Chez le palmier à huile, le taux de nouaison des fruits est fortement lié à la densité des populations d'insectes pollinisateurs. Les populations du principal pollinisateur, Elaeidobius kamerunicus, ont été suivies dans le but d'identifier les facteurs influençant leurs fluctuations. Des prélèvements d'épillets ont été effectués sur les inflorescences mâles et des captures ont été réalisées sur les inflorescences femelles dans trois localités pendant 24 mois. Les résultats ont montré qu'à La Mé, le nombre d'inflorescences mâles influence positivement le nombre d'E. kamerunicus/épillet (r = 0,81 ; p ˂ 0,0001) et le nombre d'E. kamerunicus visitant les fleurs femelles (r = 0,77 ; p ˂ 0,0001). A Grand-Béréby, le nombre d'E. kamerunicus/épillet est corrélé négativement (r =-0,46 ; p = 0,027) avec le nombre de jours de pluies et positivement (r = 0,51; p = 0,012) avec l'insolation. A Iboké, les densités sur les inflorescences mâles et femelles sont influencées négativement par le nombre de jours de pluies (r =-0,45 ; p = 0,028 et r =-0,51 ; p = 0,027). Ainsi, l'abondance d'E. kamerunicus dans les plantations dépend en partie du nombre d'inflorescences mâles, de la pluie et de l'insolation.

Pheromone trapping of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) is considered an environmentally safe tool in the IPM adopted strategy worldwide in date palm plantations. Field trials were conducted in Kasassin District, Ismailia Governorate-Egypt, to enhance the RPW pheromone-trapping efficiency. The current study was carried out during two successive years from April 22 nd , 2015 to October 10 th , 2016. Results indicated that captured weevils were significantly affected by trap types where PICUSAN® trap gave the highest captured number during the experiment period which lasted for 12 weeks, i.e. 119 adult weevils, followed by the bucket trap new that registered 90 weevils. Moreover, the combined effect of sugarcane honey, pheromone, ethyl acetate and pesticides gave more attractiveness than the other 4 tested combinations, i.e. 110 adult weevils were captured by this bait during the 12 weeks of the experiment, while the other four combinations captured 81, 44, 26 and 20 weevils. The least registered weevil's number was in sugarcane honey and pesticides. This might due to the combined effect of such treatments. The efficacy of synthetic kairmone with different combination on the attraction of weevils was also investigated. The best combination was water, aggregation pheromone, palm tissue and molasses 15% in water with mixture (EtAc: EtOH, 1:3). This combination collected about 311 adults during the 12 weeks period of the experiment. The mixture (EtAc: EtOH, 1:3) was able to boost pheromone and was almost as effective as the use of the complete bait. Ethyl acetate alone does not improve the attraction power for aggregation pheromone. In addition, sex ratio was calculated and it was found that male: female ratio was 1:1.9.

Using entomopathogenic fungi, as a powerful bio-control agent, is considered one of the promising methodologies in IPM programs. The current investigation aimed to test the efficiency of Metarhizium anisopliae, Verticillium lecanii, and Beauveria bassiana against whitefly on Eggplant (variety Anann) in Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design, in an area of one feddan, divided into 4 plots (5 replicates each). The study extended from July till September, during two successive seasons (2019 and 2020) and each fungal product was sprayed four times (one spray/week). Temperature fluctuated from 29 to 35 C and RH ranged from 49 to 52%. Results indicated that using entomopathogenic fungi significantly reduced B. tabaci population. V. lecanii was the most influential fungus, as it caused the highest control percentage compared to the other two fungi and control treatment. Repeating application during 4 successive weeks raised fungi effectiveness and caused ascending mortality levels in B. tabaci population. Production rates were in line with percentage reductions of whiteflies. The largest yield of eggplant's fruits was produced in the plots treated with V. lecanii. Accordingly, the study recommends using V. lecanii in whiteflies control strategies in Egypt. Moreover, further investigations are needed to study compatibility of V. lecanii with other bio-agents to avoid inconsistency when applied together in pest management programs.

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We aimed in this investigation to prove that organic pesticides (neem oil and a mixture of cottonseed and sunflower oil) can replace synthetics (malathion) in controlling aphids and leafhoppers attacking tomato under field conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, during two successive seasons; 2018 and 2019 in a total area of 0.5 ha. Both yellow sticky traps and plant sampling methods were used. Data analyses revealed that the mixture of cotton and sunflower oil gave the highest control levels of both leafhoppers and aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Leafhoppers were much more susceptible to all the applied compounds than aphids. Oil mixture proved to be either higher or equal to malathion in its efficiency. Neem oil was less efficient on both pests than malathion. Effectiveness of all tested compounds highly decreased after 14days post treatment. The highest control levels of both pests occurred after three consecutive treatments. Accordingly, cottonseed oil mixed with sunflower oil is very promising in controlling those two pests and can replace malathion in IPM programs in tomato fields in Egypt, taking into consideration repeating the application for three consecutive times with maximum one week between sprayings. Thus, the answer to the study title according to our research is "yes they could" provided that farmers' awareness is raised concerning shifting towards those organic compounds and training them on using such safe, eco-friendly and cost effective natural products is taking into consideration to achieve agricultural sustainability.