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Controlling insect pests through nano-based formulation of chemicals is one of the newly applied methods in IPM programs; however, the probable side impacts of nano-pesticides on non-target organisms need to be evaluated. In this study, deltamethrin and matrine were encapsulated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and chitosan (Cs), respectively, and their toxicity were investigated against Habrabracon hebetor Say using the contact method. According to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), spherical nanoparticles for both formulations were observed. The average hydrodynamic nanoparticle diameters for deltamethrin and matrine were 65 and 70.5 nm. The LC₅₀ values were 254.48, 334.90, 760.31 and 1021 mg L^-1 in PEG-encapsulated deltamethrin, commercial deltamethrin, Cs-encapsulated matrine, and commercial matrine, respectively. Exposing to the LC₃₀ of the commercial and nano-encapsulated deltamethrin significantly prolonged the total pre-adult period. The adults of H. hebetor in PEG-encapsulated deltamethrin treatment had the lowest longevity compared to other treatments and control. Furthermore, the sublethal exposure to the PEG-based nanoformulation of deltamethrin and commercial deltamethrin resulted in a significant reduction of the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) (0.159 and 0.168 day^-1, respectively). Same trend was observed for the gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R₀), and finite rate of increase (λ) of the parsitoid. Our findings indicate that the negative side effects of commercial and nano-based formulations of deltamethrin on H. hebetor should be considered in IPM programs.
 

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In Iran, a total of 12 species of Coccomorpha from five scale insect families have been recorded on Artemisia spp. (Asteraceae): Acanthococcidae (1), Coccidae (3), Diaspididae (4), Ortheziidae (1) and Pseudococcidae (3). In this study Peliococcus chersonensis (Kiritshenko), Pelionella grassiana (Goux) (Pseudococcidae) are redescribed and illustrated based on adult females to show their morphology in Iran, and also Rhizococcus borchsenii (Danzig) (Acanthococcidae) are newly recorded for the first time from Iran. Species that have been previously collected or recorded on Artemisia in Iran are listed and information is given about host plants and global distribution for each species.

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Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as an ectoparasitoid of larval stage of lepidopterous pests is widely used in biological control programs. In the present research, the effect of field recommended doses of imidacloprid, indoxacarb and deltamethrin were studied on life table parameters of H. hebetor in pupal stage treatment. One hundred, two-day-old pupae were treated with 1 micro liter insecticide solution using topical method. The pupae were treated with acetone in the control. Thirty emerged adults in each treatment were transferred individually to a Petri dish along with a male for mating. Three last instar larvae of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were presented to each female wasp daily as host. The numbers of eggs produced per female per day were counted until all of the females were dead. The gross and net reproductive rates in control, imidacloprid, indoxacarb and deltamethrin were 204.6, 207.7, 209.1 and 112.1 and also 75, 41.3, 64.6 and 14.9, respectively. Intrinsic rates of increase were estimated to be 0.215, 0.154, 0.205 and 0.14 female offspring/female/day, respectively. Deltamethrin and imidacloprid had the most adverse effects on life table parameters of H. hebetor. Intrinsic rate of increase was not significantly affected by indoxacarb. These findings indicated that indoxacarb was relatively safe for H. hebetor and could be an appropriate candidate in integrated chemical and biological control.

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Essential oil extracted from the leaves of Lemon verbena, Lippia citriodora Kunth (Verbenaceae) was tested for fumigant toxicity in the laboratory against two stored-product insects Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val and Callosobruchus maculatus (F.). The chemical composition of the isolated oil was examined by GC-MS. The major compounds were citral (11.3%), limonene (10.6%), neral (7.9%), 4-phenyl undecan-4-ol (7.7%), α-curcumene (6.5%), α-cedrol (4.5%) and caryophyllene oxide (4.5%). Furthermore, lesser amounts of the other components include carveol (3.7%), linalool (3.5%), α-pinene (3.2%), caryophyllene (2.8%) and geranyl acetat (1.8%) were existed in the essential oil. In the fumigant toxicity set at 27 ± 1 °C and 65 ± 5% R. H., darkness condition and 24 h exposure time, considerable differences in mortality of insect to essential oil vapor were observed. C. maculatus  (LC50 = 10.2 µl/l air) was significantly more susceptible than T. confusum  (LC50 = 497.8 µl/l air). These results suggested that essential oil  of L. citriodora could be used as a potential control agent against stored-product insects.

