Czech entolomogist, founder and chairman of the board of the Sphingidae Museum Czech RepublicMr Tomas Melichar together with Chairman of the Department of Studies in Sericulture Science of the University of Mysore Dr Hosaholalu Boregowda Manjunatha presented their joint research project focusing on existence of different species of hawk moths in the State of Karnataka.

Chief Guest of the event was Professor K S Rangappa, General President of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) and former Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka State Open University and of the University of Mysore.

This unique event was attended by a large number of visitors, including the representatives of Entomological Society of India and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (Division of Entomology).

A great interest was seen during subsequent discussion. For example it was noted that the Czech Republic currently has the second largest collection of hawk moths in the world.

Many visitors were excited also with the fact that Czech and Indian researchers together discovered new species of hawk moths in India which have not been catalogized in the world’s register of hawk moths yet.

The Czech Ambassador Milan Hovorka informed that joint Indo-Czech research projects are very important part of the bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and India and informed that the Czech and Indian Governments agreed to support joint research projects, a call is open till July 31, 2019 (Indian researchers: http://www.dst.gov.in/callforproposals/call-joint-project-proposals-2019-india-czech-bilateral-scientific-and, Czech researchers: www.msmt.cz/msmt-vyhlasuje-vyzvu-na-vyzkumne-projekty-s-indii).