Natural enemies associated with some economic pests in Egyptian agro-ecosystems

M M El-Husseini,K T Awadallah,A H El-Heneidy

doi:10.1186/s41938-018-0081-9

M M El-Husseini, K T Awadallah + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-018-0081-9

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Abstract

No doubt, there are changes in insect pest problems facing the farmers in the newly reclaimed land as well as in the old valley in Egypt due to different reasons, e.g., pesticide misuse and pest resistance, secondary pest outbreaks, absence or inefficient presence of natural enemies, and climate changes. Since the 1990s, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation emphasizes to spread the philosophy of integrated pest management (IPM) among the farmers to utilize all suitable means, techniques, and approaches for maintaining pest population levels below those causing economic losses. Among these means is understanding the role of natural enemies in the agro-ecosystem to preserve and encourage their presence and enhance their role in suppressing pest populations as a main factor among the IPM strategies. Thus, it is of essential need to know more about the existing natural enemies associated with the key pests of the economic crops representing different agro-ecosystems in Egypt to develop a successful utilization of biological control agents within the frame of such IPM programs. Thus, it was found necessary to update their recent status as natural resources in various agro-ecosystems. These data are considered a review article eagerly needed for strategies of IPM of serious insect and mite pests in Egypt. The role of the biological control agents, mainly parasitoids and predators in different economic crops, is highlighted.

Highlights

The intensification of land reclamation for agriculture in Egypt in the last four decades is continuing to meet the needs of the growing human population in the country
Since the 1990s, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation emphasizes the philosophy of integrated pest management (IPM) among the farmers to utilize the suitable means, techniques, and approaches for maintaining pest population levels below economic losses
It is of essential need to know more about the existing natural enemies associated with the key pests attacking economic crops representing different agro-ecosystems in Egypt to develop a successful utilization of biological control agents within the frame of IPM programs

Summary

Introduction

The intensification of land reclamation for agriculture in Egypt in the last four decades is continuing to meet the needs of the growing human population in the country. Many predatory species exist in cotton fields where they play an important role against most of the pests attacking this crop (El-Heneidy et al 1996, 1997).

Results

Conclusion