BackgroundEnergy flows in most food chains in the agroecosystem are crowned with beneficial natural enemies including different species of predatory and parasitic insects, birds and animals. They are utilized in organic and IPM cotton production to replace the conventional insecticides usually applied in cotton production. ResultsNatural populations of six coccinellids, five staphylinids and two carabids (Coleoptera), three anthocorids and three reduviids (Heteroptera), five syrphids (Diptera, three labidurids (Dermaptera), two chrysopids (Neuroptera) and one thripid (Thysanoptera) species were manipulated in Egyptian clover to aggregate in seed production stripes (stripe technique) adjacent to and across the cotton fields during April–May, 2022. These 30 predatory species represent 112 energy flow routes in food chains preying on tetranychid mites, aphids, thrips, whiteflies and cotton leaf worm attacking cotton plants during vegetative growth stage beginning from April to May 2022. High populations of these predators develop along the clover season (November–May) on different pests where no insecticide applications occur. They aggregate in the flowering clover stripes left for seed production feeding on nectar, pollens and remaining pests. By dryness of the clover stripes, populations of all these predatory species abandon the clover, migrating outwards into the adjacent cotton or corn fields showing an excellent high protection against cotton pests suppressing their populations far away under the level of economic threshold damage during vegetative growth stage. Dressing cotton seeds with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as antagonist protects the seedlings from soil-borne diseases. Insect pheromone traps detected the first appearance of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.) moths, the cotton bolls are attacked also by the spiny bollworm, Earias insulana (Boisd.). The egg parasitoid Trichogramma evanescens (West.) was released in 6 successive releases to guide the energy flow in favor of the parasitoid by getting it from egg contents of these two pests, which resulted in high protection of cotton bolls. This study aims better understanding of biodiversity and the routes of energy flow among the complex net of food chains governing the bio-dynamics in the Egyptian agroecosystem, which enabled the development of the present strategy to completely abandon application of the conventional insecticides and chemical fertilization for organic cotton production in Egypt.ConclusionThe study is an approach contributing to improvement of the agroecosystem and production of healthy crops.

The spiny bollworm (SBW), Earias insulana is one of the most serious cotton pests in Egypt and worldwide. The impact of temperature on this insect pest biology was investigated, with a focus on the duration length of the various developmental stages. The rate of development, the lower temperature threshold and the heat unit accumulations needed to complete each life stage (egg, larvae, pupa, pre-oviposition) and generation period of the SBW were determined under laboratory conditions. The insect population, seasonal abundance and field generation forecasting were studied by using remote sensing technique, especially satellite images, to investigate the impact of temperature on insect population growth in the field. Results obtained showed that SBW had four seasonal generations in addition to the overwintering generation for each of the three cotton seasons (2020, 2021 and 2022). The observed peaks and the predicted peaks of generations per season were detected and the predicted peaks were noticed earlier than the observed peaks, as the average deviation days were -3, -7 and -4 days for 2020, 2021 and 2022 cotton seasons, respectively. Earlier prediction of the SBW could be helpful in designing an integrated management program against this pest. Keywords: Earias insulana, temperature, thermal requirements, lower temperature threshold, satellite images, prediction.

Aleisa, Z. and M.N. Al-Salti. 2024. Report of Earias biplaga as a New Insect Species in Cotton Fields in Syria. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(4): 452-455. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001282 Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is considered a strategic crop in Syria, and it is attacked by many pests, including bollworms which are the most important. Recently, cotton spiny bollworm is reported to be the most dominant pest, which caused economic losses especially when infestation occurs during the earlier phenological stages. Because of the changes in the timing of infestation of spiny bollworm infestation and because of its dominance in cotton fields, studies to investigate the causes of such change were initiated. The larvae of spiny bollworm were collected in the fall of the 2020 and 2021 seasons from cotton fields in the governorates of Aleppo and Hama. Investigations showed that 3- 10% of the collected larvae and emerged adults were different from Earias insulana which is endemic. Based on taxonomic references and morphological characters of the studied samples, it was evident that we have a new type of the species E. biplaga Walker, 1866, and that might explain the observed change in infestation timing of the pest and the economic losses in cotton fields associated with it. Keywords: Cotton, E. biplaga, new taxa, climate change.

