The Division with its Forest Entomology and Forest Pathology diciplines undertakes research on various aspects of microbes and insects in the forest ecosystem. Further, eco-friendly technologies are being developed to manage the pests, diseases and weeds in forest plantations, mainly through biological means. The Division maintains a rich collection of microbes and insects of Kerala forests and also of microbial pathogens of forest insects. Management of nursery and plantation diseases, diversity of plant pathogenic fungi in different forest ecosystems, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity in forest plantations are thrust areas of research in Forest Pathology Discipline. Under plantation management, the recently concluded field trials have yielded useful results on site management practices in eucalypts to improve the productivity. Improvement of productivity of teak using mycorrhizal manipulations have also been successfully standardized and demonstrated. As part of the studies on control and management of weeds, the scope of the exotic fungus Puccinia spegazzinii has been evaluated under quarantine, and field trials are in progress. The scope of selected traditional methods in protecting the post-harvest bamboo against insect borers is also being evaluated.

In Forest Entomology Discipline, the thrust areas of research include termite control in eucalypt plantations, biological control of teak defoliator, monitoring of forest insect diversity and control of wood damaging insects. The mass production technology of the bio pesticide Hyblaea puera Nucleo Polyhedrosis Virus (HpNPV) has been standardized, and insect monitoring and HpNPV application technology has been successfully transferred to the Kerala Forest Department and also to private teak growers to manage the pest.

The concept of butterfly garden was popularized and technical advice provided to various agencies for the establishment of butterfly parks with a view to conserve the insect diversity and to utilize the aesthetic value of the faunal group in the State, especially in ecotourism.