The Coleoscirinae (Acari: Trombidiformes: Cunaxidae) from Pakistan are summarized in this paper. Two species of Scutascirus Den Heyer ( S. pirgus Chaudhri and Akbar and S . tactus Chaudhri and Akbar), ten species of Coleoscirus Berlese ( C. baptos (Chaudhri and Akbar), C. carex (Inayatullah and Shahid), C. carnus Muhammad and Chaudhri, C. comis Muhammad and Chaudhri, C. disparis Muhammad and Chaudhri, C . irroratus Muhammad and Chaudhri, C. mardi (Inatullah and Shahid), C. raviensis Afzal, Ashfaq and Khan, C . tobaensis Bashir, Afzal, Ashfaq, and Khan, and C . trudus Bashir, Afzal and Akbar), and three species of Pseudobonzia Smiley ( P. ashfaqi Bashir, Afzal and Akbar, P. numida Chaudhri and Akbar, and P . parilus Chaudhri) have been previously reported. One new species of Pseudobonzia , Pseudobonzia bakerisp. n. , is herein described and illustrated. A key to the genera of the subfamily and keys to the species in each genus are given to incorporate the new species from Pakistan. Distribution records of all known species in Pakistan are also given.

Background Fruit flies are important insect pests of horticultural crops. Pesticides used to control them which cause environmental and health hazards; therefore, other alternative sustainable management measures are required. Main body Successful implementation of an integrated pest management program, using biological control agents, needs synchronization of parasitoids with hosts selection and exposure time. The present study was conducted to assess the biological activity of the parasitoid species, Dirhinus giffardii (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), against the melon fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), at different exposure durations (24, 48, and 72 h). The experiments were conducted under standard laboratory conditions. Significant differences in the parasitism rate of D. giffardii were observed for both species at different exposure durations. The maximum parasitism rate of D. giffardii (52.60 ± 2.84%) and (42.73 ± 2.74%) was observed at 48-h exposure period for Z. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis, respectively. Also, a comparison between both species showed a difference in parasitism rate at 24 and 48 h and a positive correlation between percent parasitism and exposure duration. Adult emergence of D. giffardii showed a maximum emergence rate from pupae of Z. cucurbitae (63.55 ± 4.02%) and B. dorsalis (51.61 ± 2.33%) at 10 days interval, respectively. However, the daily emergence of the parasitoid was not correlated to exposure duration in both species. The results of the present study may serve in the mass rearing of D. giffardii. Conclusion The biological activity of D. giffardii was maximum at 48 h of exposure for both fruit fly species, and this important information may improve the mass rearing technology of D. giffardii.

The melon fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) is a quarantine insect pest worldwide and affects the vegetable quality through its direct feeding and indirectly by passing way for secondary pathogens. This study investigated the host susceptibility, preference and offspring performance of Z. cucurbitae under the laboratory conditions. Different vegetable hosts i.e., brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria [Molina] Standley) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were tested under no choice and free choice tests. Results showed that C. sativus and C. pepo have highest number of visits/host and oviposition puncture/host. C. sativus showed highest pupal recovery and pupal weight in both only choice and free choice test. While, highest percentage of emergence and female off springs were observed in C. pepo under only choice and free choice scenarios. Furthermore, maximum deformities in progeny were observed in case of L. siceraria under both test case scenarios. The current study provides exploratory support that fruit flies respond differently to host species that co-exists in field under choice and no choice test. Further, hosts of advantage to fruit flies are adopted more. The host and choice preference of fruit flies have the influence on the pest management strategies for the vegetable crops.

The fauna of Typhlodrominae in Pakistan (Acari: Phytoseiidae) includes five genera and 54 nominal species, reported from different agroecosystems and climatic zones of the country. The most diverse genera are Typhlodromus Scheuten (37 species) and Kuzinellus Wainstein (13 species). Two species of Chanteius Wainstein, and one species each of the genera Cydnoseius Muma and Neoseiulella Muma have been reported. Two species previously placed in Typhlodromus are here transferred to Chanteius, due to the absence of seta s6 and presence of Z1. Two species, T. (Anthoseius) hadii Chaudhri and T. (Anthoseius) maracus (Chaudhri), are re-described with improved descriptions and illustrations. Four species previously placed in Typhlodromus are considered as synonyms of Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai 1961). Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) divergentis (Chaudhri, Akbar & Rasool) is considered as a synonym of T. (Anthoseius) egypticus El-Badry, and T. husaini Khan is considered as species inquirenda. A provisional key to the species of Typhlodrominae in Pakistan is provided.

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