C.A. Viraktamath

Viraktamath was born in Byadagi to Adiveyya and Neelambika and grew up across Karnataka as his father was posted at various places as a revenue officer.

He joined the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore for his MSc and received training from the Indian entomologist G. P. Channabasavanna as well as the American entomologists H. M. Harris and J. H. Lilly who were visiting professors in insect systematics and physiology respectively.

He was involved in studying ragi (Eleusine coracana) mosaic and streak diseases which were spread by leafhopper vectors and was recommended for further studies at the Oregon State University as a Ford Foundation scholar.

He returned to India after receiving his PhD and worked at the College of Agriculture, Dharwad.

He mentored numerous students in systematics particularly of insects of agricultural importance.