Mitrakida

Rethinking Pest Control through Nature’s Own Balance

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Mitrakida, founded by entomologist Dr Rahul Marathe in 2016, promotes a paradigm shift in pest control by treating insects as ecological allies rather than adversaries.

Rooted in Integrated Pest Management, the organization uses biological solutions such as predator insects, parasitoids, and microbes to regulate populations without chemicals. Its tailored interventions support farmers, gardeners, and institutions while preserving biodiversity. Mitrakida has successfully reduced bird strikes at airports by decomposing waste that attracts scavengers, developed bio-toilets for subzero regions like Leh, and revived mango orchards in the Konkan by restoring pollinators. Alongside practical innovations, it also fosters ecological awareness through education, advocating respect for insects as vital contributors to a balanced and sustainable environment. It was when working as a Researcher for a Life Sciences organization that entomologist Dr Rahul Marathe developed a profound understanding of the insects. “I realized that insects account for approximately 70 per cent of all known animal species,” Dr Marathe explains. “In a balanced ecosystem, every organism has a natural check—a predator or a parasite. Biologically speaking, no insect is a ‘pest’ by nature; that is a human-centric label we apply to organisms that compete with us for resources like food or wood.

“To manage insect populations effectively, it is important to know and understand their life cycles. They also perform an important role in nature. For instance, even though the caterpillars (the larval stage of Lepidoptera) consume plant matter, they are the necessary precursors to adult butterflies and moths, which serve as vital pollinators.