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Entomopathogenic nematodes play a pivotal role as biocontrol agents for different species of insect pests, including the red palm weevil. In the current investigation, the infective capabilities of four species of entomopathogenic nematodes, including Hetrerorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema glaseri, and Steinernema carpocapsae, were evaluated against larvae, pupae, and adult red palm weevil under laboratory and field conditions. The pathogenic potential of selected nematode species was assessed based on dissection and adult emergence of weevils. Our results indicated that S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora, with a respective 94.68 and 92.68% infection rate, were the most effective EPN species against red palm weevil larvae. Focusing on adult emergence, the aforementioned EPNs were comparatively less pathogenic and resulted in 63.60 and 60.20% infested pupae, respectively. It is noted that adult emergence is the better option to evaluate the pathogenic potential of EPNs, compared with the dissection of insects. The S. carpocapsae was found to be most effective against the 6th instar larvae of the red palm weevil and caused 100% mortality at 240 h after treatment. On the other hand, S. glaseri and S. feltiae were found to be the least pathogenic and caused 70 and 76% mortality, respectively. All of the evaluated nematode species were found to be highly infective under field conditions. The S. carpocapsae was found to be the most pathogenic, causing 83.60% mortality of the red palm weevil. However, the tested nematodes were found most effective against larvae, followed by adult weevils, but their effect was minimal against the pupae of red palm weevils. Based on these findings, we conclude that the S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora could be used as a sustainable option for the efficient management of the red palm weevil.

As part of efforts to explore environmental friendly alternatives to synthetic chemicals, aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica, Caralluma tuberculata, Allium sativum, Curcuma longa, Citrulus colocynthis and Calotropis procera were used to investigate the entomotoxicity of selected plant materials against maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais in stored maize. In order to investigate the effect of selected plant materials on the mortality of maize weevil, maize seeds (20g) were treated with 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3% v/w of aqueous extracts in the laboratory of Entomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan under controlled environmental conditions of 27 ± 10C and 65 ± 2% R.H and 12: 12 hour dark: light regimes. Experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design with five replications. The adult mortality of S. zeamais was recorded after 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days and 21days, post exposure time period. The A. indica and C. longa plant aqueous extracts were found more toxic to adult maize weevil compared to other plant extracts recording (95%) and (91%) mortality at 3% concentration whereas; minimum adult mortality was recorded in C. procera (26%) at 3% concentration after 21 days' time span compared with control (2%). The toxicity of the selected plant materials increased with increase in the concentration and exposure period. It is concluded from the present findings that the aqueous extracts of A. indica and C. longa can be used as safe alternative to chemical insecticides for the management of maize weevil under storage conditions.

Weed infestation is a major problem and matter of concern as it reduces yield as well as quality of many crops including sugar beet. Manual weeding is very tedious, costly, time consuming and most probably non-availability of trained and skillful labor is another issue. Keeping in view these facts, an experiment was performed to evaluate the efficacy of dual gold on the weed biomass (gm-2) and on the growth and yield components of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cv. California-KWS during 2013-14 and 2014-15. The study was performed using RCBD having five treatments and three replications. The treatments included different application times (pre-emergence application and application after 15, 30 and 45 days after emergence) of dual gold (s-Metolachlor) and a control (weedy check). Data were recorded on fresh and dry weed biomasses (g m-2), number of leaves plant-1, leaf area plant-1 (cm2), leaf and root weights plant-1 (g), sucrose%, TSS%, root and sugar yields (t ha-1). The results showed significant variation among the treatments for all parameters during both years of study. Among the treatments the dual gold (s-Metolachlor) applied as pre-emergence reduced weed fresh and dry biomasses (g m-2) and also enhanced number of leaves plant-1, leaf area (cm2), leaf and root weight plant-1, sucrose%, TSS%, root and sugar yields (t ha-1) during both years. Hence it is concluded that dual gold (s-Metolachlor) applied as pre-emergence is best for eradicating weeds at early stages of growth and hence improving yield and quality of sugar beet under Dera Ismail Khan Conditions.

