Trials were conducted in a cotton field at Qaha Research Station, Qaluobia governorate, Egypt, to evaluate the dispersal ability and parasitism rate by the egg parasitoid Trichogramma evanescens West. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), as well, to estimate the effect of parasitoid density from the releasing site on parasitism rate. Obtained data showed a limited dispersal ability for the parasitoid. The parasitism rates at 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 cm. differed statistically from each other, being highest in the S. cerealella eggs placed at the shortest distance (43.03, 18.12, 10.92, 8.77 and 5.6%, respectively). The effect of releasing point and density on parasitism rate were also estimated. Increasing parasitoid density raised the rate of parasitism. When 2000, 3000 and 4000 parasitoids were released from the release point, the parasitism rates (mean percent ages for the whole 5 distances), were 33.21, 38.13 and 42.65%, respectively.

Life parameters including pre-oviposition, oviposition and larval & pupal periods, adult male and female longevities ,and generation period were recorded for the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier reared on the sugarcane stem pieces (Diet,1) and other 3 artificial diets depending mainly on ground sugarcane ,(diet 2); ground corn , (diet 3) and ground mixture of sugarcane and corn (diet 4). In the laboratory at 28±1°C and 75±5% R.H. , the effects of all diets on total proteins , carbohydrates and lipids were also determined in the last instar larvae .Larvae fed on diet 2 (ground sugarcane + additives) exhibited shortest larval duration (86.30 days) , while diet 3 (ground corn + additives) caused the longest larval period (128.35 days). Shortest and longest pupal periods resulted also from feeding on diet 2 and diet 3 (15.3 and 21.75 days , respectively). On the other hand , male and female longevities were the longest and shortest when previous larvae were fed on diet 2 and diet 3 (50.4 and 38.4 days for males and 48.0 and 36.8 days for females , respectively. The sexratio was almost 1:1 with all diets , except diet 2 which led to more females (1 male : 1.5 female).Eggs of R. ferrugineus hatched after about 4 days , but this period was , significantly , shorter (3.35 days) by rearing on diet 2. Highest hatch ability percentage (93.61 %) resulted from rearing on the same diet. Chemical analyses of last larval instar content indicated that the highest total contents of proteins (51.87 mg / g) , carbohydrates (105.0 mg / g) and lipids (21.13 mg / g) were obtained by rearing on diet2, diet 1 and the control (natural feeding on palm), respectively .

Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is widely regarded as the most serious pest of the date palm in worldwide, causing massive losses in palm crop and related industries. To prevent re-infestation, a promising chemical injection for effective control treatment at particularly high invested levels is required. Five different concentrations solution of formaldehyde in water were used to investigate the formaldehyde- RPW response. Results revealed that the concentration of 16% exhibited a remarkable effect on newly hatching and 2nd instar larvae of R. ferrugineus among all concentrations after 10 days exposure to poisoned medium. Data showed that there was significant increase in larval mortality by increasing the duration of exposure to formaldehyde. Data revealed that formaldehyde is potent against the larvae, thus, it could break down the life - cycle of R. ferrugineus and might be involved in the control programs of R. ferrugineus as a protective or curative material. In terms of LC50, the toxicity of formaldehyde on newly hatched larvae was the most effective. The time needed to cause mortality was decreased with increasing the concentration of the formaldehyde. Also, exposure of RPW to ascending concentrations of formaldehyde had significant effect between tested concentrations when applied on 4th instar larvae. The total lipids and total carbohydrates content decreased in all concentration treatments, while, no or slight decrease occurred in total protein, compared with those recorded in the control.

One of the most common palm pests is the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier. Five artificial diets were evaluated to rear RPW, and to facilitate its behavioral and biological studies. The developmental of R. ferruginus was studied on the tested artificial diets based on primarily composed of sugarcane stem pieces (1st diet; control), sweet pumpkin (2nd diet), ground sugarcane + sweet pumpkin (3rd diet), sweet potato (4th diet) and ground sugarcane + sweet potato (5th diet) under rearing room (28 ± 1 °C and 75 ± 5 RH%) at Faculty of Agriculture in Benha district. The biological aspects, pre-oviposition, oviposition, larval & pupal durations, the longevity of male and female adults and the generation period of R. ferrugineus have all been estimated. Moreover, the impact of these artificial diets on the quantities of total proteins, carbohydrates and lipids were determined in the full-grown larvae. Obtained results showed that the insect manifested the shortest larval and pupal periods and the longest longevity for males and females when rearing of R. ferruginus took place on an artificial diet based on sweet potato as a successful and economical for mass rearing of the red palm weevil under laboratory conditions. Larvae fed on diet 4 (sweet potato) was exhibited the shortest duration (114.80 days), while 1st diet (Sugarcane stem pieces) was recorded the longest period (125.00 ± days). Similarly for pupation and both male and female longevity, the shortest periods resulted from larvae feeding on 4th diet (14.65, 49.40 and 48.0 days, respectively). Contrariwise, the longest pupal period was reported with 5th diet (15.70 days). The highest of eggs hatchability % (96.53%) resulted from the rearing nof R. ferruginus larvae on the 4th diet. Chemical analyses of the full-grown larva were indicated that the highest contents of total carbohydrates (45.57 µg/g), lipids (28.46 µg/g) and proteins (20.01µg/g) were obtained in case of larvae reared on 1st and 4th diets, respectively. Consequently, the development of R. ferruginus stages was slightly lower on both 1st and 4th artificial diets. So that, both of them were a successful and economic artificial diet for RPW development under laboratory conditions. Therefore, this study added valuable alternative ingredients to prepare more practical and economical feeding substrate for weevil rearing to help for proposal of its management and conservation in palm plantations.

The functional responses of Chrysoperla carnea larvae were evaluated at different seven densities of the 3rd instar nymphs of Aphis craccivora and Gynaikothrips ficorum in order to find out the relationship between predator densities and its prey by the, and also to find out their capability for biological control of aphids and thrips. Results revealed that all tested larval instars of Ch. carnea exhibited a type II response in relation to the prey. Moreover, the coefficients of attack rate (a) and handling time (Th) was differed among various growing instars of predator and for the prey species. The 3rd instar larvae of Ch. carnea manifested the highest attacking rate (1.23 and 1.22) on the 3rd instar nymphs of A. craccivora and G. ficorum, respectively. In addition it exhibited the highest maximum predation (Na max) (50.00 and 52.63) on A. craccivora and G. ficorum nymphs, respectively as compared with the other treatments. Accordingly, Ch. carnea could be considered as a promising bio-control agent for A. craccivora and G. ficorum management.