In 2010 and 2011 cowpea seasons, experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of intercropping between cowpea and each of Citronella grass and lemon grass on the populations of insect pests attacking cowpea. Intercropping in general, reduced the pests complex in cowpea fields. These reductions were 94.34-97.78, 75.98-80.19 and 50.64-58.37% in case of intercropping of Citronella grass with one, two and three rows of cowpea, respectively. The corresponding values in case of lemon grass were 97.92-99.11, 75.08-82.47 and 47.95-61.77%. Values of insect diversity index in 2010 season were 1.0725, 1.6583 and 1.6549 when citronella grass was intercropped with one, two and three rows of cowpea. The corresponding values of diversity index, in case of lemon grass were 0.8743, 1.0425 and 1.6053. Diversity index took almost the same trend in the second season (2011).

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) is considered one of the most important and most dangerous insect pests that attack maize with great losses in the past few years. With its first appearance in Qotour Center at Gharbia Governorate, northern Egypt during 2021 and 2022 seasons, it was found that the infestation rate is affected by the type of maize hybrid (White hybrid 321, Hybrid yellow 368). The planting dates (mid-May, early June and mid-June) also affected on its population. The mid-May plantation date recorded the lower infestation rate than other planting dates. The highest population density in both hybrids was recorded in the first June and mid-June. Significant differences were found between the two hybrids in the first and mid-June. The average incidence was ranged from 29.7 ± 7.2 to 67.2 ± 9.3, the highest number recorded on 321 hybrids in mid-June cultivated. At the end of August and the beginning of September, an outbreak of armyworm populations occurred on all plantation dates.

The tomato bug Nesidiocoris tenuis ( Heteroptera: Miridae) is a mirid bug with zoophytophagous feeding behavior (feed on plants and several insect pests of solanaceous crops. A field experiment in farm located in Kafr El Sheikh region were carried out during two seasons (2015 /16 and 2016 /17). During February and May plantation in years of 2015 and 2016, the highest peak of abundance of tomato bug recorded in May plantation in tomato plants during the two years and represented by 198 and 177 individuals, respectively. A significant difference was found between February plantation and May plantation on the populations of tomato bug. Eggplant and pepper showed no significant differences during the two plantations. The population abundance of N. tenuis increased with the weekly increasing of insect pest's populations which gives a strong typical predator response to prey availability. Predator: Prey ratio showed a narrowed range for the tomato bug and main insect pests in tomato plants during February plantation and ranged about 1:11in year 2015 and 1:10in year 2016.Meanwhile, in in May plantation during the two years and recorded a very narrowed ratio 1:5 during the two successive years 2015 and 2016 . During the two year in February plantations there were highly positive correlations effects among the total main insect pests and N. tenuis on tomato plants. While low and negative correlations were found on eggplant and pepper plants. Meanwhile in May plantations a highly positive correlation was found between the total main insect pests and N. tenuis on tomato and eggplant .Results revealed that, the tomato bug N. tenuis not appear on pepper plants in May plantation during the two years .

No abstract

Field experiments were carried out at Sakha Agric. Res. Station Farm, Kafr El-Sheikh to evaluate certain kidney bean varieties (Pronco, French bean and Polesta) and two breeding lines( Fl hybrid and R1655 ) of bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L for their relative susceptibility to the spider mite, Tetranychus cucurbitacearum (Sayed) and the white fly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) on three varieties. during two successive seasons, 2008 and 2009 .Obtained data showed that T. cucurbitacearum recorded the highest numbers during the third week of July in the first season , while B. tabaci appeared its maximum in the fourth week of June. Meanwhile, in the second season the two pests recorded the highest number in the fourth week of July. The numbers of T. cucurbitacearum were higher than B. tabaci during the two study seasons. The population density of T. cucurbitacearum was higher in the first season than in the second one, while B. tabaci showed the reverse.Based on the mean number of the two study seasons, variety Polesta harbored significantly the highest population of T. cucurbitacearum followed by French bean and the breeding line Fl hybrid ,while R1655 was the lowest infested. The highest infestation with B. tabaci occurred on French bean while, Pronco and R1655 were the least infested.Regarding to the susceptibility degree to the two pests, varieties Polesta, French bean and breeding line Fl hyprid appeared susceptible. The variety Pronco appeared as low resistant and breeding line R1655 appeared as moderate resistant.Thus, the gained results should be taken into account in planning programs of integrated pest management in the bean fields.