The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is a polyphagous and a holocyclic aphid that causes severe damage on hundreds of host plants in both fields and greenhouses. In this research, the effects of Zinc sulfate spray and amending the soil with 30% vermicompost, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Glomus intraradices, G. intraradices × B. subtilis, and G. intraradices × P. fluorescens compared with no fertilizer treatments were investigated on secondary metabolites in the leaves of bell pepper and life table parameters of M. persicae Total phenol contents in the plant leaves varied significantly among different fertilizer treatments. The highest (72.28 mg/ml) value was observed on 30% vermicompost. Life table parameters of M. persicae were significantly affected by different fertilizer treatments. The net reproductive rate (R) of M. persicae fed on plants treated with different fertilizer treatments varied from 4.38 to 21.93 female offspring, with the lowest and highest values on 30% vermicompost and Zinc sulfate, respectively. The lowest and the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) were also observed on 30% vermicompost and Zinc sulfate (0.111 and 0.321 female per female per day, respectively). The longest mean generation time (T) was recorded on 30% vermicompost (13.41 d), and the shortest generation time was observed on Zinc sulfate (9.61 d). Results of this study revealed that amending the soil with 30% vermicompost significantly affected the life table parameters of M. persicae Thus, it was concluded that amending the soil of bell pepper with 30% vermicompost can provide an environmentally safe and efficient control of this aphid.

<em>Chrysodeixis</em> <em>chalcites</em> (Esper) is a serious pest that causes devastating damages in infested areas to many fruits, vegetables, ornamental crops and weeds. In the current study, effects of three host plants including lemon balm (<em>Melissa</em> <em>officinalis</em> L.); corn (<em>Zea</em> <em>mays</em> L.) and dill (<em>Anethum</em> <em>graveolens</em> L.) were determined on digestive enzyme activities and intermediary metabolism of <em>C</em>. <em>chalcites</em> larvae. The highest activities of α-amylase, glucosidases and specific proteases were observed in the larvae fed on dill. Our results showed that C. chalcites larvae had the highest TAG-lipase activity on corn in comparison with other host plants. Significant differences were found among enzymatic activities of acid (ACP) and alkaline phosphatases, aspartate aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the haemolymph of <em>C</em>. <em>chalcites</em> larvae reared on lemon balm, corn and dill, respectively, although activity of alanine aminotransferase showed no statistically significant differences among different host plants. The enzymatic activity of ACP significantly decreased on dill in comparison with lemon balm and corn. The activity of LDH significantly increased on dill compared with other host plants. These results revealed that dill (<em>A</em>. <em>graveolens</em>) is the most appropriate host plant for larvae of <em>C</em>. <em>chalcites</em> as evidenced by the highest digestive enzyme activities and intermediary metabolism.

Myzus persicae (Sulzer) is a polyphagous aphid that causes chlorosis, necrosis, stunting, and reduce growth rate of the host plants. In this research, the effects of Zinc sulfate and vermicompost (30%), Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Glomus intraradices, G. intraradices × B. subtilis, and G. intraradices × P. fluorescens compared to control was investigated on the growth characters of Capsicum annuum L. and biological parameters of M. persicae. Different fertilizers caused a significant effect on growth characters of C. annuum and biological parameters of M. persicae. The highest plant growth was observed on Zinc sulfate and B. subtilis treated plants, and the lowest was on control. Increase in the amount of specific leaf area (SLA) (0.502 mm mg) was significantly higher in the B. subtilis than other fertilizer treatments. The longest (10.3 days) and the shortest (5.3 days) developmental times of M. persicae nymphs were observed on 30% vermicompost and Zinc sulfate treatments, respectively. The lowest adult longevity periods of M. persicae (11.2 and 11.3 days) were observed on G. intraradices × B. subtilis and 30% vermicompost treatments, respectively, and the longest ones (16.4 days) on Zinc sulfate. The highest rate of nymphal mortality and the lowest amount of nymphal growth index (NGI) were recorded on 30% vermicompost. The nymphs reared on Zinc sulfate treatment had the lowest rate of nymphal mortality and the highest amount of NGI. Thus, amending the soil with 30% vermicompost had a significantly negative effect on the biological parameters of M. persicae that can be used as an ecological control tactic for this pest.

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