Agricultural entomology research was started by Jalal Afshar in 1918. Four years later, he founded ‘Local Pests Detection and Control Office’ situated in the Pasteur Institute of Iran, which was responsible for control of insect pests and also other harmful organisms. In 1928, it was renamed as ‘Pest Control Office’. In 1943, Jalal Afshar founded ‘Entomology and Crop Pest Control Entomology Laboratory’ which was affiliated with Ministry of Agriculture of Iran. In 1947, The laboratory was under supervision of Pest Control Organization, and two years later, it was entitled as ‘Pest Study Office’, followed by ‘General Office of Quarantine and Crop Pests’ in 1957, which is entitled ‘Iranian research Institute of Plant Protection’, at present. Agricultural Entomology Research Department is one of the main departments of the Iranian research Institute of Plant Protection.

Technical knowledge of producing pathogenic fungi of insects, mass production of insects with artificial and semiartificial diets, identification and synthesis of insect sex pheromones

- Introducing novel and safe approaches of pest control taking into consideration the ecology of pests and environmental risk assessment of the control measures   

- Presenting scientific lectures and workshops based on the recent research findings in various fields of agricultural entomology

- Offering technical consultations  for identification of agricultural pests to agricultural companies.

- Evaluating research papers for presentation in national meetings,  reviewing manuscripts for publication in national and international journals.

- Supervising M.Sc. and Ph.D. students

- Transferring and extending  scientific, technical and applied protocols for effective control of different pests.

- Making contracts with companies, organizations and individuals to solve their pest problems and difficulties

-Preparation of technical guidelines for grape production

-Preparation of technical guidelines for saffron production

- Selection of the walnut cultivars resistant to Leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina L. (Lep. : Cossidae)

- Evaluation and registration of new insecticide Flubendiamide for the control of Helicoverpa armigera

- Selection of the resistant cultivars of apple to leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina L. (Lep. : Cossidae)

- Preparation of semi-artificial diet for the mass breeding of Sesamia spp.

- Evaluation and registration of new insecticide Proteus (Deltamethrin + Thiacloprid) for the control of onion thrips

- Evaluation and registration of new bio-pesticide Agromatrine for the control of Plutella xylostella

- Identification of resistant cultivars of wheat to Schizaphis graminum Rondani

- Evaluation and registration of new and low consumption insecticide Deltamethrin (SC 2.5%) for the control of Sunn pest

- Determination of the Economic Injury level of Citrus leaf miner

- Evaluation of the injury level of Linxus incanescens

- Evaluation and registration of new insecticide spirotetramat for the control of Chrysomphalus dictyospermi 

- Biocontrol of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama by the mineral compound Kaolin- Evaluation and registration of new low consumption insecticide flonicamid (0.3 ml/l) for the control of strawberry thrips in greenhouse

- Evaluation and registration of new low consumption insecticide flonicamid for the control of Aphis gossypii in greenhouse cucumber

- Introduction of insecticide spinosad for the control of Tuta absoluta

 Evaluation and registration of new pesticide Thiacloprid for the control of Meligethes aeneus on rapeseed-Evaluation and registration of mineral insecticide Diatomaceous earth for the control of Sitophilus granaries L.

-Identification of two new species of pathogenic protozoans and fungi at the genus level: Hirsutella sp. And Asterophora sp.

- Introduction of white mustard as an efficient plant trap for population reduction of Plutella xylostella

- Biocontrol of Cydia pomonella by using local strain and prognosis model for the exact releasing time of the bee

-Evaluation and registration of the insecticides flubendiamide and thiocyclam for the control of Tota absoluta

- Evaluation and registration of insecticide Movento for the control of onion thrips

- Evaluation and registration of insecticide Imunit (SC 15%) for the control of Helicovera armigera Hub

- Integrated pest management of Plutella xylostella using parasitoid bees and Bt.

- Evaluation and registration of insecticide Proclaim fit for the control of Tota absoluta

- Introduction of insecticide Tebufenozide for the control of Agrotis segetum

- Use of insecticides, diatomaceous earth and kaolin for the control of Psalmocharias alhageos

- Introduction of bio-insecticide Aztec® EL 80% (Azadirachtin) for the control of Liriomyza sativae (Dip.: Kuwayama)

- Recommendation for the use of processed kaolin for the integrated management of all apple pests

Recommendation for the  use sticky yellow card traps for the population reduction of Diaphoria citri Kuwayama

-Introduction of the method of Ozonation of pulses for the removal of Callosobruchus maculatus

- Recommendation for the use of Deltaral® SC 2.5% (deltamethrin) for the control of Sunn pest in cabbage fields

-Integrated pest management in various agricultural and natural resources ecological systems

- Study the process of seasonal and biological changes of insects in various climates and hosts

- Investigation on the effect of climate change on the population changes and biology of insects

- Investigation on various aspects of chemical ecology of insects

- Preparation of novel prognosis models based on the phenological changes of insects in relation to environmental agents in order to increase the efficiency of the strategies used in the integrated pest management

- Estimation of EIL and damage level of insect pests

- Risk assessment of various pests control measures

- Determination of resistance level of various plant cultivars to important pests and presentation of resistant cultivars

- Study various aspects of insect physiology

-  Investigation and evaluation of the efficacy of locally made and imported pheromones in integrated pest management programs

- Investigation on and introduction of various agricultural methods in the pest control

- Preparation of technical and applied guidelines for pest control

- Investigation on the efficacy of various chemical, mineral and biological pesticides for the control of insect pests in order to introduce and register novel and safe pesticides

- Providing various approaches to reduce chemical pesticide use to control insect pests

- Investigation and introduction of various approaches for the control of stored product pests

- Permanent contact and scientific information exchange with various similar national and international centers to update the information

- Evaluating various research projects and reports based on the research activities of the department

- Laboratory of insect ecology

- Laboratory of insect biology

- Laboratory of toxicology

- Laboratory of insect pathology

- Laboratory of stored product pests