Like most other insects, Chilo partellus requires sterols such as cholesterol in the diet. Freshly hatched larvae grown on a chemically defined diet take about 27 days to become adults. However, when an azasteroid, 25-azacholesteroI is added to the diet in concentrations ranging from 0.5 ppm to 25 ppm, the time taken to become adults became 41 days at 5 ppm azasteroid. The maximum larval weight decreased to 76 mg from 140 mg as compared to the control insects. In larvae reared on a diet with 10 ppm azacholesterol, about 60% larvae died. The mortality was almost complete at a dose of 25 ppm. The larvae, pupae and adults reared on the chemically defined diet contained sitosterol, stigmasterol, cholesterol, compesterol and isofucosterol. No desmosterol was, however, detected in these insects. Inclusion of 25azacholesterol in the diet led to the detection of desmosterol in these insects. It was observed that the cholesterol concentration decreased greatly, whereas sitosterol and stigmasterol concentration increased. This showed that the azacholesterol inhibited the dealkylation of C29 plant sterols to cholesterol, probably at the level of A-24-sterol reductase as evidenced by the accumulation of desmosterol. In some cases the adults were unable to separate themselves completely from the pupal cases. Some larval-pupal intermediates were also noted. It was further observed that the spermatogenesis was disturbed due to azacholesterol treatment. This may indicate that ecdysone biosynthesis is probably impaired. These results indicate that inhibition of steroid utilization may have the potential of being developed into a method for integrated pest management.When 1,2-dibenzoyl-l-tert-butylhydrazine was added to the diet at concentrations varying from 1 to 10 ppm, all the larvae died in all the concentrations tested, except 1 ppm. The larval weight was reduced to almost half due to the treatment and the larval duration increased as in case of 25-azacholesterol. However, the sterol composition of the insects did not change greatly. Resume-Comme la plupart d'autres insectes, leChilo partellus a besoin des sterols tels que le cholesterol dans la nourriture. Les larves qui sortent de la coquille et grandissent sur une nourriture definie sur le plan chimique, deviennent adultes en 27 jours environ. Cependant, lorsqu'un azasteroide -25-azacholesterol est ajoute au regime dans des concentrations allant de 0,5 ppm a 25 ppm, le delai de devenir adulte passe a 41 jours a 5 ppm d' azasteroid. Le poids maximal de la larve a diminue de 140 mg a 76 mg par rapport aux insectes temoins. En cas de larves poussant sur une nourriture contenant 10 ppm d'azacholesterol, 60% environ de larves etaient mortes. Une mortalite quasiment complete etait atteinte avec une dose de 25 ppm. Les pupes, les larves et les adultes qui ont grandi sur un regime defini chimiquement, contenaient du sitosterol, du stigmasterol, du cholesterol, du campesterol et de 1'isofucosterol. Toutefois, aucun desmosterol n'a ete detecte dans ces insectes. L'ajout du 25-azacho...

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Degradation of natural resources and loss of biodiversity (wildlife flora and fauna) is a global problem that affects our society and hampers the economic and social progress of a country towards sustainable development. In developing countries like India, degradation of natural resources is a major threat to socio-economic development. In general, destruction of the environment, biodiversity and nature, has been a major concern in metropolitan cities. Delhi being a metropolitan city and the capital of India, has been facing this problem since 1980’s. However, the situation was not that bad then. Over the years, the environmental degradation has not only led to the loss of natural flora and fauna of Delhi city but has also become a cause of great concern because of its impact on the health of the common citizens of Delhi. Modernization, industrialization and overpopulation are key factors responsible for bringing about a drastic change in Delhi’s biodiversity and natural resources. Keeping in view their multifarious impacts, the Government of Delhi took some measures to restore the ecosystem of the city. However, we still have a long way to go to bring back the natural flora and fauna of the city, clean air, and the natural resources that have been depleted beyond imagination. Government alone cannot bring about the lost glory of Delhi. Each citizen of Delhi is responsible, and there is a need to join hands together and think in a positive direction to make Delhi a safe living place not only for human beings but also the wildlife that once existed in this majestic city.

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The Aravalli range is one of the oldest mountain systems of the world. It is a 560 km range, starting from a location near Delhi, passing through Southern Haryana, Rajasthan and ending in Gujarat. It has a unique biodiversity. In the last two to three decades, there has been a destruction of natural habitats and ecosystems due to the development of bursting infrastructure and hence, an urgent need for ecological restoration. Studies indicate that 40% of our country needs ecological restoration. The Asola Wildlife Sanctuary zone covers 32.71km2 area on the southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli hills, on the Delhi-Haryana border. Asola Wildlife Sanctuary was legally given protected status in 1986. On world environment day, June 5, 2021, UN declared 2021-2030 a decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The Bonn challenge is a global challenge to restore landscape, launched in 2011 by the Government of Germany and the International Union of Conservation of Nature. Due to the Supreme Court of India mandate in 2011, Government of India, defined Eco Sensitive Zones to limit the adverse anthropogenic activities on the ecosystem, biodiversity and natural resources. Several efforts have been made to restore Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary area by planting saplings, rainwater harvesting, restoration of degraded land and habitat, agroforestry, herbal plantations, use of solar energy, organic farming, etc. In spite of all these efforts, there are still certain challenges that need to be addressed. Some of them are the lack of a protective wall, the absence of safe corridors for wildlife crossing, environmental pollution caused by Bandhwari landfill and water scarcity. There is also an official denial of presence of wildlife in the area, so that the forest land can be exploited. A futuristic approach for restoration could be use of microbes that improves the quality of the soil and hence the vegetation and biodiversity. A continuous reduction in the forest cover over the years and an increase in agriculture and settlement, resulting in more human-wildlife conflict has become the most important issue in conservation. Efforts are thus required towards ecological restoration, following a natural progression and assistive regeneration along with working on the threats (urbanisation, policy threats, cutting of trees) to prevent further degradation of the forest after restoration.