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Background The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an endemic destructive pest for several cultivars in America and recently in Africa and Asia. Due to the development of pesticide resistance as well as environmental contamination, chemical control of the fall armyworm is ineffective. Alternatively, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) provide a successful biological control tool sustainably. This study was designed to estimate the virulence of 2 isolates (Steinernema carpocapsae (All) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (HP88)) on 3rd and 5th larval instars of FAW under laboratory conditions. As well, the effect of gamma radiation (with 2 Gy) on the nematodes’ pathogenicity was studied. Results The results revealed that S. frugiperda larvae were sensitive to the 2 tested nematodes which were more apparent to S. carpocapsae. The mortality rates presented a significant elevation with the increase in un-irradiated and irradiated nematode concentrations. The highest recorded mortality for the 3rd and 5th larval instars was 100% after 3 and 4 days of treatment at concentration (80 IJs/ml) irradiated S. carpocapsae and the recorded death rate for un-irradiated S. carpocapsae was 72.2 and 77.8% for the two treated larval instars, respectively, after 4 days of the treatment with the same concentration. However, H. bacteriophora caused mortality of 88.9 and 61.1% at irradiated concentration (80 IJs/ml) and 66.7 and 50% at un-irradiated concentration (80 IJs/ml) for the 3rd and 5th larval instars, respectively, after 6 days of treatment. Based on the LC50 values, the 3rd instar larvae was more susceptible than the 5th instar larvae. In addition, juveniles’ irradiation increased their virulence. Conclusions Laboratory studies indicated that S. carpocapsae had a high potency among S. frugiperda larvae, especially the irradiated juveniles. Therefore, they have the potential to be developed as a biological control agent for S. frugiperda after further field studies.

Sorghum panicles offer a very rich microenvironment for many insect pest species and their natural enemies. Thirty arthropod species belonging to 28 families, pertaining to 9 orders were obtained from sorghum panicles planted in Sohag Governorate, Egypt, during the 3 successive seasons of 2016-2018. Out of these species were 14 pests, 16 predators, and 3 parasitoids. Lepidopteran and hemipteran pests were the most dominant species-infested sorghumpanicles during the mature stages of the panicles. Three microlepidopteran pests, the noctuid, Eublemma (Autoba) gayneri (Roth.); the pyralid, Cryptoblabes gnidiella Millière, and the cosmopterigid, Pyroderces simplex Walsingham, were recorded as major pest species infesting sorghum panicles in Sohag Governorate. The dipteran parasitoid species, Nemorilla floralis (Fallen) (Tachinidae) emerged from the pupae of the E. gayneri and C. gnidiella, while the hymenopteran parasitoid, Brachymeria aegyptiaca (Chalcididae) was obtained from the pupae of all the studied microlepidopteran pests. Spiders, coccinellids, and Orius spp. were the dominant predators collected form panicles. Post-harvest, larvae, and pupae of lepidopteran pests, especially P. simplex recorded (147, 96, and 79 larvae) and (47, 30, and 73 pupae)/10 panicles in 2016, 2017, and 2018 seasons, respectively.

Birds are attacked by a remarkable diversity of ectoparasites, mostly arthropods. After lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera), the richest group is mites (Arachnida: Acari). Several mite families, with about 2500 species (Proctor and Owens, 2000), live in close association with birds being less harmful, such as feather mites (Astigmata: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea), or severe blood feeders (Dermanyssidae and Macronyssidae). The existence and feeding of parasitic mites may cause some pathological effects like irritation, anemia, allergy, transmission of pathogens, and death as well (Chirico et al., 2003). While surveying parasitic mites associated with Egyptian birds, we recognized the need for taxonomical and ecological information that could be useful for bird biologists, veterinarians, and ornithologists interested in studying bird-associated mites. Faunistic studies about mites of birds in Egypt are limited. First reports of mites from Egyptian birds were published by Wafa and Soliman (1968) for Prostigmata (Cheyletidae), by Rakha (1980) for Astigmata, and by Zaher (1986) for mites of various orders. Abd-Alla

Our local traditional herbal and medical plant may be interduce alternative bio material alter the biology of the red spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch. The present study was conducted to determine the direct and residual effects of the two natural plant extracts, aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris L. and the seeds of Acacia concinna (Willd.) using soxhelt extractor, against the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, at the laboratory controlled conditions, 30±2C° and 70±5% RH. Two concentrations, 0.25% & 0.5% were utilized to study its effects on the biological aspects of T. urticae. The results confirmed the effective influence of these extracts on mite life aspects, which altered and prolonged the mite life cycle, and that reduced the number of generation/year. Moreover, the used extracts also achieved of high mortality percentages, reached 65.52% and 51.72% in pre-oviposition period and oviposition period respectively, when treated with the highest concentration of Artemisia extract. Reduction in hatchability achieved 61.11%, 57.11%, 54.11% and 52.11% for Artemisia 0.25% & 0.5% and Acacia 0.25% & 0.5% respectively.