Earias insulana Boisd. (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) is a major pest of cotton and other crops in Egypt, and the widespread use of insecticides has led to resistance. This study evaluates, for the first time, the bioactivity of Croton tiglium (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) oil and its nano-emulsion (CTNE) against 25 newly hatched larvae of E. insulana Boisd. We assessed their biological effects across different developmental stages and performed histological and ultrastructural examinations. Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) identified several bioactive compounds in C. tiglium oil crushed dry seeds, including fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and sterols. CTNE showed excellent quality with a zeta potential of -17.7 mV, an average particle size of 54.28 nm, and spherical droplets of 42.42 nm in diameter. The LC50 values for C. tiglium oil and CTNE were 9.02% and 2.70%, respectively. Both treatments significantly impacted the biological characteristics of E. insulana Boisd., including reduced larval and pupal weight, lower adult emergence, decreased fecundity, and increased mortality. Histologically, there was epithelial cell hypotrophy and detachment, while ultrastructural damage included chromatin condensation, nuclear envelope folding, and mitochondrial damage, indicating apoptotic degeneration. These findings suggest C. tiglium oil and CTNE as potential, safe alternatives to chemical insecticides.

Biochemical influence of Croton tiglium oil and its nano-emulsion on larvae of the spiny bollworm, Earias insulana

Investigations on pest succession in okra crops were carried out during kharif, 2023 at the Department of Entomology, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. Pest succession based on crop growth stages showed that the population of sucking insect-pests viz., jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida), aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius.) observed from vegetative stage and remained up to crop matured while, red spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus incidence appeared from reproductive stage to maturity stage. Among the lepidopteran pests, the infestation of semi-looper, Anomis flava (Fabricius) started in the second week after germination and remained till maturity of the crop whereas, shoot and fruit borer (Earias insulana Boisd.) and fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) Hardwick) damaged the crop from the vegetative stage and remained up to crop maturity. Coccinellids and spider activity initiated with sucking insect-pest incidence and remained up to crop maturity. The weather parameters, Bright sunshine hours and maximum minimum temperature had significant relationships with A. biguttula biguttula, T. cinnabarinus, E. vittella and H. armigera. Whereas, relative humidity significantly negatively influenced the activity of red spider mite, E. vittella, H. armigera and positively on predator coccinellids. Furthermore, windspeed had a significant positive association with A. biguttula biguttula and E. vittella (shoot damage) while, negative with H. armigera larva.

The study set out to ascertain how the number of generations of Earias insulana (Boisd.) moths would be affected by rising temperatures in 2050, 2075, and 2100. The Sharkyia Governorate was the site of a four-year comparative field research conducted between 2019 and 2022 in order to achieve this goal. There were nine field generations recorded. The generations and peak-to-peak, general average durations were 39.0±17 and 36±11 days, respectively, with a coefficient variance CV of 43.0 and 30.4 days. The overall average for thermal heat units was 507± 6 and 520± 19 units, while the CV values were 1.2 and 3.6 days. The estimated average duration of a generation for the years 2050-2100 was 32-34 days, with 11-13 day standard deviation. Compared to the field study, the CV values were 34.9-37.2 days lower. Due to a shorter generation growth period in the anticipated years than in the field research, the generations will occur earlier. The thermal constant remained nearly constant throughout generations and from peak to peak, even though the year's thermal units increased from 4595 units in the average of four years of field study to 5207, 5418, and 5595 units in the anticipated years 2050, 2075, and 2100, respectively. Nine generations of E. insulana moths were recorded in 2019-2022, rising to ten in 2050, remaining at ten in 2075, and reaching eleven in 2100. The number of days required to complete the generation growth is clearly correlated with temperature; the generation period decreases with increasing temperature.

Pakistan is the 5th largest producer of cotton in the world. Exports of cotton and textile products have a share of around 60 percent in overall exports of the country. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the different fiber quality parameters in relation to different insect pest populations. The introduction of this new types of cultivars may satisfy the needs of farmers for better quality and quantity, laborers who harvest crops, and other investors, including those in the cotton sector. A field research was carried out at the Cotton Research Station, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during the year 2023 cotton cultivars (VH-447, FH-1133, BH-228, SLH-94, MNH-S GOLD, BH-227, FH-1214, MNH-1095, VH-442, MNH-1090, RH-BAGHO BAHAR, MNH-1050, and MNH-TP) were evaluated for resistance to sucking pests such as whitefly (Bemisia tabaci); jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula); and thrips (Thrips tabaci) as well as bollworms such as pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella); spotted bollworm (Earias insulana; E. vitelli); and American bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera). There were notable variations across the genotypes in terms of the population of sucking and bollworm insect pest infestation, which lowers cotton production and negatively affects fiber quality. FH-1133 showed the lowest average populations of thrips (1.00/leaf), jassid (0.27/leaf), and whiteflies (2.00/leaf), indicating the highest resistance. The average population (9.84%) of pink bollworm larvae in residual boll. The virus percentage on different cotton genotypes recorded after 30, 60, 90, and 120 days was 0.00, 9.00, 14.00, and 19.00%, respectively. The cultivar FH-1133 was observed to be good for all other genotypes of cotton due to its yield (2372.50 kg/acre), and it had the following lint quality attributes: GOT (46.50%), staple length (28.50 mm), fiber fineness (4.70 µg/inch), and fiber strength (33.20 g/tex).