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Medicinal plant powders have traditionally been used as grain protectants against stored-product insect pests. In this study, insecticidal activity of Carum copticum L. and Cuminum cyminum L. powders was assessed on adults of Sitophilus granarius L. and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val. Experiments were carried out on wheat at 27 ± 1 ºCand 55 ± 5% r. h. The mortality increased with increasing concentration level and time exposed to each concentration. For S. granarius, 7 days and in case of T. confusum 14 days exposure time was sufficient to obtain considerable mortality. For example, 3500 mg/kg of C. copticum 7 days after treatment caused 80% mortality in S. granarius; while for T. confusum 29% mortality was achieved and increased to 100% after 14 days. Therefore, it can be concluded that adults of S. granarius were more susceptible than T. confusum to plant powders. Also, according to the findings, C. cyminum powder had more insecticidal efficacy than C. copticum on both insects’ species. For S. granarius, 950 and 2700 mg/kg powders of C. cyminum and C. copticum was enough to cause ca. 50% mortality after 5 days, respectively. In case for T. confusum, 3200 and 4400 mg/kg of the plant powders caused the same mortality after 7 days. Findings of the present study show that the plant powders could be applied for grain protection in small-scale storage facilities.  

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Cabbage leaf miner Scaptomyza flava (Fallen) (l)iptera: Drosophilidae) is a native and oligophagous leaf miner insect on cruciferous plants (Brassicaceae). It occurs in many parts of the world and throughout Khuzestan. The relationship between feeding and ovipositional preferences of insect, and host plant suitability on seven host plant species (cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botryds, green cabbage B. oleracea var. capitata, hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale, brussels sprout B. oleracea var. germmifers, turnip Brassica rapa, cucumber Cucumis mtivits, wheat Triticum aestivum and rice Oryza saliva) was evaluated. Ovipositional preference of 5. flava was determined by measuring feeding punctures and egg density after ndult female flies were given a simultaneous choice and non-choice of all host plants for feeding and oviposition. Studies were performed under greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was a randomized complete block one with 8 treatments and 5 replications of each treatment. S. jlava showed distinct hierarchical ordering in its ovipositional preference, with turnip, green cabbage, and hedge mustard being preferred over all others. Approximately 1.05 and 5.8 times more eggs were deposited on green cabbage than on turnip and cauliflower respectively. When the percentage of punctures with eggs was calculated for each species, cauliflower had by far the highest value at 10% and 19.7% in choice and non-choice tests respectively. For all other species on which eggs were laid it was less than half this. In non-choice tests, females laid more eggs on green cabbage and turnip than other brassicas.

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Toxic effects of malathion and endosulfan to fertile chicken eggs were determined. In-jection of 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/egg of malathion into yolk sac of fertile eggs prior to incubation caused mortality of 10.0, 30.0, 83.33 and 93.33% respectively. Similar trend was observed with injection of endosulfan doses. Malathion and endosulfan at 1.25 mg/egg caused no pronounced LD50 increase in mortality as compared to control groups. The LD50 values for these insecticides proved malathion to be more toxic than endosulf- an. The hypothesis that the dose response of viable embryo fitted a linear regression line was statistically acceptable. Combination of malathion and endosulfan increased the mor-tality rate as compared with either one alone. With either compound, an increased dose generally resulted in a decrease in embryonic body weight.

