Acarology: Meaning, Salary, Scope, Career

A two-year full-time postgraduate course in agricultural science and technology is known as Acarology. Insect Morphology, Insect Anatomy, Physiology and Nutrition, Insect Ecology, Fundamentals of Taxonomy, General Acarology, Storage Entomology, Plant Quarantine, Vertebrate Pest Management, and Soil Arthropods and their Management, among other topics, are covered in the Acarology. Students having a B.Sc. degree or any other comparable degree in a relevant topic from a university with a minimum score of 60% are eligible for this course. To be admitted to this programme, candidates must also pass entrance exams at some reputable institutions and colleges.

What is Acarology?

Acarology is the study of ticks and mites, and those like Selina who do this research are known as acarologists. Acarology is the scientific study of insects and related organisms known as entomology. Because insects interact in so many different ways with people and other species of life on Earth, biology has a lot to say about insects. Even though there are numerous ways that insects are helpful, they can nevertheless be harmful because they spread illness, harm crops and decorative plants, and invade houses. The pre-professional/basic sciences, biology education, plant protection, and urban pest control are the four specialisations that make up the entomology programme. Based on the student’s interests and career objectives, they select one speciality.

Why Study Acarology? 

Students can prefer to study this course, due to following reasons:

• Career Opportunities: Agricultural advisory services, horticultural and forestry research institutions, conservation organisations, universities, commercial organisations within the agrochemical sector, the industrial area of pesticides, foreign aid programmes, international NGOs, environmental groups, local authorities, and pest control consultants in the private sector are all good places for graduates to find work.
  
• Possibility of starting own businesses: Graduates of the M.Sc. in Entomology gain the expertise necessary to launch their own businesses in the fields of fertiliser, seed, insecticide or pesticide, bio-fertilizer, and biological control.
  
• Excellent Pay: The pay scale received by M.Sc. (Entomology) grads is pretty excellent. The typical annual wage package is INR 3,00,000.
  
• Known Position: Positions available to M.Sc. (Entomology) graduates are of the highest calibre. The professions with the best reputations are those in education and entomology, respectively.

What are Ticks and Mites?

Ticks and mites are the two animal species that acarologists study. Being arachnids, they have eight legs and are linked to other arachnids like spiders and scorpions. Ticks are typically found outside in wooded settings, where they feed on the blood of animals to stay alive. Ticks frequently spread blood-borne illnesses like Lyme disease as a result. In order to protect people from the diseases that ticks spread, it is critical that acarologists understand the biology of ticks.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to pursue an Acarology course, candidates have to fulfil the following requirements to be eligible for the same:

For BSc

For pursuing a BSc degree in Acarology, candidates must fulfil the following requirements:

• The student must have at least a 50% grade in science (10+2 or equivalent; 5% relaxation for protected categories). 
• A graduate from a reputable institution or university is required.

For Msc

For pursuing an MSc degree in Acarology, candidates must fulfil the following requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree in science or its equivalent is required, with a minimum grade point average of 50%. The student must have completed studies at an accredited institution or university.
• Students must successfully complete a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, or an equivalent degree, from an accredited college or school with a minimum grade point average of 50% in order to be eligible for the course.

Top Colleges in India to Study Acarology

Below mentioned are some of the colleges offering Acarology:

• Andhra University
• Lovely Professional University
• Banaras Hindu University
• Maharishi Dayanand University
• Amity University

Admission Process for Acarology

Colleges have different admissions procedures. Students are admitted based on how well they perform on the appropriate entrance exam, and frequently after that is the round of the personal interview where the student’s general aptitude for the course is assessed. There are several institutions where a candidate can be admitted directly based on how well they did on their most recent qualifying exam, or on the basis of merit.

Acarology: Entrance Exams

For admission to this programme, many universities, including the Banaras Hindu University and the Andhra University, hold entrance exams. Below is a list of some of these admission exams:

• BHU PET: Every year, students interested in pursuing a career in the arts, sciences, fashion, music, Sanskrit, and numerous other language disciplines under Banaras Hindu University must take the Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Exam (BHU PET). Once a year, a two-hour offline exam is given. The exam consists of 360-point Multiple Choice Questions. Moreover, the exam allows for negative grading, awarding three marks for each correctly answered question and a negative score for incorrect ones.
  
• AUCET: Offered by Andhra University, AUCET is a state-level entrance exam that enables candidates to apply for admission to postgraduate programmes in the fields of journalism and mass communication, management, science, and the humanities. It is a 90-minute, once-per-year, offline exam. On this test, there are no fail grades.

Also Read: Branches of Zoology

Acarology: Job Prospects and Career

Entomologist

An entomologist studies insects in both their natural habitat and under carefully controlled conditions in a laboratory. They study insect life cycles and migration patterns as well as the movement and behaviours of insects in urban settings, such as homes and businesses. In an effort to increase public safety and lower the occurrence of population injury, they share the information they learn with health experts.

Average Salary

INR 1,000,000 per annum

Forensic Entomologists

Because various bug species are drawn to various stages of decomposition, forensic entomologists can determine with accuracy how long a person has been deceased. Insect eggs and larvae can also release significant hints at different phases of their lives. When evaluating bodies, they must take into account the time of day, the season, the temperature outside, and the surroundings of the body. These elements influence how quickly a body decomposes and how quickly bugs proliferate.

Average Salary

INR 2.6 lakh to 11.5 Lakhs per annum

Pest Control Technician

A specialist who uses a range of methods to get rid of pests from residential, commercial, and industrial premises is called a pest control technician. They analyse pest issues and pick a practical strategy to get rid of bugs on the property.

Average Salary

INR 3,00,000

FAQs

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