The emergence of resistance among pests to conventional pesticides underscores the necessity for substantial efforts in identifying alternatives for managing cotton pests. So the research aimed to use the photosensitizing compounds Rose Bengal, Rhodamine B, and Methylene Blue for sustainable and eco-friendly managing of cotton pests, mainly, the second instar larvae of Earias insulana. Results indicated a high efficacy of Rose Bengal when scored 1.24x10−5M and 1.26x10−4M LC50 and LC90, respectively followed by other compounds. Rose Bengal, Rhodamine B and Methylene Blue scored 2 h highest LT50 at concentrations 3x10−5M. While LT50 values were 0.30, 0.55 and 1:45 h at 1x10−4M. Rose Bengal was high effective against E. insulana larvae compared to Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B. Moreover, the findings revealed a discernible negative correlation between the concentrations applied and the necessary median lethal time for all tested compounds indicating their efficacy against E. insulana larvae.

Plant lectin, a heterogeneous group of carbohydratebinding proteins, is a direct defensive mechanism in plants against the attacking insects. Lectins from the leguminous plants Glycine max (GML) and Phaseoulus vulgaries (PhVL) were tested for their entomotoxic and growth inhibitory effects against the spiny bollworm (SBW), Earias insulana Boisd. The impact of the examined lectins on the two digestive enzymes of SBW, α-amylase and total proteases, was also investigated. Bioassay studies conducted on second-instar larvae over five and six days showed that GML (LC50 values of 72.22 and 33.45 µg/gm diet) was more hazardous than PhVL (LC50 = 299.05 and 182.91 µg/gm diet). GML and PhVL at LC25 equivalent concentrations (8.97 and 34.43 µg/gm diet) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the larval weight to 24.9 and 27.4 mg / larva compared with 55.3 mg / larva in control after 9 days of treatment. The average time for SBW larvae to pupate increased when GML and PhVL were added at LC10 and LC25 in comparison to the control. In addition, the tested lectins significantly (p < 0.05) reduced pupal mean weight, pupation, adult emergence, fecundity and fertility. Tested lectins demonstrated significant inhibition of α-amylase and total protease enzyme activity in larvae of SBWs fed on diets containing concentrations comparable to LC10 and LC25. These findings imply that GML and PhVL are appropriate proteins to add to the cotton plant's DNA in order to control SBW.

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), along with their byproducts such as cuticle-degrading enzymes, serve as robust biological agents for controlling agricultural pests. This study focuses on isolating and identifying fungi found in the spiny bollworm (SBW), Earias insulana larvae cadavers. The investigation delves into the impact of their metabolites on various stages of E. insulana. Among the isolated fungi from the insect larvae cadavers (Trichoderma koning, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium notatum, Trichoderma asperellum, and Altarnaria alternata). T. asperellum was the most prevalent, its metabolite displayed substantial larval and pupal mortality rates of 60.73% and 21.82%, respectively. It also disrupted multiple growth stages of the insects, reducing adult emergence, the number of deposited eggs, and hatchability percentage (68.78, 156.89 and 61.90) compared with control (100.00, 273.11 and 93.17), respectively. Consequently, T. asperellum underwent scrutiny for producing cuticle-degrading enzymes using modified Czapek's broth medium tailored for each enzyme individually. In each culture filtrate, the activities of proteases and lipases surpassed those of chitinases, potentially explaining the heightened larval mortality rates (70.22 and 68.74%) post-inoculation with proteases and lipases specific culture filtrate, respectively. The verification of T. asperellum's identity was accomplished using the 18S rRNA gene of DNA, and the resulting fungal sequence was deposited into NCBI under accession number OQ616502. The crude filtrate derived from T. asperellum, contains cuticle-degrading enzymes with notably high proteases and lipases activities. This filtrate exhibits potent effects on E. insulana larvae and pupae, significantly impacting their biological processes.