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The potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) is one of the important pests of potato in tropical regions. In this research, the toxicity of two insecticides, abamectin and deltamethrin on P. operculella was studied at 26 ± 1 C°, 65 ± 5% RH and photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D). The concentrations were determined by preliminary dose setting experiments. Distilled water was used as control. LC₅₀ values for egg, first instar larvae and adult stages in abamectin were 0.92, 0.014 and 0.46 mg ai/l and in deltamethrin were 0.09, 0.024 and 0.29 mg ai/l, respectively. The sublethal effects of abamectin and deltamethrin on population growth parameters of P. operculella were determined at mentioned conditions. Four hundred 1 day old eggs of the pest were dipped in insecticides solutions (LC₃₀). After egg hatching, the first instar larvae were transferred on potato tubers and placed in transparent plastic dishes. After adults' emergence, 20 females were used for each treatment in life table experiments. In control, abamectin and deltamethrin treatments intrinsic rates of increase were estimated to be 0.060, 0.042 and 0.141 day^-1, respectively. Statistical analyses showed that deltamethrin had the higher toxicity to egg and adult stages of PTM and abamectin had the higher toxicity to its first instar larvae. Since deltamethrin increased the stable population parameters of P. operculella specially its intrinsic rate of increase, thus it might not be recommended for control of PTM. However based on lethal and sublethal effects, abamectin could be suitable for management of this pest.

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The aphid species, Cinara pini (Linnaeus, 1758) reported in our previous work as a new aphid on pinus trees for Iran, was described using the classic method and through analysis of COI gene sequence. In the next step, we addressed the efficiency of the entomopathogenic fungus, Lecanicillium longisporum (Zimm.) Zare and Gams strain LRC 190, on the aphid. The fungus was administered to the second instar nymphs and adults using topical application procedure. The results indicated that the entomopathogen caused 90% mortality in adults over seven days at a concentration of 10⁸ spores/ml, while the same control level was achieved for nymphs by 8 × 10⁷ spores/ml. The LC₅₀ values were obtained as 1.2 × 10⁶ and 6.9 × 10⁵ spores/ml for adults and nymphs, respectively. The present study suggests that the entomopathogenic fungus, L. longisporum could be considered as a potential candidate in biocontrol programs of C. pini. This is the first report on the pathogenicity of L. longisporum on C. pini.

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Entomopathogenic fungi produce a variety of degrading enzymes, including proteases, chitinases and lipases, to facilitate their entry through the massive barriers of insect cuticle. Isolates of the entomopathogenic fungi vary considerably in their proteolytic activity and virulence. The proteolytic activity of different isolates has been hypothesized to reflect their virulence toward the host. In this study, we evaluated the virulence and proteolytic activity of 17 Beauveria bassiana sensu lato isolates collected from different geographical regions in Iran. The selective medium D0C2 was used for isolating B. bassiana from soil samples. Casein substrate was used for protease assay. Total mortalities caused by different B. bassiana isolates through the dipping method, ranged from 25 to 60% with the highest and lowest rates for isolates BA and MITE, respectively. Our results revealed a wide variation in both proteolytic activity and virulence among the studied isolates. Additionally, we found a strong positive correlation between the proteolytic activity on Casein substrate and virulence of the isolates against the Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium. This finding will facilitate the screening and selection process of virulent fungal isolates as efficient agents for use in biological control programs of insect pests.  

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The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hem.: Aleyrodidae), is a key pest of greenhouse crops. Nymphs and adults feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew, resulting in reduction of yield and quality. This pest has a high potential for developing resistant biotypes against different insecticides. Therefore, it is necessary to study the efficacy of different categories of insecticides against B. tabaci. In this research, efficacy of imidacloprid (0.5 l/ha), thiacloprid + deltamethrin (0.75 l/ha), pyrethrum (4 l/ha) andthiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin (0.3 and 0.4 l/ha) with four replications were studied in a completely randomized block design in Yazd and Bushehr provinces of Iran. Mean (± SE) efficacy of imidacloprid, thiacloprid + deltamethrin, pyrethrum andthiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin (0.3 and 0.4 l/ha) were 73.42 ± 3.41, 89.57 ± 2.86, 90.29 ± 2.79, 68.13 ± 3.37 and 75.62 ± 3.76% against B. tabaci nymphs 7 days after treatment in Yazd, respectively; while in Bushehr, they were 57.30 ± 3.37, 68.45 ± 4.65, 64.17 ± 2.87, 30.0 ± 4.56 and 53.0 ± 3.35%, respectively. Thiacloprid + deltamethrin, pyrethrum and thiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin (at 0.4 l/ha) can be suitable candidates in IPM programs of B. tabaci.

