Identification, incidence, and management of the chafer beetle, Protaetia terrosa, on cluster beans was carried out in semi-arid Indian conditions. The P. terrosa was identified using morphological and molecular characters. The distinguishing morphometric characteristics of P. terrosa were viz., head (length: 2.21 mm; width: 2.94 mm), thorax (length: 4.95 mm; width: 6.87 mm), elytra (length: 10.08 mm; width: 8.68 mm), and other morphological features. For molecular identification, a gene fragment of 655 bp size encoding mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I enzyme was amplified, sequenced and submitted to NCBI (MW008478), and the barcode was generated as BIN Number BOLD: AEF1461. This is the first report of the partial mt Co1 gene sequence of P. terrosa, with a unique barcode as diagnostic tool. The BLAST P and phylogenetic analysis revealed highest sequence similarity of P. terrosa with P. cuprea, and P. fusca. The P. terrosa infestation results in wilting, drying and ultimately dying of cluster bean plants. The chafer beetle infested plants have a visible white portion (pith) of the stem with little or devoid of lateral roots. The study recorded up to 14.23% infestation by chafer beetles under natural unprotected conditions. The soil drenching with clothianidin 50% WDG @ 250 gm/ha resulted significant reduction in damage by P. terrosa, and could prevent up to 19.36% loss in yield. In nutshell, regular crop monitoring and adoption of suitable management practices are highly important to keep this pest under check.

The behavior of granular soils is intricately linked to their origin and sedimentation mechanisms, as evidenced by their unique morphological characteristics shaped by depositional environments. This study investigates into the critical relationship between these morphological attributes, including sphericity, angularity, and roundness, and the mechanical properties of granular soils. Such understanding is pivotal for applications like piled foundations, large dam filters, and pavements in geotechnical engineering. To assess this relationship, three granular soils from distinct depositional environments were selected, and their morphological features were meticulously examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and analyzed using ImageJ software. Additionally, surface roughness parameters were quantified through an optical profilometer. The mechanical response of these soils was comprehensively investigated through direct shear tests, with a specific focus on the impact of shape factors. The results of this study unveiled striking differences between river sand deposits and coastal sand in terms of morphological attributes. River sand exhibited higher angularity, reduced roundness, and a greater number of surface asperities, contributing to heightened frictional resistance and pronounced dilatancy effects when subjected to shear loads. This paper underscores the significance of morphological features in influencing the macroscale properties of granular soils and provides valuable insights for geotechnical engineering applications.