انطباع _&#x0D; دراسة لتقييم مدى توافق زيت نبات إكليل الجبل والفطر R.afficinalis و B. laterosporus مع يرقات دودة القطن الشوك E. زيادة أعداد المستعمرات البكتيرية حيث بلغت 18.26 و 30.43 خلية بكتيرية / مل بالمبيد للتركيز الموصى به وأقل من الموصى به 3.47 و 25.21 و 34.78 و 47.82 و 59.13 خلية بكتيرية / مل مع زيت الإكليل لتركيزات (1000 ، 2000 ، 3000 ، 4000 ، 5000) مجم / لتر تفاعل علاج البكتيريا فقط بتركيز 1.9 × 10مبيدات الآفات بتركيز 400 ملجم / لتر وزيت إكليل الجبل بتركيز 5000 ملجم / لتر أعطت أعلى معدلات وفيات بلغت 63.33 و 66.66 و 53.33٪ على التوالي بعد خمسة أيام من المعاملة ، تليها نفس التركيزات أعلاه. بمعدل وفيات 70.00 و 80.00 و 63.33٪ على التوالي بعد سبعة أيام من العلاج بينما لم يسجل معدل وفيات لعلاج البكتريا وزيت إكليل الجبل بتركيز 1.9 × 10 6و 1000 مجم / لتر بعد يوم واحد. أعطى تفاعل مخاليط تركيز المبيد مع البكتيريا عند 400 مجم / لتر والمبيد بالزيت 400 مجم / لتر وزيت إكليل الجبل مع البكتيريا عند 5000 مجم / لتر أعلى معدلات موت 90.00 و 93.33 و 76.66 ٪ ، على التوالي ، يليها تركيز 400 مجم / لتر من المبيد مع البكتيريا. و 400 ملجم / لتر بالزيت و 5000 ملجم / لتر للزيت بالبكتيريا والتي بلغت 70.00 و 73.33 و 66.66٪ على التوالي ، بينما كانت أقل نسبة نفوق بتركيزات 200 ملجم / لتر للمبيد بالبكتيريا والزيت. و 1000 ملجم / لتر للمستخلص مع البكتيريا حيث بلغت 6.66 و 10.00 و 0.00٪ على التوالي. أظهرت نتائج المطابقة أن زيت ديزاين وإكليل الجبل ، R.B. laterosporus . ، بينما زادت نتائج معدلات وفيات الحشرات مع مدة التعرض خلال سبعة أيام لكل من العلاجات وخليطها ، وهذا يعطي كفاءة جيدة للمبيد والزيوت مع البكتيريا تجاه حشرة E.insulana التي تدخل في الحديث اتجاهات الإدارة المتكاملة للآفات.

El-Tahawe, H.S., W.A.Z. El-Medany, E.M. Abd-ElAzeem and M.H.A. Metayi. 2024. Toxicological and Latent Effect of Chromens on Biological Parameters of Earias insulana and Spodoptera littoralis Under Laboratory Conditions. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(1): 88-93. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001203 This study focused on toxicological and biological consequences of three chromens synthesized chemical compounds against spiny bollworm, Earias insulana (Boisd.) 1st instar larvae and cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) 2nd and 4th instar larvae under constant conditions of 26±1ºC. temperature and 70±5% relative humidity. The study investigated toxicological and latent effects of chromens on freshly hatched E. insulana larvae and 2nd and 4th instar larvae of S. littoralis. Synthetic chromene compounds were found to be particularly harmful to newly hatched spiny bollworm larvae, followed by 2nd and 4th instar larvae of S. littoralis. The results obtained indicated that the range of the LC50 values of the three compounds was 126.85-364.39 ppm against newly hatched E. insulana. Whereas, the LC50 range of the three compounds against the 2nd instar larvae of S. littoralis was 31671-103006 ppm. The weight of the two insects' larvae and pupae, as well as male and female longevities and fertility, were all significantly reduced. Furthermore, results showed that the tested chemical compounds reduced hatchability rates significantly. Keywords: Chromens, toxicity, spiny bollworm, cotton leafworm, Earias insulana, Spodoptera littoralis