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Several methods are using to collect insects from the environments, they are living in. The sweeping net is one of the commonly used equipment for collecting however the process of picking up the collected insects from net bag is laborious and time consuming job. In the present work we introduced a hand-held battery powered electric aspirator, which made based on a centrifugal fan which adapted into an especial storage bottle (replaceable). Field trials confirmed the efficiency of the new device in collecting insects from different orders, of which Diptera and Hymenoptera were dominant. Additional customization was made on the type of collecting bottle to enhance the applicability of the new device for different purposes. Finally, studies showed that the hand-held electric aspirator can be used successfully for faunistic and ecological studies.

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Mites exploit various symbiotic associations with insects and other arthropods, mainly parasitism and phoresy. Faunistic information of parasitic and phoretic mites on insects in Egypt is reviewed. Previous published records are gathered and, in some cases, altered. This paper presents an annotated list of the 120 species, including unidentified spp., of mites extracted from insects in Egypt to date. Mite species belong to 42 families [16 of Mesostigmata, 19 of Prostigmata, five of Astigmata and two in Cryptostigmata (Oribatida)]. Information about insect hosts, attachment sites and geographic distribution is provided.

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The sub-lethal effect of Metarhizium anisopliae and imidacloprid as well as combination of the two control agents was examined on life table parameters of Myzus persicae on different cultivars of canola under laboratory condition at 25 ± 1 ºC, 85% RH and photoperiod of 16L: 8D. The offspring resulting from fungus-infested adults were placed onto leaf discs in Petri dishes separately to record their development time till they reached to adulthood. The number of nymphs produced by each adult aphid was recorded daily. The intrinsic rate of increase(r_m) had no significant differences among the three cultivars, and was nearly similar to the net reproductive rate (R₀). The concurrent application of M. anisopliae and imidacloprid significantly shortened the aphid longevity on the RGS003 cv compared to the other cultivars. The type of cultivars had no impact on the finite rate of increase (λ) of green peach aphid in any of the treatments. The values of T showed that there was no significant difference among the treatments. Despite having no significant effect on life table characteristics of M. persicae by most of the treatments, the method would be a favorable procedure to control the aphid by raising the fungal concentration. Conducting such research would be worthwhile since there are no antagonistic interactions between the entomopathogenic fungus and the insecticide.

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This study was conducted to investigate commercial formulations of insecticides against western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande).The insects were collected from commercial greenhouses of cucumber in Varamin, Iran. The tested insecticides were diazinon (EC 60%), cypermethrin (EC 40%), fipronil (EC 2.5%), imidacloprid (SC 35%) and a botanical insecticide oxymatrine (Kingbo, AS 0.6%). Fipronil had the highest efficacy among all tested insecticides (LC₅₀ = 17.97 ppm). However, imidacloprid had the lowest efficacy (LC₅₀ = 2303 ppm). The oxymatrine was effective (LC₅₀ = 69.94 ppm) after fipronil.

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The effect of two insecticides, imidacloprid and pyriproxyfen, were investigated on some biological parameters of ladybird beetle Menochilus sexmaculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) under laboratory condition. Theladybird beetle were exposed to insecticides by ingestion of the common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) (prey). For imidacloprid, maximum field recommended concentration (MFRC) (1/1 MFRC = 140 ppm), 1/2 and 1/4 MFRC were tested. For pyriproxyfen dilutions of 1/1 MFRC (50 ppm), 2/1 and 1/2 MFRC were used after 24 h. The 100% mortality was observed with imidacloprid in all tested concentrations, whereas no mortality was observed by pyriproxyfen even at the highest concentration (2/1 MFRC). Because of the high mortality observed with imidacloprid, lower concentrations of 1/10, 1/20 and 1/40 MFRC were tested and all predators were killed 3, 7 and 10 days after treatment, respectively. At 1/100 MFRC, no eggs were laid but prey consumption was continued for two weeks. At 1/1 and 2/1 MFRC of pyriproxyfen, ingestion of prey was reduced by 18% and 23%, respectively. At 1/1 and 1/2 MFRC of pyriproxyfen, fecundity and fertility of the coccinellid predator was decreased to 43% and 24.5%, respectively. Imidacloprid at 1/100 MFRC caused significant reduction on fecundity but had no detrimental effect on fertility of the produced eggs. Therefore, unlike the pyriproxyfen that had not acute toxicity, the imidacloprid was extremely toxic to coccinellid at MFRC. However, pyriproxyfen was able to affect on feeding ratio and reproduction of M. sexmaculatus.

