Current Status of Biology-Biotechnic, Agronomic, and Biological Control of : A Review.

(Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the red palm weevil (RPW), is a concealed voracious pest of different ornamental and economically important palm species, particularly the date palm. It can cause huge losses in ornamental and commercial palm plantations. RPW has spread rapidly from its original distribution in Southeast Asia to date palm-growing countries worldwide.

Group Movement in Entomopathogenic Nematodes: Aggregation Levels Vary Based on Context.

Maintenance of an aggregated population structure implies within-species communication. In mixed-species environments, species-specific aggregations may reduce interspecific competition and promote coexistence. We studied whether movement and aggregation behavior of three entomopathogenic nematode species changed when isolated, as compared to mixed-species arenas.

A winning formula: sustainable control of three stored-product insects through paired combinations of entomopathogenic fungus, diatomaceous earth, and lambda-cyhalothrin.

This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of Metarhizium robertsii, diatomaceous earth (Protect-It), and lambda-cyhalothrin, for the long-term protection of stored wheat against three destructive grain insect pests, Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum, and Trogoderma granarium. Different treatments were applied, both alone and in paired combinations in laboratory and persistence trials. Single treatments exhibited significantly lower mortality rates in comparison to the paired treatments for all tested insect species.

Evaluating the Compatibility of Spinosad and Alpha-Cypermethrin for Controlling Six Insect Pests Infesting Stored Wheat.

The deterioration of stored wheat due to pest infestations is a significant concern, with pests like , , , , , and being major contributors. This study examined the efficacy of spinosad and alpha-cypermethrin, individually and in combination, against these pests under laboratory conditions. Spinosad was tested at two concentrations (0.

Natural Warriors against Stored-Grain Pests: The Joint Action of and .

, , , , , and are all major pests of stored grains. In this study, the efficiency of single and joint applications of the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) at two different doses (50 and 100 IJs cm) and the entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) for the management of the aforementioned pests was estimated. At single treatments, both doses of caused higher mortality rates to all six pest species compared to .

Treatment of Four Stored-Grain Pests with Thiamethoxam plus Chlorantraniliprole: Enhanced Impact on Different Types of Grain Commodities and Surfaces.

An insecticide containing the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam + the diamide chlorantraniliprole was evaluated against adults of , , , and under laboratory bioassays both on freshly treated grain as well as on treated grain stored over 90 days for its persistence in efficacy. In laboratory bioassays, the insecticide was applied on wheat, maize, or rice at four doses, while in persistence bioassays on wheat at the same doses. Mortality and progeny were assessed in both laboratory and persistence bioassays.

The Potential of Two Entomopathogenic Fungi and Enhanced Diatomaceous Earth Mixed with Abamectin: A Comprehensive Study on Mortality, Progeny Production, Application Method, and Surface Application against .

This study determined the efficacy of (Bals. -Criv.) Vuill.

Development of Insecticide Resistance in Field Populations of Onion Thrips, (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

The present study evaluated insecticide resistance in field populations of onion thrips, Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), collected from eight different onion-growing regions of Punjab, Pakistan. These field-collected populations were assessed for resistance development against eight commonly used active ingredients including deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, spinosad, spinetoram, cypermethrin, and abamectin. In leaf dip bioassays, adults showed varied levels of resistance towards different insecticides.

Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi, nematodes and spinetoram combinations for integrated management of Thrips tabaci.

Background: Two consecutive field trials using a blend of entomopathogens in combination with a new chemistry insecticide were conducted to determine treatment effects on onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) populations, crop damage, plant development, crop yield and impact on natural enemies. Products were tested in an onion cropping system and included the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (isolate WG-11), an entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (strain VS) and the new-chemistry chemical insecticide spinetoram.

Results: In all treatments, a significant decrease in thrips per plant population was detected in both trials.

Two are better than one: the combinations of Beauveria bassiana, diatomaceous earth, and indoxacarb as effective wheat protectants.

The current study evaluates the efficacy of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), diatomaceous earth (DE) (Protect-It), and the oxadiazine indoxacarb, at single or combined applications on wheat kernels, for the management of the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), the khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), and the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae). The study was conducted between November 2020 and August 2021 in Faisalabad under a complete randomized block design.

Combinations of Beauveria bassiana and spinetoram for the management of four important stored-product pests: laboratory and field trials.

The current study examines the efficacy of the semi-synthetic insecticide spinetoram and entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) as wheat protectants against the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and the khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), under laboratory and field trials.

Combined application of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi against fruit flies, Bactrocera zonata and B. dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae): laboratory cups to field study.

Background: The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata, and the Oriental fruit fly, B. dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae), are economically important fruit fly species in various regions of the world. We evaluated the effects of separate and combined applications of the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana (WG-18) and Metarhizium anisopliae (WG-02), and the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (VS strain) and Steinernema carpocapsae (ALL strain) against larvae, pupae and pharate adults, of B.