El-Shennawy, R.M. 2024. Effect of Magnetic Field on The Toxicity of Triflumuron and Teflubenzuron Pesticides with Special Reference to Some Biological and Histological Parameters of Cotton Bollworm, Earias insulana. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(3): 387-395. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001249 This study aimed to evaluate the impact of magnetic field (MF) on the toxicity of two experimental insect growth regulators (IGRs) pesticides Triflumuron (Cancoun 40% SC) and Teflubenzuron (Nomolt 15% SC) against the spiny bollworm; E. insulana larvae under laboratory-controlled conditions (26±1°C and 75±5 % RH), and their implications on different biological and histological parameters. The results obtained showed an increase in the toxicity of pesticides after exposure to magnetic field strength of 180 mT for one hour. The LC50 values were 45.22 and 66.45 ppm for Cancun and Nomult, respectively, as compared to 35.54 and 49.56 ppm, respectively, after exposure to the magnetic field. A high mortality rate and malformation were observed for each of the larvae and pupae after pesticides magnetization, compared to the non-magnetized insecticides, as well as the untreated larvae. The lifespan of both larvae and pupae was significantly prolonged, and thus the total period of immature stages after magnetization was increased. In addition, the treatments caused a decrease in the rates of adult emergence, female fertility, and hatching rate, and with greater efficiency of the magnetized pesticides. Different histological changes were also observed in the epidermis and midgut of the larvae under study, where the treatments caused significant destruction in the epidermal and midgut cells of the treated larvae, with a more pronounced effect of the magnetized insecticide compared to the non-magnetized and the control check. Keywords: Spiny bollworm, magnetic field, toxicity, triflumuron, teflubenzuron.

El-Shennawy, R.M. 2024. Toxicity of Zingiber officinale Nanoparticles Against the Spiny Bollworm, Earias insulana and Their Effects on Some Biological and Histological Aspects. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(2): 202-207. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001237 The toxicity of Ginger extract nano-sized particles (Ginger AgNPs) against the spiny bollworm (Earias insulana) larvae, and its adverse effects on some biological and histological aspects were studied under controlled conditions of 26±1°C and 75±5% RH. LC50 treatment of newly hatched larvae produced larval and pupal mortality rates of 60.00 and 47.06%, respectively, compared to the control treatment (6.33 and 2.00%). Treatment resulted in significant larval and pupal deformity rates (11.00 and 13.51%, respectively) compared to the control (1 and 3%). Ginger AgNPs greatly reduced the adult emergence rate (52.94 %) with a high rate of malformation (11.11%) compared to 89.0 and 0.0 % for the control, respectively. Treatment sharply affected females’ fecundity (69.67%) with an acute decrease in oviposition periods and hatchability rate (66.67%) in comparison to the untreated control. The LC50 of Ginger AgNPs resulted in different histological alternations in the cuticle and midgut compared to the normal structure of the control. Keywords: Ginger, nanoparticles, spiny bollworm, biological changes, histological changes.

The study was conducted on a farm belonging to Salah Al-Din Province, Al-Dujail District, Al-Sheikh Jamil District, for the season 2021. The study aimed to study the efficiency of the growth regulator Kinetin alone or in combination with insect growth regulators Runner, Match, and Matric in the resistance of the cotton spiny worm (Baisd) Earias insulana on the cotton plant Gossypium barbadense L. Coker class 310, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in the study. Where the study included the use of the plant growth regulator, Kinetin, at concentrations of 100, 200, 300 mg L-1, and the second, some types of insect growth regulators, namely Runner at a concentration of 1 ml L-1, Matric at a concentration of 0.5 ml L-1, and Match at a concentration of 0.5 ml L-1. The plant growth regulator kinetin plays an effective role in influencing the activity of the enzyme catalase in the leaves and bracts of cotton plants. Where the concentration of 200 mg L-1 contributed to increasing the activity rate of the catalase enzyme in leaves and bracts, reaching 22.28 and 19.68 enzyme absorption units g-1 fresh weight. The interaction treatment between the matrix growth regulator and 200 mg L-1-Kinetin excelled in reducing the infection rate, reaching 6.43% at the first spray after 15 days of treatment during the first field spray and 9.95% after 15 days of field treatment after the second spray.

