The life span of the soft scales Pulvinaria psidii Mask., P. floccifera Westw., and Coccus elongatus Sign. was studied in the field and in the laboratory. P. psidii and P. floccifera are oviparous insects while C. elongatus is a viviparous insect.The egg stage of P. psidii hatched after 11 to 28 days, and the first instar (Crawler) failed to settle on pumpkin fruits, while the second and third instar females succeeded to settling on. The adult female deposits 200.4 eggs as an average. The whole life cycle lasted from 180 to 210 during the reared broad in winter. All stages of P. floccifera succeeded and settled on pumpkin fruit under laboratory conditions. The average number of deposited eggs was 857 eggs per adult female, hatched aRer 5 days at high temuerature (27' C', while at lower temuerature of (17-20' C1 eees I I I hatched. ader 23.3 2ays. A At 22.5' C the longevity of the L1, L2 and Ls was 11.3, 9.7 and 15.7 days, respectively, while at the high temperature of 27' C these instars lasted 10, 19 and 14 days, successively. The whole life-cycle of all instars was 35.7 days at 22.5' to 28'C and 43 days at the constant temperature of 27' C. The adult female of C. elongatus gives birth to crawlers of 11.8 per day with an average number of 475.4 crawlers during its longevity. The longevity of the L1, Le and L3 was 29.5 days, 43,4 days and 59 days with a total life cycle of 134.4 days.Generally, the three studied soR scales were found reproduce parthenogenitically as the males were not found during this work.

The capsule fly Acanthiophilus helianthi Rossi (Tephritidae, Diptera) is one of serious pests attacking the safflower Carthamus tinctorius plant which is cultivated as an oil crop. A study was carried out on the role of this fly on the wild plants in the Egyptian Western Desert at 4 sites in an area lying between Alexandria and el‐Alamein. Atractylis carduus, Centaurea calcitrapa, Centaurea sp. and Carthamus glaucus were listed as alternative plant hosts for this insect. The effect of seed loss in Atractylis heads, the duration of the pupal stage and factors affecting adult longevity were studied and discussed. Three hymenopterous pupal parasites were found only attacking the capsule‐fly in one of the four selected areas. These were Antistrophoplex conthurnatus (Masi) (Torymidae), Pronotalia sp. (Eulophidae) and an unidentified parasite (Pteromalidae). Zusammenfassung Zur Verbreitung und Biologie der Distelfliege Acanthiophilus helianthi Rossi an Wildpflanzen in der westlichen Wüstenregion Ägyptens A. helianthi ist einer der wichtigsten Schädlinge der Färberdistel (Carthamus tinctorius), die in Ägypten und anderen Ländern als Ölpflanze angebaut wird. Untersuchungen im Gebiet zwischen Alexandria und el.‐Alamein zeigten, daß die Compositen Atractylis carduus, Centaurea calcitrapa, Centaurea sp. und Carthamus glaucus dem Schädling als alternative Wirtspflanze dienen. Die Wirkung des Samenverlustes in Atractylis‐Blütenköpfen, die Dauer des Puppenstadiums, die Lebenszeit regulierenden Faktoren sowie die Parasiten der Fliege wurden untersucht. Nur in einem der 4 Untersuchungsareale traten 3 Schlupfwespenarten als Puppenparasiten auf: Antistrophoplex conthurnatus (Masi) (Torymidae), Pronotalia sp. (Eulophidae) und ein noch nicht determinierter Pteromalidae.

The data showed that the common white mealybug Icerya seychellarum seychellarum (West.) (Hemiptera : Monophlebidae) infests Dodonia viscose Jacq in Montazah garden during two successive years (2005-2006 and 2006-2007). The results showed that the weak significant positive relationship between daily mean temperature, relative humidity and dew point and estimated population density of I. seychellarum seychellarum individuals. But on the other hand this relationship was significantly negative with wind speed.

The present study was carried out in Matrouh Governorate during two successive years (February, 2017-February, 2019 to investigate the population density, population age structure, number of generations, seasonal variation and effect of three weather factors (temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) on olive black scale, S. oleae infesting olive trees under irrigation system. Results concerning the fortnightly variations of the total monthly counted individuals of S. oleae /5 trees throughout the period of study revealed the presence of six variation periods in two successive years, three in spring months and three in summer months. Considering the population age structure, the immature stage was 83.3 % in 15 th February, , decreased to the minimum of 54.4% of total count in 15 th September, then the population was increased to constitute a large ratio during autumn and winter months in the first and second growing seasons. The adult females population started with 11.5 % of the total counted individuals in the first season, increased or/and decreased in the next months to reach the maximum of 23.3% in 1 st September, then decreased in autumn and winter months. In the second season, the population took the same trend with slight difference in numbers. The gravid female population was more or less higher in March to July in both two growing seasons. The black olive scale has two generations/year according to the immature stage appearance. The first peak of immature stage individuals was recoded in June and the second in August. The seasonal variations in population densities can be ascendingly arranged as, winter, autumn, spring and summer months. The assessed simple correlation values of three weather factors (daily mean temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) with total count of S. oleae individuals were calculated. Temperature was found to have a positive significant effect on the population, while the relative humidity had an insignificant effect. Wind speed had a positive effect on population density of the olive black scale, (S. oleae).

Brachycerus spinicollis Bedel, is reported to be one of the common destructive species for some plants that fix the sanddunes in the coastal ridge in the Egyptian western desert. The weevil seems to be a monophytophagous species on Pancratium maritimum L. plant (A maryllidaceae). Its adults and larvae feed on the leaves and root system of the plant. In this respect, activity, adaptable to desert life, optimum mating period, the population fluctuation, feeding consumption, habits, longevity and behaviour of this species are discussed. Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen zu Brachycerus spinicollis Bedel. (Curculionidae Coleoptera), einem Schädling von Sanddünenpflanzen der westägyptischen Wüste Der Rüsselkäfer Brachycerus spinicollis ist einer der häufigsten Zerstörer von Pflanzen, die der Festigung der Sanddünen im Küstengebiet der west‐ägyptischen Wüste dienen. Die Art scheint monophag an Pancratium maritimum L. (Amaryllidaceae) zu sein. Die Käfer und ihre Larven fressen an den Blättern und Wurzeln der Pflanzen. Es werden die Aktivität, Anpassung an das Wüstenleben, Fortpflanzung, Populationsfluktuation, Ernährung, Lebensdauer und Verhaltensweise des Schädlings betrachtet.