Laboratory and field studies on the combined application of Beauveria bassiana and fipronil against four major stored-product coleopteran insect pests.

In the current study we have tested the application of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) alone and in combination with fipronil at two doses against Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), Sitophilus granarius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Trogoderma granarium (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) under laboratory and field conditions. At laboratory conditions, the combination of B. bassiana with the highest dose of fipronil produced the highest mortality.

Evaluation of Locally Isolated Entomopathogenic Fungi against Multiple Life Stages of and (Diptera: Tephritidae): Laboratory and Field Study.

Fruit flies including and (Diptera: Tephritidae) are considered major pests of orchard systems in Pakistan. This study evaluated the laboratory virulence, sub-lethal effects, horizontal transmission, greenhouse, and field-cage efficacy of locally isolated entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) against and . In virulence assays against third instars and adults, all 21 EPF isolates ( and ) tested were pathogenic and caused varying levels of mortality to the fruit flies.

Virulence of Entomopathogenic Nematodes to Pupae of Frankliniella fusca (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) is an economically significant pest. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have shown promise as biocontrol agents against certain thrips species, but they have not been explored for suppression of F. fusca.

Combined Effect of Entomopathogens against Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): Laboratory, Greenhouse and Field Trials.

Onion thrips, Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is one of the most damaging insect pests of onions, L., which is an economically important agricultural crop cultivated worldwide. In this study, the combined application of entomopathogenic nematodes with entomopathogenic fungi against different soil dwelling stages of was evaluated.

Detection of Phosphine Resistance in Field Populations of Four Key Stored-Grain Insect Pests in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the control of stored-product insect pests mainly relies on the use of phosphine gas along with other control tactics. The aim of this study was to determine the level of phosphine resistance among ten differently located populations of the lesser grain borer, (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), the granary weevil, (L.

Persistence and efficacy of enhanced diatomaceous earth, imidacloprid, and Beauveria bassiana against three coleopteran and one psocid stored-grain insects.

The residual efficacy of the enhanced diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation DEBBM alone and in combination with Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) or with the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid against Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), and Liposcelis paeta (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) was investigated in the laboratory. The combination treatments were more effective compared to the single treatments against all examined species. The combinations of DEBBM and imidacloprid and imidacloprid with the highest dose rate of B.

Interactions Between Two Invertebrate Pathogens: An Endophytic Fungus and an Externally Applied Bacterium.

The members of family Noctuidae exist in diverse environments and many species from this group are of agriculture importance, particularly spp. (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major pest of many legumes and cereal crops. Due to environmental and regulatory concerns, safe alternatives to broad spectrum chemical insecticides are needed for the control of key noctuid pests such as .

Virulence of Entomopathogenic Fungi to Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Interactions With Entomopathogenic Nematodes.

The objectives of this study were to quantify the virulence of four entomopathogenic fungal species to pupae of Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and to determine the potential to combine entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) for biological control of this pest. The four species of EPFs included Beauveria bassiana (strain GHA), Metarhizium brunneum (strain F52), Isaria javanica (wf GA17), and Isaria fumosorosea (Apopka 97 strain). In laboratory assays, all fungi reduced adult emergence but there were no differences between fungal species.

Environmental tolerance of entomopathogenic nematodes differs among nematodes arising from host cadavers versus aqueous suspension.

Environmental factors such as temperature and desiccation impact the survival and efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). Most studies on environmental tolerance have focused on EPNs applied in aqueous suspension. Another approach for EPN application is via infected host cadavers.

Potential of entomopathogenic nematodes against the pupal stage of the apple maggot (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The apple maggot, (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is considered a key pest of apples and is native to the eastern United States. The virulence of seven different species of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) was assessed against pupae of under laboratory conditions. Nematode species and strains included (ALL strain), (SN strain), (355 strain), (VS strain), (VS strain), (HOM1 strain), and (UK211 strain).

Integration of entomopathogenic fungi and eco-friendly insecticides for management of red palm weevil, (Olivier).

Red palm weevil () is a voracious pest of date palm worldwide. Pakistan ranks sixth in date palm production globally. Losses to date palm plantations in Pakistan sometimes surpass 10%-20%.

Evaluating the combination of Metarhizium anisopliae and an enhanced form of diatomaceous earth (Grain-Guard) for the environmentally friendly control of stored grain pests.

Stored grain pests cause great damage to various grain products, and protection against these pests is currently based on synthetic insecticides and fumigants. As a result, these chemicals cause problems, including grain contamination with chemical residues and the development of resistance by insect pests to these chemicals. Therefore, to combat this issue, in the present study, an enhanced form of diatomaceous earth (DE), Grain-Guard, and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Ascomycota: Sordariomycetes) were evaluated alone and in combination against adults of Liposcelis paeta (Pearman) (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.