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New sources of botanical pesticides in the management of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) infesting rice grains are indispensable in farmers’ quest towards achieving maximum protection of their rice produce. In this study, the efficacy of root and stem bark of Cleistopholis patens as an insecticidal agent against S. cerealella was investigated at 28 ± 2 ºC and 75 ± 6% relative humidity. Moths were exposed to contact and fumigant toxicity test at 0.5-2.5 g/20 g of paddy rice and mortality was assessed at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours post-treatment respectively. Generally, moth exposed to root powders of C. patens showed higher mortality values (contact: 10 - 93%; fumigant: 13 - 100%) than their counterpart exposed to stem powder (contact: 6.67 - 78%; fumigant: 10 - 95%). Also, lethal doses (LD₅₀ and LD₉₅) revealed that lower doses of C. patens root powder resulted in higher mortality of S. cerealella when compared to that of stem powder. The only exception was observed in LD₉₅ values of stem (6.54 g / 20 g of paddy rice) and root (6.76 g / 20 g of paddy rice) powder of fumigant toxicity test. Both powders of C. patens also significantly reduced adult emergence in treated grains when compared to control. This study showed that powders of stem and root bark of C. patens would provide a much desired wherewithal to synthetic insecticides in the management of S. cerealella infesting rice grains in Nigeria.

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The present study has been carried out in order to determine the entomofauna of four different agroecosystems from the study area, northwestern Algeria. Regular sampling was done using the Barber pitfall trap and the sweep net in addition to visual observations in the field. Nine (09) taxonomic orders of insects was identified from the four studied environments. It varies from one agroecosystem to another. Coleoptera and Orthoptera were the most represented in terms of both species and numbers. Entomofaunal diversity was more important in un-cultivated fields (diversity index = 4.15 bits, equitability = 0.89) than in arable fields (index ranging from 1.68 to 2.87 and a equitability between 0.41 and 0.72). Limited biodiversity in cultivated areas was the consequence of insect communities’ interactions disturbances caused by agricultural practices in these environments. Therefore, it is important to reduce these disturbances in order to enhance food resources, habitats and overwintering sites for insects. This will ensures sustainable entomological diversity, thereby increasing the role of biological control in pest management systems.

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Chilo partellus is a devastating sorghumand maize pest that exists worldwide. C. partellus gut proteases (CPGPs) were isolated, purified and characterized. We analyzed potential trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors (TIs) from tuber plants to identify the protease inhibitors (PIs) of CPGPs. PIs from Ipomoea batatas completely inhibited protease activity and growth and led to reduced C. partellus insect larvae weights. One PI was purified from I. batatas tubers and identified as a potent antagonist of CPGPs. In conclusion, we identified Ipomoea batatas inhibitors with significant potential applications in developing resistant transgenic sorghum and maize crops.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of some insecticides with novel modes of action on Liriomyza sativae Blanchard and their sublethal effects on pupal mortality, pupal weight and sex ratio in adult insects. The effects of hexaflumuron, chromafenozide, chlorfluazuron, cyromazine, lufenuron + fenoxycarb and azadirachtin and chlorantraniliprole were evaluated on 1^st instar larvae of L. sativae using a leaf dip method. Dose - response lines were constructed for insecticides which caused higher mortality of the larvae at field recommended doses. LC₅₀ values for chlorantraniliprole, cyromazine, azadirachtin and hexaflumuron were 0.24, 0.49, 8.51 and 67.6 mg ai/l, respectively. A significant reduction in pupal weight and adult emergence was observed in all of the treatments except chromafenozide; but the adult sex ratio did not change significantly compared with control. Most of the insecticides used in this study are fairly new compounds with unique modes of action and had considerable lethal and sublethal effects on L. sativae. If these results also hold true in the field and commercial greenhouse conditions, these compounds could be suitable candidates in management of vegetable leafminer.