A field experiment was conducted in the Al-Mashroo area / Al-Hamzawi, affiliated to Al-Musayyib district, located 35 km north of Babylon, in order to know the effect of bio-fertilizer and pesticide spraying on potato yield and its quality traits under the influence of different irrigation periods. The experiment was conducted according to a split-split plot design within the (Randomized Complete Block Design) RCBD with three replicates. The experiment included three factors, the first factor is the irrigation periods (5, 7, and 9) days, which represent the main plots. The second factor is biofertilizer with three levels (control treatment without adding CO, inoculation treatment with rhizobia R, inoculation treatment with mycorrhizal M) and the sub-plots are represented. The third factor is metribuzin with four levels (no addition of CO, pre-emergence, post-emergence, late post-emergence) and the sub-sub plots are represented. The results of the statistical analysis showed that the pre-emergence and post-emergence treatments were significantly superior in the number of stems, chlorophyll content in leaves and leaf area, and the fertilizer treatment (Myco) and chlorophyll content in leaves were excelled, and the number of leaves reached (23.06 and 24.66 SPAD, 28.10 and 29.15 (leaf.plant-1) The irrigation treatment every 7 days was significantly excelled in the number of leaves and leaf area (30.25 and 31.35 leaf.plant-1, 193.5 and 195.5 cm2). (28.3 and 3.53 stem.plant-1 and 3.58 and 3.88 stem.plant-1, 36.77 and 35.97 leaf.plant-1 and 37.77 and 37.68 leaf.plant-1, 219.2.224.4 cm2 and 215.5 and 227.1 cm2) and the bi-interaction between Irrigation periods and biofertilizer had a significant effect and the 7-day Myco × interaction was superior in the number of stems, number of leaves and leaf area (3.34 and 3.76 stems. plant-1, 32.40 and 33.65 leaves. plant-1, 216.3 and 219.0 cm2) and the two-way interaction between the two pesticides was The biofertilizer had a significant effect, and the interaction of post × Myco was excelled in the number of stems (3.24 and 3.78 stems. plant-1). -1, 268.6 and 271.8 cm2).

Okra shoot and fruit borers, Earias insulana and Earias vittella are the major pests of economically important crops like okra and cotton. It is important to understand pest biology and ecology before initiating control measures, however little is known about their comparative biology on okra. Therefore, we studied biometrics of E. insulana and E. vittella in laboratory conditions on okra fruits and recorded the duration of different life stages along with their morphological parameters, to differentiate both the species. Oviposition was comparable in both species, however, incubation period and oviposition period was shorter in E. vittella. Although incubation, oviposition, post-oviposition period were at par in both the species, but there was a significant difference in larval and pupa periods. Total life cycle being comparable in both species, the larval period was significantly longer in case of E. insulana (13.8 days), while its pupal period (8.5 days) was significantly shorter in comparision to E. vittella (9.9 days). Sex ratio in E. insulana and E. vittella was recorded as 1:0.72 and 1: 0.61 (male: female) respectively. Both species were slightly different in terms of their morphological parameters. This study provides basic knowledge about the biology of these pests that may be helpful while formulating IPM strategies against them in okra as well as cotton.

BackgroundSpiny bollworm, Earias insulana is a serious cotton pest in Egypt. Besides the economic losses it caused, treatment with chemical insecticides has negative effects on human health and the environment, thus the development of a powerful safe control strategy rather than chemical pesticides is an international goal.ResultsEthyl acetate extract from Aspergillus flavipes AUMC 11390 culture filtrate has an insecticidal activity against E. insulana causing larval and pupal mortality of 58.33, and 15.59%, respectively, compared with controls, in addition, reduction in adult's emergency and deformation of emerged adults. The impact of fungal extract treatment extended to adult stages by diminishing the male and the female longevity, the number of produced eggs and the hatchability percent. Furthermore, A. flavipes AUMC 11390 ethyl acetate extract caused a strong disturbance on some insect enzymes including amylase, invertase, trehalase, GOT, GPT and acetylcholinesterase, alongside total lipid and total protein. Analysis of ethyl acetate fungal extract revealed the presence of one hydrocarbon 3-Eicosene and four long-chain alcohols namely hexadecanol, 1-hexadecanol, 1-octadecanol, and 1-pentadecanol which are known for their insecticidal activity.ConclusionA. flavipes AUMC 11390 culture filtrate might represent a promising source for different important bioactive compounds that could be used as a potential biocontrol agent involved in E. insulana management strategies.

http://eajbsf.journals.ekb.eg/ Comparative Efficacy of Uphold and Closer Insecticide on the Developmental, Reproductive, Biochimical and Histological of the Spiny Bollworm, Earias insulana (Boisd.