Bokinakere Ramakrishnaiya Subba Rao (25 August 1925 – 29 November 2020) was an Indian-origin entomologist who worked at the Commonwealth Institute of Entomology. He was a specialist on biological control and described many species of parasitic wasps including Neodusmetia sangwani which is considered one of the most successful examples of classical biological control. Rao also served as a linesman and umpire at Wimbledon from 1969 to 1995.
Rao was born in Mysore to B. K. Ramakrishnaiya (a District and Sessions Judge) and Parvathamma. He received his B Sc (Hons.) Zoology from Central College, Bangalore, then under the University of Mysore, as also his PhD. He worked at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute with E.S. Narayanan and then at the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control in Bangalore. He moved to the Commonwealth Institute of Entomology in London in June 1968. He specialized in the taxonomy of the superfamily Chalcidoidea. One of the insect species discovered in Hessarghatta was described by Subba Rao, Neodusmetia sangwani, a parasitic wasp considered one of the successful examples of classical biological control. It was used to control an outbreak of Rhodesgrass scale insect Antonina graminis in the United States of America in the 1960s.[1] Another species that he described was Thompsonisca sankarani, named after T. Sankaran who headed the Indian CIBC station, which is an important biological control agent of the mango scale Pseudaulacaspis barberi.[2] Rao was also a keen sportsman who played cricket, tennis and took part in athletics in his undergraduate days. A shoulder injury made him quit tennis but he served as an umpire in India at the Davis Cup in 1950 and after moving to London he was selected to serve at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Association in 1969. He was awarded the Alistair Wotherspoon Salver by the British Tennis Umpires Association for 1989 and retired in 1995. Among his recollections was an incident at the court:[3][4][5]
I was at the net cord on No. 1 Court, Martina Navratilova was playing. An insect was flying around her, so unable to play. The Chair asked me to sort it. I went over and caught the insect in my hand,-it was a male bee. I said “it’s only a male it can’t hurt you” ...afterwards I realized what I said!
He also took a keen interest in Indian classical music, knew the ragas, could play the violin, and was a regular at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London.[2] In 1998 he published a compilation of biographies of Indian entomologists.[6][7] His wife Saroja predeceased him and he was survived by his two sons Somashekar and Sundaresh in London.[2]
Referencesedit
^Dean, H. A.; Schuster, M. F.; Boling, J. C.; Riherd, P. T. (1979). "Complete biological control of Antonina graminis in Texas with Neodusmetia sangwani (a classic example)". Bull. Entomol. Soc. Am. 25: 262–67.
^ abcBallal, Chandish R. (2020). "Obituary. The Grand Old Indian Entomologist Dr B R Subba Rao passes away at 95". Indian Journal of Entomology. 82 (4): 598.
^Wimbledon - Nina Ghosh - Interview with Subba Rao - 8 February 2019
^Polaszek, Andy (2020). "In Memoriam: Dr Bokinakere Ramakrishnaiya Subba Rao (1925-2020)". Entomol. News (14): 10.
^Poorani, J. (2021). "B. R. Subba Rao (1925–2020)" (PDF). Current Science. 120 (5): 955–956.
^Rao, B. R. Subba (1983). "Systematic entomology in India - past, present and future" (PDF). Current Science. 52 (21): 997–1000. ISSN 0011-3891.
External linksedit
Publication list
November 28, 2023
subba, bokinakere, ramakrishnaiya, subba, august, 1925, november, 2020, indian, origin, entomologist, worked, commonwealth, institute, entomology, specialist, biological, control, described, many, species, parasitic, wasps, including, neodusmetia, sangwani, wh. Bokinakere Ramakrishnaiya Subba Rao 25 August 1925 29 November 2020 was an Indian origin entomologist who worked at the Commonwealth Institute of Entomology He was a specialist on biological control and described many species of parasitic wasps including Neodusmetia sangwani which is considered one of the most successful examples of classical biological control Rao also served as a linesman and umpire at Wimbledon from 1969 to 1995 B R Subba RaoDr B R Subba Rao in 1968 BornBokinakere Ramakrishnaiya Subba Rao 1925 08 25 25 August 1925Mysore IndiaDied29 November 2020 2020 11 29 aged 95 London EnglandEducationUniversity of Mysore Karnataka IndiaOccupationsEntomologistUmpireLinesmanYears active1948 1995Life and work editRao was born in Mysore to B K Ramakrishnaiya a District and Sessions Judge and Parvathamma He received his B Sc Hons Zoology from Central College Bangalore then under the University of Mysore as also his PhD He worked at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute with E S Narayanan and then at the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control in Bangalore He moved to the Commonwealth Institute of Entomology in London in June 1968 He specialized in the taxonomy of the superfamily Chalcidoidea One of the insect species discovered in Hessarghatta was described by Subba Rao Neodusmetia sangwani a parasitic wasp considered one of the successful examples of classical biological control It was used to control an outbreak of Rhodesgrass scale insect Antonina graminis in the United States of America in the 1960s 1 Another species that he described was Thompsonisca sankarani named after T Sankaran who headed the Indian CIBC station which is an important biological control agent of the mango scale Pseudaulacaspis barberi 2 Rao was also a keen sportsman who played cricket tennis and took part in athletics in his undergraduate days A shoulder injury made him quit tennis but he served as an umpire in India at the Davis Cup in 1950 and after moving to London he was selected to serve at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Association in 1969 He was awarded the Alistair Wotherspoon Salver by the British Tennis Umpires Association for 1989 and retired in 1995 Among his recollections was an incident at the court 3 4 5 I was at the net cord on No 1 Court Martina Navratilova was playing An insect was flying around her so unable to play The Chair asked me to sort it I went over and caught the insect in my hand it was a male bee I said it s only a male it can t hurt you afterwards I realized what I said He also took a keen interest in Indian classical music knew the ragas could play the violin and was a regular at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London 2 In 1998 he published a compilation of biographies of Indian entomologists 6 7 His wife Saroja predeceased him and he was survived by his two sons Somashekar and Sundaresh in London 2 References edit Dean H A Schuster M F Boling J C Riherd P T 1979 Complete biological control of Antonina graminis in Texas with Neodusmetia sangwani a classic example Bull Entomol Soc Am 25 262 67 a b c Ballal Chandish R 2020 Obituary The Grand Old Indian Entomologist Dr B R Subba Rao passes away at 95 Indian Journal of Entomology 82 4 598 Wimbledon Nina Ghosh Interview with Subba Rao 8 February 2019 Polaszek Andy 2020 In Memoriam Dr Bokinakere Ramakrishnaiya Subba Rao 1925 2020 Entomol News 14 10 Poorani J 2021 B R Subba Rao 1925 2020 PDF Current Science 120 5 955 956 Gupta Virendra 2000 Book Review Oriental Insects 34 1 66 doi 10 1080 00305316 2000 10417253 ISSN 0030 5316 S2CID 219609526 Rao B R Subba 1983 Systematic entomology in India past present and future PDF Current Science 52 21 997 1000 ISSN 0011 3891 External links editPublication list Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title B R Subba Rao amp oldid 1178383102, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
