Nikhitha Gangavarapu

Ph.D. Graduate Student Entomology Department University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Address: 1700 East Campus Mall
Phone: 402-472-8678 On-campus 2-8678
Email: ngangavarapu2@huskers.unl.edu
Social Media

Nikhitha is a Ph.D. student working with Dr. Shaonpius Mondal in the plant virus-vector interactions lab to contribute in the field of plant-virus-vector interactions by investigating novel mechanisms of resistance to environmental and biological stressors. As a vector biologist, I aim to use my expertise in entomology, molecular biology, host-pathogen dynamics, and pest management to develop sustainable strategies that will enhance agricultural productivity and resilience.

Education

M.S., Entomology, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India, 2023

B.S., Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajahmundry, India, 2021

Research Experience

2023- Present: Studies on the microbiome of Wheat curl mites. Understanding the role of the microbiome of Aceria tosichella (Wheat Curl Mite) in the transmission of plant viruses such as wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV).
2023- Present: Studies on the influence of phytohormones in virus infected wheat plants on the wheat curl mites. Exploring how phytohormonal changes in wheat plants infected with viruses like WSMV and TriMV influence the behavior of Wheat Curl Mites.
2021- 2023: Studies on the growth indices of Spodoptera litura on different host plants and elucidating the role of gut enzymes for preferential feeding. Investigated the growth, performance and feeding preferences of Spodoptera litura (cotton leafworm) across a range of host plants. The primary objective was to evaluate the influence of host plant nutritional profiles on larval development and identify the enzymatic mechanisms underlying host preference.
2022- 2023: Biology, morphometrics and life table studies of Spodoptera litura on different host plants. Studied on the demographic traits of Spodoptera litura across various host plants, aiming to understand how host plant selection influences the pest's development, morphology, and population dynamics.

Publications

Pal, S., Bhattacharya, S., Dhar, T., Gupta, A., Ghosh, A., Debnath, S., Gangavarapu, N., Pati, P., Chaudhuri, N., Chatterjee, H. and Senapati, S.K., 2024. Hymenopteran parasitoid complex and fall armyworm: a case study in eastern India. Scientific Reports, 14(1), p.4029. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54342-z

Conference Papers

Nikhitha, G., Bhattacharya, S., Prasad, M. G., & Pal, S. Impact of climate change on some agriculturally important insect pests. Innovative Technologies and its Applications in Higher Education, 93.
Yadav, K. N., Duary, B., & Nikhitha, G. Recent advances in weed management through herbal herbicide. Innovative Technologies and its Applications in Higher Education, 187.

Teaching Experience

Spring 2025, ENTO-116 Insect Identification: Teaching 24 undergraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds through laboratory sessions focused on the identification of insects and other arthropods.

Contributed Presentations/Posters/Seminars

International

Gangavarapu, N., Bhattacharya, S., and Pal, S., Influence of host plants on Spodoptera litura: A comparative analysis of preference, food consumption, and utilization. Oral presentation 2023. 3rd Biotic science congress and international conference on Advancements In Plant Health Research- Retrospect & Prospect, India, Dec 8, 2023.
Gangavarapu, N., Bhattacharya, S., Pal, S., Prasad, G.M., Manishankar, G., and Naveen, K., Impact of Climate Change on Some Agriculturally Important Insect Pests. Oral presentation 2023. International Conference on Innovative Technologies and Its Applications In Higher Education -Agriculture in Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India, 17-19 October 2022.

National

Gangavarapu, N., Cross, S., Hein, G., Tatineni, S., and Mondal, S., Microbiome diversity in wheat curl mite genotypes and their role in virus transmission. Oral presentation 2024 Entomological Society of America, Phoenix, Arizona, November 10-13, 2024.

Regional

Gangavarapu, N., Cross, S., Hein, G., Tatineni, S., and Mondal, S., Unveiling the role of wheat curl mite microbiome in wheat streak mosaic virus and Triticum mosaic virus transmission. Oral presentation 2024 in ESA-NCB, Fort Collins, Colorado, March 24-27, 2024.

Local

Gangavarapu, N., Cross, S., Hein, G., Tatineni, S., and Mondal, S., Unveiling the role of wheat curl mite microbiome in wheat streak mosaic virus and Triticum mosaic virus transmission. Poster presentation 2024. Groundbreaking ceremony for a major UNL-USDA facility, Lincoln, Nebraska, May 6, 2024.
Gangavarapu, N., Hein, G., Tatineni, S., and Mondal, S., Wheat curl mitetransmitted viruses alter phytohormone levels in wheat plants. Poster 2024, 24th Annual Prem S Paul Symposium in Virology, Nebraska city, Nebraska, September 27, 2024.
Gangavarapu, N., Characterizing the interactions of wheat streak mosaic virus and Triticum mosaic virus with wheat host and mite vector using omics-based approaches. Proposal seminar presentation, department of Entomology, UNL, October 18, 2024
Gangavarapu, N., Hein, G., Tatineni, S., and Mondal, S., Wheat curl mitetransmitted viruses alter phytohormone levels in wheat plants. Poster 2024, Plant Science Retreat, Lincoln, Nebraska, October 24-25, 2024.

Fellowships and Awards