect systematics and cutting-edge molecular diagnostics, with a particular emphasis on Lepidoptera and invasive pest detection.
Over the past decade, Dr. Shashank has led and contributed to multiple national and international projects on biosystematics, phylogeny and biogeography of key insect groups, and the development of molecular tools for pest identification. A brief post-doctoral stint at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, further strengthened his collaborations and culminated in pioneering CRISPR-based diagnostic platforms for rapid insect pest detection. Dr. Shashank has authored more than 180 publications, including over 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals, several books and catalogues, numerous book chapters, and a substantial body of training manuals and popular science articles. His science led outreach activities, editorial roles, and leadership in organizing major entomological conferences and student conclaves reflect both scientific impact and community-building within Indian and global entomology.
Beyond research, he is deeply involved in capacity building, offering insect identification services to stakeholders across India and mentoring young students through formal supervision, workshops, and outreach initiatives. His work with citizen science platforms, field guides, and science communication. He conceptualized Indian Entomologist Magazine with his colleagues and published by the Entomological Society of India, with an idea to create a platform for Indian entomologists to communicate and share their research. He has been recognized with several awards from different scientific societies in India and abroad. Recently, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences selected him for the NAAS Associateship, and he was also elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
CM (Chethankumar M): What inspired you to specialize in insect taxonomy, and how did your early academic experiences shape this path?
Shashank PR (SPR): Thank you very much for reaching out for this brief interview. I feel truly honoured, though also a little humbled, to be interviewed for a magazine that I had the opportunity to conceptualize and publish under the prestigious ESI.
I am from Kappanahalli, a village near Shikaripura in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka, located in the transition zone of the Western Ghats. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains and numerous lakes, and is rich in biodiversity. However, during my childhood, I never truly appreciated the amazing diversity around my village. My journey into insects began during my B.Sc. Agriculture at the Agriculture College, Bhimarayanagudi (then under University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad), where early entomology courses helped us to visit Karnataka's agroecosystems which revealed the intricate beauty of insect diversity, sparking lifelong curiosity. This evolved through my M.Sc. at Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, where I worked on taxonomic studies on rice-associated leafhoppers and planthoppers under Dr. M.S.V. Chalam, and culminated in my Ph.D. at UAS Bengaluru. Focusing on Conogethes punctiferalis biosystematics and pheromones on castor/cardamom, under the guidance of Dr. A.K. Chakravarty, where I got opportunity to work under renowned taxonomist Dr. C.A. Viraktamath, blending morphology, behaviour, and pheromones as foundation to my integrative research. I am one of the many entomologists who got inspired by his personality. After joining the Agricultural Research Service, Dr. V.V. Ramamurthy, inspired me to continue taxonomy and mentoring me throughout at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. I also got the opportunity to work with Dr. Akito Kawahara for my postdoc, he is one of the amazing scientist and person I have met and learned how you can use novel tools to answer fundamental questions in science. In short, from past 17 years insects, amazing entomologists and my family are inspiring me to keep my passion alive.
CM: How do you see the integration of traditional taxonomy and modern molecular techniques evolving in the future?
SPR: I think both are really important. As we know, the ultimate aim of the systematics should be understanding the kind, diversity and relationship among organisms. Traditional taxonomy excels in morphological diagnostics but struggles with cryptic species. In my lab, molecular techniques like DNA barcoding, LAMP, RPA, and CRISPR are being used to support the morphological studies. We have also developed field-deployable, species-specific detection, as in assays for Zeugodacus cucurbitae and Phthorimaea absoluta. The future lies in integrative taxonomy driven by morphological work, supported by molecular tools and aided by Artificial Intelligence.
CM: What collaborative efforts have been pivotal in advancing your research, both nationally and internationally?
SPR: I am a firm believer and supporter of collaborative research; you cannot work in silos in this era, especially when research funding is dwindling for the fields like taxonomy. If you look at my career, I have worked with many researchers, whether it is for insect collection, surveys, identification, exploring molecular tools in taxonomy, prediction modelling, invasive pest research, or the use of AI in insect detection. Collaborating across disciplines helps you learn and also enables you to achieve your goals within a defined timeframe. Sharing credit and acknowledging the researchers and funders who support your work is one of the key qualities every young scientist should possess, or at least strive to develop. My experience with my collaborators has been a truly valuable learning journey, and I sincerely thank all of them for their constant support and encouragement.
CM: In your opinion, what are the key areas in insect taxonomy that require further exploration and research?
