VARUN SAINI

Scopus Publications

Morphological Identification, Biology, and Morphometrics of the Babul Whitefly Acaudaleyrodes rachipora (Singh) with a New Host Record on Commiphora wightii in the Indian Arid Zone
Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, Deepak Kumar Mahanta, Varun Saini, Samreen
National Academy Science Letters, 2026
First Record of the Subgenus Ortocrabro Tsuneki, 1990 (Genus Crossocerus Lepeletier and Brullé; Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) from the Indian Subcontinent: New Species and Key to the World Species of the Subgenus
Varun Saini, Debjani Dey
Annales Zoologici, 2025
A new framework and classification scheme to indicate best-fit agroforestry systems: a locally adapted approach in the western coast of India
Harshavardhan Sarita Krishnarao Deshmukh, Minalkumar B. Tandel, Manmohan J. Dobriyal, Rajesh Gunaga, Ripu Kunwar, Narender Singh Thakur, Santoshkumar A. Huse, Ram Prasad Acharya, K. R. Ramesh, Shailesh S. Harne, Vishal B. Shambharkar, Ram J. Mevada, Varun Saini
Agroforestry Systems, 2025
Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem (Lamiales: Bignoniaceae), a New Host Plant for Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, Sunil Joshi, Vipula Vyas, Varun Saini
National Academy Science Letters, 2025
A comprehensive review of the invasive arthropod pests of India and their natural enemies
Kaushik Kumar Das, Surender Singh Yadav, Varun Saini, Deepika Kalkal, Subrata Goswami
Journal of Entomological Research, 2024
AbstractExotic pests are often spread through either intentional or accidental anthropogenic activities from one region to another. Once established, they can proliferate rapidly, causing severe crop losses and threatening food security. Invasive insect pests are now regarded as significant threats to India’s ecological diversity and financial stability. India has identified around 31 invasive pests, making it crucial to enforce domestic and international regulations, alongside early pest detection through taxonomic studies at entry points, to safeguard the country from these threats. Coordinated interdisciplinary research is essential for identifying invasive species, assessing their ecological impacts, estimating crop damage, and developing eco-friendly management practices that focus on both preventative and curative measures.
Discovery of the digger wasp genus Pseudoscolia Radoszkowski, 1876 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Philanthinae: Pseudoscoliini) in Indian Subcontinent, with description of a new species
VARUN SAINI
Zootaxa, 2024
The digger wasp genus Pseudoscolia Radoszkowski, 1876 is newly reported from India with a new species: Pseudoscolia anuae Saini sp. nov. from the State of Haryana.
First record of subgenus Corynopus Lepeletier and Brullé, 1835 (Genus Rhopalum Stephens, Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) from India: a new species and a key to Asian species of the subgenus
VARUN SAINI, DEBJANI DEY
Zootaxa, 2024
The subgenus Corynopus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau and Brullé, 1835 of the genus Rhopalum Stephens, 1829 is recorded for the first time from India. A new species, viz., Rhopalum (Corynopus) chettalicum, (India: Karnataka) is described. A key and the checklist of all Asian species of the subgenus Corynopus are provided.
Understanding How Silicon Fertilization Impacts Chemical Ecology and Multitrophic Interactions Among Plants, Insects and Beneficial Arthropods
Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, Ipsita Samal, Deepak Kumar Mahanta, J. Komal, Dinesh Jinger, Manas Ranjan Sahoo, Gobinda Chandra Achary, Priyanka Nayak, Sunil Kumar Sunani, Varun Saini, M. Raghuraman, Satyapriya Singh
Silicon, 2023
Nutritional aspects and dietary benefits of “Silkworms”: Current scenario and future outlook
Deepak Kumar Mahanta, J. Komal, Ipsita Samal, Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, Vinod Kumar Dubey, Kiranamaya Pradhan, Aarthi Nekkanti, M. N. Rudra Gouda, Varun Saini, Nikita Negi, Sheenam Bhateja, Hansa Kumari Jat, Deepika Jeengar
Frontiers in Nutrition, 2023
In the current scenario, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be an additional 2.5 billion people and a 70% increase in food demand. Crop yields are not increasing fast enough to support global needs, and world agriculture is facing several serious challenges. Therefore, insects can be a nutritious alternative to meet the ever-increasing food demand in the present and future. The majority of insect consumption occurs in developing countries, with approximately 1,900 insect species consumed worldwide. Food and feed derived from them are of high quality, have a high feed conversion ratio and emit a low level of greenhouse gases. Among insects silkworms are beneficial to humans, not only because of their high nutritional value, but also because of their several pharmacological properties. Silkworm eggs, larvae, and pupae contains high amount of proteins, oils, minerals, vitamins, and several other beneficial components which are nutritious as well as have positive effect on human health. Studies have shown that silkworm pupae protect the liver, enhance immunity, inhibit apoptosis, inhibit cancer, inhibit tumor growth, inhibit microbial growth, regulate blood glucose and blood lipids, and lower blood pressure. This review paper summerized the nutritional value of different life stages of silkworm, nutritional comparison of silkworm with the major human foods, and the effects of silkworm consumption on human health, thus ittargets to generate interest toward in sericulture and improve human health by using silkworm as a nutritious food and attain sustainability in food and nutritional security.
