I am Usama Tayyab; an entomologist and a scientist who studies insects and their relationship to the environment.
My research experience in entomology highly motivates me as an individual.
Being passionate about sharing my knowledge and insights with others, blogging allows me to connect with a wider audience and engage with people who share my interest in insects and the natural world.
I deeply understand the subject matter and am committed to contributing to the scientific community through my research and writing. I am excited about the opportunity to continue exploring the fascinating world of insects and sharing my findings with others.
These are some of my accomplishments throughout the academic years.
The objective of my final project at the Ayub Agriculture Research Institute was to control the early-stage sucking insect infestations on cotton crops.
A total of nine pesticide treatments were applied. Data collection was performed at weekly intervals until the maturity of the crop.
Upon analysis of the data collected over eight weeks, we determined that seeds treated with Hombre 372.5% FS exhibited the least amount of thrips and whitefly infestation. In contrast, we found WS imidacloprid 70% to be the least effective treatment.
At the PepsiCo internship, I had the opportunity to contribute to an initiative aimed at elevating potatoes as a food security crop in Pakistan. This campaign included training, research meetings, and field monitoring for pest control.
I was subsequently appointed to four regional farmlands under the supervision of our manager, where my responsibilities included seed handling, land preparation, crop monitoring, harvesting, and post-harvest handling.
By implementing sustainable practices, our efforts resulted in a 12% increase in production compared to other areas.
In my master’s research, I am investigating the efficacy of two insecticides, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid, in interrupting the feeding behavior of aphids. To this end, I am utilizing an Electrical Penetration Graph, a technologically advanced device.
Additionally, I am assessing the post-application effectiveness of the treatments by collecting data 1, 2, and 4 weeks after application. Statistical analysis has thus far indicated that acetamiprid is the most effective in controlling aphid infestations.
Additionally, I am working with my supervisor to develop sustainable control methods for pink bollworms in Pakistan. This initiative includes utilizing molecular techniques, deploying pheromone-baited traps, and using chemical and biological controls, and an olfactometer.
Our efforts have yielded significant progress and have been recognized nationally.