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SUMMARYA survey of insects associated with sesame, Sesamun indicum L. (Pedaliaceae) was conducted at the Agriculture Research Farm of The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Suez Canal during the growing seasons 2010 and 2011. All different insect species found on the experimental site were collected for identification. Sampling was done once a week and three times a day. Three methods were used to collect insects from the sesame plants (a sweep net, pitfall traps, digital camera and eye observation). A total of 31 insect species were collected and properly identified during the survey. Insects recorded on the plants were divided into four groups, true pollinators (Hymenoptera), other pollinators (Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera), pests (Orthoptera, Odonata, Hemiptera and Homoptera) and natural enemies (Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera and Dictyoptera).For studying the impact of insect pollination on sesame production, the experiment was divided in two: opened and non-opened pollination of sesame. 50 plants from nonopened pollination were covered with a perforated paper bag to allow the air to pass through and to prevent insects from approaching the plants. Quantitative and qualitative parameters were measured as follows: pod weight, number of seeds in each pod, weight of 1000 seeds, germination (%), seedlings vigour and oil content (%). Results clearly demonstrate that the opened pollination improved the crop production.

SUmmARyWheat (Triticum sativum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in Egypt. Insect pests, such as aphids, are major threats in terms of yield reduction. Induced resistance in wheat using salicylic acid as a foliar application was tested on the farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University during 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons. Three wheat cultivars, Gemeza 9, Sakha 93 and Giza 168, were sprayed three times with two concentrations of salicylic acid (SA), 200 mg/l and 100 mg/l, after early detection of aphid infestation by infrared thermal imaging.The infrared thermal imaging technique is based on significant differences in surface temperature between infested and healthy leaves. Imaging data are digital, and a computer program can be used to detect infestation rapidly. The results showed that aphid infestation raised the temperature of infested leaves, compared to healthy leaves. The range temperature difference between maximum and minimum temperatures (At) was 1.1 ºC in healthy leaves and 3.9 ºC in infected leaves. The results of SA application showed significant differences in the mean number of aphids and in reduction of infestation among treatments and cultivars. The higher of the two SA rates (200 mg/l) gave higher efficacy in the three cultivars than the lower rate (100 mg/l) over the five weeks of trial. The highest efficacy against aphids was reached one week after application (86.28% for Giza, 85.89% for Gemesa and 70.54% for Sakha). Moreover, SA treatment enhanced the wheat yield of all three cultivars, compared with control plants. The three cultivars (Giza, Gemesa and Sakha) produced higher yields than the control when sprayed with 200 mg/l SA. Their grain yield was 2,491.5, 2,455.0, and 2,327.25 kg/feddan (1 fed = 0.42 ha), respectively. In conclusion, infrared thermal imaging can be employed in identification of infected leaves. Also, the application of SA on wheat induced plant resistance to aphids.

Aphids are the most important pests on wheat in Egypt and worldwide. Field trials were conducted to assess the efficacy of the neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid (Nufidor 60% FS; at the doses of 2. 1, 1.05 and 0.525 g a.i./kg of seeds) and thiamethoxam (Cruiser 70% WS; at the rates of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.6 g a.i./kg of seeds) as seed treatments, and thiamethoxam (Actara 25% WG; at the rates of 0. 1, 0.05 and 0.025 g a.i./l) as foliar application, against three wheat aphids: bird cherry oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), and corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch). Their effects on the aphids' natural enemies: lacewings, Chrysoperla carnea Stephens, ladybird beetles, Coccinella spp., and syrphid flies Syrphus spp. were assessed as well. The trials were conducted on the farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia Governorate, during 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons. Our results showed significant differences between the tested insecticides at all concentrations and clearly indicated that the recommended doses of all insecticides were more efficient against aphids on wheat plants than half-and quarter-doses. Also, the data revealed significant differences between the two seed treatments at all doses before and after foliar application, as compared to the control at all time intervals of inspection regarding the mean number of aphids on wheat plants, from the 3 rd until 13 th week after sowing, except in the 8 th week after seed treatment before foliar application. The results clearly indicated that the weekly reduction of infestation and the general efficacy was higher at the recommended doses of Nufidor, Cruiser and Actara than the half and quarter doses in both seasons. Also, reduction in infestation decreased over the following weeks until the 8 th week, when Actara insecticide was sprayed. Data revealed that there were no significant differences between treatments and control in the mean number of Chrysoperla carnea and Syrphus spp., while a significant difference in the mean number of coccinellids was observed on wheat plants treated with imidacloprid seed treatment before foliar application 6 and 7 weeks after sowing, and also after foliar application with thiamethoxam 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 weeks after sowing. Regarding thiamethoxam seed treatment, significant differences were revealed in the ladybird population on wheat plants 3, 4, 7 and 8 weeks before foliar application, and only in the 10 th week after spraying with thiamethoxam.

SUMMARYForaging activity of four bee species, Apis mellifera L., Osmia spp., Ceratina tarsata Morawitz and Xylocopa pubescens Spinola on sesame flowers was studied during two successive seasons of 2011 and 2012. Experimental observations were made during four peri-