Combatting insects mediated biotic stress through plant associated endophytic entomopathogenic fungi in horticultural crops
Ipsita Samal, Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, Prasanta Kumar Majhi, Sneha Murmu, Asit Kumar Pradhan, Dilip Kumar, Varun Saini, Amit Umesh Paschapur, M Nikhil Raj, Ankur, Suryakant Manik, Partha Pratim Behera, Deepak Kumar Mahanta, J. Komal, Pravej Alam, Thamer Al Balawi
Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023
Horticultural production is a vital catalyst for economic growth, yet insect infestations reduce horticultural crop yield and quality. Pesticides and other pest control methods are used during planting to eliminate pests that cause direct and indirect losses. In such situations, endophytic entomo-pathogenic fungi (EEPF) can act as a potential tools for biological control. They protect plants by boosting growth, nutrition, morpho-physiology and salt or iron tolerance. Antixenosis, antibiosis and plant tolerance change insect performance and preferences. EEPF- plant colonisation slows herbivore development, food consumption, oviposition and larval survival. EEPF changes plant physio-chemical properties like volatile emission profile and secondary metabolite production to regulate insect pest defences. EEPF produces chitinases, laccases, amylases, and cellulases for plant defence. Recent studies focused on EEPF species’ significance, isolation, identification and field application. Realizing their full potential is difficult due to insufficient mass production, storage stability and formulation. Genetic-molecular and bioinformatics can help to build EEPF-based biological control systems. Metagenomics helps study microbial EEPF taxonomy and function. Multi-omics and system biology can decode EEPF interactions with host plants and microorganisms. NGS (Next Generation Sequencing), comparative genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, metatranscriptomics and microarrays are used to evaluate plant-EEPF relationships. IPM requires understanding the abiotic and biotic elements that influence plant-EEPF interaction and the physiological mechanisms of EEPF colonisation. Due to restricted research, there are hundreds of unexplored EEPFs, providing an urgent need to uncover and analyse them.
Diversity of Crabronid wasp fauna (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) in the spice ecosystem
Varun Saini, Debjani Dey, Narottam Kumar Meena
Journal of Entomological Research, 2023
Understanding the Genetics and Genomics of Vegetable Grafting to Ensure Yield Stability
Prasanta Kumar Majhi, Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, Kishore Chandra Sahoo, Nityamanjari Mishra, Sukumar Tudu, Sujata Das, Monika Ray, Sangeeta Singh, Ipsita Samal, Partha Pratim Behera, Varun Saini
Smart Plant Breeding for Vegetable Crops in Post Genomics Era, 2023
Insect-pathogen crosstalk and the cellular-molecular mechanisms of insect immunity: uncovering the underlying signaling pathways and immune regulatory function of non-coding RNAs
Deepak Kumar Mahanta, Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, J. Komal, Ipsita Samal, R. M. Nikhil, Amit Umesh Paschapur, Gaurav Singh, P. V. Dinesh Kumar, H. R. Desai, Mohammad Abbas Ahmad, P. P. Singh, Prasanta Kumar Majhi, U. Mukherjee, Pushpa Singh, Varun Saini, Shahanaz, N. Srinivasa, Yogesh Yele
Frontiers in Immunology, 2023
Insight into aphid mediated Potato Virus Y transmission: A molecular to bioinformatics prospective
Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, Ipsita Samal, Prasanta Kumar Majhi, J. Komal, Deepak Kumar Mahanta, Asit Kumar Pradhan, Varun Saini, M. Nikhil Raj, Mohammad Abbas Ahmad, Partha Pratim Behera, Mangali Ashwini
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2022
Dasyproctus helenae, a new species of solitary hunting wasp from India and a checklist of Dasyproctus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau and Brullé, 1835 from the Indian subcontinent (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini)
VARUN SAINI, DEBJANI DEY
Zootaxa, 2022
Advances in Molecular Breeding for Bruchid (Callosobruchus spp.) Resistance in Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]: A Review
Prasanta Kumar Majhi, Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, Suma C. Mogali, Aalok Shiv, Kishore Chandra Sahoo, Varun Saini