The red palm weevil is considered the most notorious pest for different species of palms around the globe. Due to the concealed nature of the red palm weevil, the use of biocontrol agents, especially EPNs, is considered most effective. Among biocontrol agents, entomopathogenic nematodes provide effective control of the different developmental stages of the red palm weevil. In the current investigation, the infective capabilities of four different species of entomopathogenic nematodes were investigated against larvae (5th and 6th instars), pupae enclosed in their cocoons, and adult red palm weevil (newly formed), under laboratory and field conditions. Our results indicated that the S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora were the most effective EPN species against different developmental stages of the red palm weevil under laboratory as well as field conditions. The larval stage of the red palm weevil was found to be the most susceptible to infection by EPNs compared with pupal and adult stages. From the present findings, we can infer that S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora are the most effective EPN strains and recommend their use in the sustainable management of the red palm weevil. Entomopathogenic nematodes play a pivotal role as biocontrol agents for different species of insect pests, including the red palm weevil. In the current investigation, the infective capabilities of four species of entomopathogenic nematodes, including Hetrerorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema glaseri, and Steinernema carpocapsae, were evaluated against larvae, pupae, and adult red palm weevil under laboratory and field conditions. The pathogenic potential of selected nematode species was assessed based on dissection and adult emergence of weevils. Our results indicated that S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora, with a respective 94.68 and 92.68% infection rate, were the most effective EPN species against red palm weevil larvae. Focusing on adult emergence, the aforementioned EPNs were comparatively less pathogenic and resulted in 63.60 and 60.20% infested pupae, respectively. It is noted that adult emergence is the better option to evaluate the pathogenic potential of EPNs, compared with the dissection of insects. The S. carpocapsae was found to be most effective against the 6th instar larvae of the red palm weevil and caused 100% mortality at 240 h after treatment. On the other hand, S. glaseri and S. feltiae were found to be the least pathogenic and caused 70 and 76% mortality, respectively. All of the evaluated nematode species were found to be highly infective under field conditions. The S. carpocapsae was found to be the most pathogenic, causing 83.60% mortality of the red palm weevil. However, the tested nematodes were found most effective against larvae, followed by adult weevils, but their effect was minimal against the pupae of red palm weevils. Based on these findings, we conclude that the S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora could be used as a sustainable option for the efficient management of the red palm weevil.

Mealybugs of the genus Phenacoccus attack a wide variety of crops, fruits, vegetables, ornamentals and weeds but cotton is the prime target. In current investigations, two trials were carried out under semi-field and field conditions for two consecutive years to investigate the compatibility of native predators, Chrysoperla carnea larvae and adults of Brumus suturalis and the exotic predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri with neem oil for the control of Phenacoccus solenopsis during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. The assessments were based on mealybug control (scale 0–9) and the percent recovery of predators. Both native predators, C. carnea and B. suturalis showed better control of the mealybug under semi-field and field conditions over the control and were also recovered at the end of the trials during both the study years which proved the conservation and colonization capability of the predator to local conditions. In contrast, the exotic predator, C. montrouzieri proved to be the most efficient predator of P. solenopsis under semi-field conditions, however, it failed to establish under field conditions and control the mealybug populations. No recoveries were made of the predator in either of the treatments under field conditions. The maximum reduction in the population of mealybug was noticed in the insecticide-treated plants. The present study showed that the application of neem oil followed by the release of C. carnea larvae and B. suturalis adults can be swapped to synthetic insecticides for the safer management of mealybug.

The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis is a major pest that poses a significant threat to various fruits and vegetables. Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of soil type, depth, and moisture content on the emergence rate and survival of B. dorsalis . The results from the first trial indicated that the maximum number of pupae (47.32%) was recorded from loamy sand at a depth of 2 cm, while the minimum number of pupae (5.9%) was found at a depth of 5 cm. In sandy clay soil, the maximum number of pupae (46.66%) was recovered at a depth of 2 cm while the minimum (1.33%) was at a depth of 6 cm. In gravel, the maximum number of pupae (40.66%) was recovered at a depth of 2 cm and the minimum pupae (2.00%) were recovered at a depth of 6 cm. In the second experiment, the maximum adult emergence (88.8%) was observed in dry soil with a 0% moisture level, while the minimum (68.88%) was noted at 30% moisture level. The maximum life span (40 days) of the B. dorsalis was observed at 0% moisture level while minimum adult longevity (36.33 days) was noted at 30% moisture level. This study suggests that soil depth of at least 6 cm with moist conditions is effective for the management of B. dorsalis during pupal stage.