SPR: In insect taxonomy, I feel we are significantly lagging behind our global counterparts, and the situation is quite concerning. There are many insect groups for which we do not even have experts capable of identifying common species. The first and most important step is to train young researchers in basic taxonomy and field skills, so that we build a strong foundation for future work. For example, even within a single order such as Lepidoptera, I believe we require at least 50 additional dedicated researchers just to document the existing diversity in India. Beyond this, many more trained scientists are needed to work on advanced aspects such as evolution, phylogeny, molecular systematics, and biogeography. Unless we invest in strengthening capacity and expertise now, our understanding of insect diversity will continue to fall short of global standards.
CM: What are your thoughts on the role of citizen science in contributing to insect biodiversity studies?
SPR: Yes, I think citizen science plays a really important role in insect biodiversity studies. One good example is the Moths of India project, which is a peer-reviewed biodiversity platform under the Biodiversity Atlas India initiative. It’s designed to share comprehensive information on the biology of moths, and thousands of observations come from interested citizens nature enthusiasts, photographers, students, and researchers. I’m one of the editors for this initiative, and through this experience I’ve really seen the power of collaborative efforts in science. Citizen scientists help generate massive amounts of data across regions and seasons something that would be impossible for a few researchers to achieve alone. At the same time, they also learn and become more aware of biodiversity conservation. There are many citizen science initiatives like iNaturalist, India Biodiversity Portal, etc which have achieved significant results. So, I see citizen science not just as supplementary, but as a key component in documenting and understanding insect diversity in a country as vast as India.
CM: What gaps exist in India's invasive pest surveillance systems?
SPR: My experience with invasive species is from first report of tomato pin worm, Phthorimaea absoluta from India. From then onwards, I have involved in invasive species research, there are several positive developments in recent past regarding invasive pest management. However, I feel there are still several gaps in India’s invasive pest surveillance systems. First, our monitoring is often reactive rather than proactive we usually recognise an invasive pest only after it has already established and caused serious damage. There is need to strengthen real-time surveillance at ports of entry, field ecosystems, and natural habitats, especially using modern tools like remote sensing, molecular diagnostics, or AI-based detection. Another major gap is the lack of coordinated national networks that consistently share data across institutions, states, and ministries. Information often sits in silos, which delays early warning and rapid response. We also need more trained taxonomists and diagnosticians who can correctly identify invasive species at an early stage without that expertise, pests can easily go unnoticed.
Public awareness and farmer-level reporting systems are also relatively weak. If farmers, field staff, and citizen observers were better trained to recognise unusual pests and report them quickly, we could respond much faster. Strengthening quarantine facilities, reference collections, diagnostic labs, and digital reporting platforms will be crucial with continuous funding support for these labs/areas, then we can really minimise the risk from invasive pests in the future.
CM: How do you approach mentoring young scientists in the field of entomology, and what advice do you offer them?
SPR: I really enjoy mentoring; I am fortunate to guide an amazing bunch of students. My approach is quite simple, I try to create an environment where they feel comfortable asking questions, exploring ideas, and even making mistakes. I encourage them to build a strong foundation in basic taxonomy and field skills, because without that, everything else becomes superficial. At the same time, I also motivate them to learn modern tools like molecular techniques, bioinformatics, modelling, and AI applications, so that they are future-ready. I always tell my students to stay curious, be honest in their science, and never hesitate to collaborate. Working in isolation doesn’t help anymore, teamwork is the key. I also emphasise patience, because taxonomy and biodiversity research take time and persistence. Recognition may not come immediately, but good work always gets noticed in the long run.
Most importantly, I remind them to enjoy what they do. If you truly love insects, science and respect nature, the journey itself becomes very rewarding.
CM: For students inspired by your journey, what essential skills should they cultivate for studying insect biodiversity?
SPR: For students who are inspired to work on insect biodiversity, I think the first and most essential skill is careful observation. You need to develop an eye for detail, I call it as “entomologist eye”, when you are in field you not only collect insect for taxonomy you have to observe its natural history. How insects behave, how they interact with plants, and the subtle differences between species are some common observations we can make easily. Along with that, a good foundation in basic taxonomy, morphology, and field identification is very important. I would also encourage students to build strong field skills collecting, preserving, documenting, and photographing insects properly. At the same time, today’s researchers must be comfortable and eager to learn modern tools like molecular techniques, bioinformatics, GIS, modelling, and even AI-based approaches. These help us answer deeper questions about diversity, evolution, and distribution. Communication skills are also equally important. Being able to write clearly, publish your work, collaborate with others, and engage with the public outreach which will really strengthens your impact as a scientist.
Finally, cultivate curiosity, patience, and integrity. Insect biodiversity research needs lots of patience, students with passion for the subject and commitment to good science truly sustain in the long run.
About the author:
Chethankumar M, PhD Research Scholar, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru
Email: chethangowda0107@gmail.com
Disclaimer: The contents, style, language, plagiarism, references, mention of any products if any, etc., are the sole responsibility of the author
Comments