Legume Research, 2022
First record of subgenus Thao Tsuneki, 1982 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) from India: a new subspecies and a key to all subspecies of Crossocerus (Thao) nitidicorpus Tsuneki
VARUN SAINI, DEBJANI DEY
Zootaxa, 2022
Description of Rhopalum (s. str.) gulmargense n. sp. with a key to the Indian species of the subgenus Rhopalum Stephens, 1829 s. str. (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini)
VARUN SAINI, DEBJANI DEY
Zootaxa, 2022
Panjal, a new subgenus of the genus Crossocerus (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), with description of a new species from Pakistan
V. Saini, D. Dey
Zoosystematica Rossica, 2022
The solitary wasp genus Piyuma Pate, 1944 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabroninae) in India, with description of a new species
Varun Saini, Debjani Dey
Oriental Insects, 2022
Two new species of the solitary hunting wasp genus Ectemnius (Hymenoptera Crabronidae), with a key to the Indian species of the subgenus Hypocrabro
Bulletin of Insectology, 2022
Contribution to the knowledge of little known Crabronid wasps (Hymenoptera: Crabronini) of India
Varun Saini, Debjani Dey
Journal of Entomological Research, 2021
Revision of hunting wasp genus crabro (Crabronidae) with redescription of crabro flavoniger dutt
Varun Saini, Debjani Dey
Indian Journal of Entomology, 2020

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Morphological Identification, Biology, and Morphometrics of the Babul Whitefly Acaudaleyrodes rachipora (Singh) with a New Host Record on Commiphora wightii in the Indian Arid Zone
TK Bhoi, DK Mahanta, V Saini
National Academy Science Letters, 1-7 , 2026
2026
First Record of the Subgenus Ortocrabro Tsuneki, 1990 (Genus Crossocerus Lepeletier and Brullé; Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) from the Indian Subcontinent: New Species …
V Saini, D Dey
Annales Zoologici 75 (4), 1031-1037 , 2025
2025
A new framework and classification scheme to indicate best-fit agroforestry systems: a locally adapted approach in the western coast of India
HSK Deshmukh, MB Tandel, MJ Dobriyal, R Gunaga, R Kunwar, ...
Agroforestry Systems 99 (8), 1-25 , 2025
2025
Citations: 1
The Effect of Temperature on the Development and Life Cycle of the Melon Fruit Fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae)
K Das, S Yadav, V Saini
MDPI , 2025
2025
Citations: 1
Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem (Lamiales: Bignoniaceae), a New Host Plant for Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
TK Bhoi, S Joshi, V Vyas, V Saini
National Academy Science Letters 48 (1), 109-114 , 2025
2025
RNA interference in agricultural insect pest management: Status and perspectives: RNAi in Agri-pest control
NR Prakash, A Ahuja, S Kumar, V Saini, A Anokhe, D Jayaswal, K Kumar
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (IJEB) 62 (11), 851-861 , 2024
2024
Discovery of the digger wasp genus Pseudoscolia Radoszkowski, 1876 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Philanthinae: Pseudoscoliini) in Indian Sub-continent, with …
V Saini
Zootaxa 5541 (4), 593-600 , 2024
2024
Citations: 1
First record of subgenus Corynopus Lepeletier and Brullé, 1835 (Genus Rhopalum Stephens, Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) from India: a new species and a key to Asian …
V Saini, D Dey
Zootaxa 5507 (3), 467-477 , 2024
2024
Effect of Organic Manure and Biofertilizers on Growth and Vigour of Swietenia macrophylla King.(Mahogany)
V Saini, LK Behera, SS Malek
International Journal of Economic Plants 11 (2), 147-152 , 2024
2024
Citations: 4
A comprehensive review of the invasive arthropod pests of India and their natural enemies
KK Das, SS Yadav, V Saini, D Kalkal, S Goswami
Journal of Entomological Research 48, 961-967 , 2024
2024
Diversity of Crabronid wasp fauna (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) in the spice ecosystem
V Saini, D Dey, NK Meena
Journal of Entomological Research , 2023
2023
Insect-pathogen crosstalk and the cellular-molecular mechanisms of insect immunity: uncovering the underlying signaling pathways and immune regulatory function of non-coding RNAs
DK Mahanta, TK Bhoi, J Komal, I Samal, RM Nikhil, AU Paschapur, ...