The maize weevil poses significant global concerns as it causes huge economic losses to stored grains. The chemical control methods are popular among farmers but raise serious concerns regarding human and environmental safety, highlighting the urgent need for novel and safe strategies. Plant extracts are seen as safe substitutes to toxic chemicals. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of methanolic plant extracts prepared from Azadirachta indica (seeds) , Caralluma tuberculata  (succulent fruits) , Allium sativum (rhizomes) , Curcuma longa (rhizomes) , Citrullus colocynthis (succulent fruits) and Calotropis procera (leaves) against maize weevil under constant conditions of 27 ± 2 0 C, 65% R.H). The experiments were carried out using a CRD design having five replications in the laboratory of the Entomology department, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. The methanolic plant extracts were tested at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% (v /w), concentrations, respectively. The parameters investigated, included, the number of days to F 1 generation, emergence of F 1 progenies, percent infestation and weight loss of grains, adult life span and sex ratio (male/female). Each methanolic plant extract was mixed with 20 g maize grains. Among the treatments, the A. indica and C. longa extracts showed greater effectiveness at the maximum concentration (3.0%), significantly delaying the emergence of F 1 adults to 40.20 and 38.80 days, respectively, compared to the control group which emerged in 26.20 days. Least number of F 1 adult emergence (11.60) was observed in A. indica extracts followed by C. longa having (18.00) while the highest number (45.80) was observed in C. procera treated grains at the maximum concentration of 3.0% compared to 81.20 in the untreated grains. The A. indica extracts showed the least infestation rate (2.14%) followed by C. longa (3.15%). Conversely, higher infestation rates were noted in C. tuberculata (8.38%) and C. procera (9.20%) treated grains at the maximum concentration of 3% compared to 35.20% in the control group. The minimum (1.10%) weight loss was observed in A. indica extracts treated grains whereas; maximum weight loss was observed in C. procera (5.11%) treated grains at the maximum concentration compared with control (27.50%). The minimum adult life span of 32.40 days was observed in maize grains treated with A. indica extracts followed by C. longa (34.20 days) and maximum adult life span was documented in C. procera (37.60 days) and C. tuberculata (37.00 days) treated grains at the maximum concentration compared with control (46.00 days). All the tested methanolic plant extracts had no significant effect on the sex ratio of the weevil adults. It is concluded from the results that the methanolic extracts of A. indica and C. longa could be used as allele-chemicals to control maize weevil under storage conditions.

The red palm weevil is a notorious insect pest of the palm family around the palm-growing regions of the world. This study investigated the biological effects of six commercially important date palm varieties viz. Dahki, Muzaft, Aseel, Gulistan, Begum Jungi and Fasley on red palm weevil. The newly emerged larvae were cultured on soft portion of the stem of selected varieties in plastic boxes at controlled conditions between 27 ± 2 °C and 65 ± 2% R.H. in incubators. The observations were documented on the number of eggs laid, fecundity, larval and pupal developmental periods, adult life span and sex ratio of red palm weevil. The Dhakki variety was found as the most susceptible having maximum number of eggs hatching (9.5) and weight losses (8.90 g) whereas; Fasley variety was found least susceptible having least egg hatching percentage (8.47) and weight losses (2.94). The maximum total larval developmental duration of 87.2 days was recorded on the variety Fasley which decreased to 64.8 days when red palm weevils were cultured on Dhakki variety. The maximum survival was recorded on variety Dhakki while the minimum survival was recorded on the variety Fasley. The maximum adult longevity (110 days) of female weevils was recorded on variety Dhakki while minimum adult longevity of 50.27 days was recorded on variety Fasley. Our results indicated that varieties significantly influence the development of red palm weevil and can be used as a viable tool for the management of red palm weevil.

Field trials were carried out to compare the effect of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) oil at 1%, 1.5% and 2% and neem seed water extract at 1%, 2% and 3% concentration with that of synthetic insecticide (Polytrin C 440 EC) against Bemisia tabaci, Amrasca devastans, Thrips tabaci, Earias insulana, Peetinophora gossypiella and Helicoverpa armigera. The treatments were administered four times during the cotton growing season and observation were recorded before one day and after 24, 72. 144, 216 and 288 days of treatment application. Neem oil at 2% and neem seed water extract at 3% significantly reduced the whitefly, jassids and thrips infestation up to 12 days after spray as compared to that in the control. Similar trend in population reduction of sucking insect pests of cotton was observed in other three treatment applications. Synthetic insecticide proved to be more toxic against the test insects than neem based treatments at any interval. Neem derivatives at all concentrations badly affected the attack of Spotted bollworm where as only at higher concentrations adversely affected the attack of pink bollworms up to 12 days after spray. Plots treated with 1.5% and 2% neem oil and 3% neem seed water extract resulted in to significantly higher yield as compared to that in the control. Polytrin C 440 EC in all cases was highly toxic to the test insects as compared to any other treatment.