Frontiers in Immunology 14, 1169152 , 2023
2023
Citations: 65
Understanding how silicon fertilization impacts chemical ecology and multitrophic interactions among plants, insects and beneficial arthropods
TK Bhoi, I Samal, DK Mahanta, J Komal, D Jinger, MR Sahoo, GC Achary, ...
Silicon 15 (6), 2529-2549 , 2023
2023
Citations: 34
Nutritional aspects and dietary benefits of “Silkworms”: Current scenario and future outlook
DK Mahanta, J Komal, I Samal, TK Bhoi, VK Dubey, K Pradhan, ...
Frontiers in Nutrition 10, 1121508 , 2023
2023
Citations: 67
Understanding the genetics and genomics of vegetable grafting to ensure yield stability
PK Majhi, TK Bhoi, KC Sahoo, N Mishra, S Tudu, S Das, M Ray, S Singh, ...
Smart plant breeding for vegetable crops in post-genomics era, 69-98 , 2023
2023
Citations: 15
Combatting insects mediated biotic stress (IMBS) through plant associated endophytic entomopathogenic fungi (EEPF) in horticultural crops
I Samal, TKK Bhoi, PK Majhi, S Murmu, AK Pradhan, D Kumar, V Saini, ...
Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 5460 , 2023
2023
Citations: 67
Two new species of the solitary hunting wasp genus Ectemnius (Hymenoptera Crabronidae), with a key to the Indian species of the subgenus Hypocrabro.
V Saini, D Dey
Bulletin of Insectology 75 (2) , 2022
2022
Citations: 1
Dasyproctus helenae, a new species of solitary hunting wasp from India and a checklist of Dasyproctus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau and Brullé, 1835 from the Indian subcontinent …
V Saini, D Dey
Zootaxa 5195 (2), 155-162 , 2022
2022
Citations: 2
Advances in Molecular Breeding for Bruchid (Callosobruchus spp.) Resistance in Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]: A Review.
PK Majhi, TK Bhoi, SC Mogali, A Shiv, KC Sahoo, V Saini
Legume Research: An International Journal 45 (8) , 2022
2022
Citations: 9
First record of subgenus Thao Tsuneki, 1982 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) from India: a new subspecies and a key to all subspecies of Crossocerus (Thao) nitidicorpus …
V Saini, D Dey
Zootaxa 5159 (1), 117-124 , 2022
2022
Citations: 2

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Nutritional aspects and dietary benefits of “Silkworms”: Current scenario and future outlook
DK Mahanta, J Komal, I Samal, TK Bhoi, VK Dubey, K Pradhan, ...
Frontiers in Nutrition 10, 1121508 , 2023
2023.0
Citations: 67
Combatting insects mediated biotic stress (IMBS) through plant associated endophytic entomopathogenic fungi (EEPF) in horticultural crops
I Samal, TKK Bhoi, PK Majhi, S Murmu, AK Pradhan, D Kumar, V Saini, ...
Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 5460 , 2023
2023.0
Citations: 67
Insect-pathogen crosstalk and the cellular-molecular mechanisms of insect immunity: uncovering the underlying signaling pathways and immune regulatory function of non-coding RNAs
DK Mahanta, TK Bhoi, J Komal, I Samal, RM Nikhil, AU Paschapur, ...
Frontiers in Immunology 14, 1169152 , 2023
2023.0
Citations: 65
Insight into aphid mediated potato virus Y transmission: A molecular to bioinformatics prospective
TK Bhoi, I Samal, PK Majhi, J Komal, DK Mahanta, AK Pradhan, V Saini, ...
Frontiers in Microbiology, 4112 , 2022
2022.0
Citations: 57
Understanding how silicon fertilization impacts chemical ecology and multitrophic interactions among plants, insects and beneficial arthropods
TK Bhoi, I Samal, DK Mahanta, J Komal, D Jinger, MR Sahoo, GC Achary, ...
Silicon 15 (6), 2529-2549 , 2023
2023.0
Citations: 34
Understanding the genetics and genomics of vegetable grafting to ensure yield stability
PK Majhi, TK Bhoi, KC Sahoo, N Mishra, S Tudu, S Das, M Ray, S Singh, ...
Smart plant breeding for vegetable crops in post-genomics era, 69-98 , 2023
2023.0
Citations: 15
Species diversity and distribution of Cnaphalocrocis and Scirpophaga (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) species complex in rice in Tamil Nadu, India
V Saini, S Singh, R Rawal, YN Venkatesh
Journal of Entomology and Zoology studies 5 (4), 1308-1313 , 2017
2017.0
Citations: 11
Advances in Molecular Breeding for Bruchid (Callosobruchus spp.) Resistance in Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]: A Review.
PK Majhi, TK Bhoi, SC Mogali, A Shiv, KC Sahoo, V Saini
Legume Research: An International Journal 45 (8) , 2022
2022.0
Citations: 9
Insight into aphid mediated potato virus Y transmission: a molecular to bioinformatics prospective. Front Microbiol 13: 1001454
TK Bhoi, I Samal, PK Majhi, J Komal, DK Mahanta, AK Pradhan, V Saini, ...
2022.0
Citations: 9
Revision of the genus Cnaphalocrocis (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) occurring on rice in Tamil Nadu, India
V Saini , Ramaraju K, and Chitra N
International Journal of Agriculture Sciences, ISSN, 0975-3710 , 2017
2017.0
Citations: 8
N., & Yele, Y.(2023). Insect-pathogen crosstalk and the cellular-molecular mechanisms of insect immunity: Uncovering the underlying signaling pathways and immune regulatory …
DK Mahanta, TK Bhoi, J Komal, I Samal, RM Nikhil, AU Paschapur, ...
Frontiers in Immunology 14 , 0
Citations: 6
Occurrence of new stem borer species, Scirpophaga virginia (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) from Tamil Nadu, India and its taxonomic re-description
V Saini, K Ramaraju, N Chitra
Ecology, Environment and Conservation 23 (3), 325-328 , 2017
2017.0
Citations: 5
Effect of Organic Manure and Biofertilizers on Growth and Vigour of Swietenia macrophylla King.(Mahogany)
V Saini, LK Behera, SS Malek
International Journal of Economic Plants 11 (2), 147-152 , 2024
2024.0
Citations: 4
Dasyproctus helenae, a new species of solitary hunting wasp from India and a checklist of Dasyproctus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau and Brullé, 1835 from the Indian subcontinent …
V Saini, D Dey
Zootaxa 5195 (2), 155-162 , 2022
2022.0
Citations: 2
First record of subgenus Thao Tsuneki, 1982 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) from India: a new subspecies and a key to all subspecies of Crossocerus (Thao) nitidicorpus …
V Saini, D Dey
Zootaxa 5159 (1), 117-124 , 2022
2022.0
Citations: 2
Panjal, a new subgenus of the genus Crossocerus (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), with description of a new species from Pakistan
V Saini, D Dey
Zoosystematica Rossica 31 (1), 87-97 , 2022
2022.0
Citations: 2
The solitary wasp genus Piyuma Pate, 1944 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabroninae) in India, with description of a new species
V Saini, D Dey
Oriental Insects , 2021
2021.0
Citations: 2
A new framework and classification scheme to indicate best-fit agroforestry systems: a locally adapted approach in the western coast of India
HSK Deshmukh, MB Tandel, MJ Dobriyal, R Gunaga, R Kunwar, ...
Agroforestry Systems 99 (8), 1-25 , 2025
2025.0
Citations: 1
The Effect of Temperature on the Development and Life Cycle of the Melon Fruit Fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae)
K Das, S Yadav, V Saini
MDPI , 2025
2025.0
Citations: 1
Discovery of the digger wasp genus Pseudoscolia Radoszkowski, 1876 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Philanthinae: Pseudoscoliini) in Indian Sub-continent, with …
V Saini
Zootaxa 5541 (4), 593-600 , 2024
2024.0
Citations: 1

VARUN SAINI

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Scopus Publications

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS