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Tannic acid or tannin, type of phenolic compound contains in kenaf bast fibre. Conventional extraction has certain limitations in terms of time, energy, and solvent consumption. Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) can extract bioactive components in shorter time, low temperature, with lesser energy and solvent requirement. UAE as alternative extraction technique is better equipped to retain the functionality of the bioactive compounds. In this study, the conditions for ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of tannic acid from kenaf bast fibre by assessing the effect of sonication time and different duty cycles were optimized. The use of ultrasound to extract tannic acid from kenaf bast fiber was evaluated. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was carried out using ethanol as solvent to intensify the extraction efficacy. Phytochemical screening was conducted to identify the presence of tannic acid in extracts. The extracts then were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was found that 0.2429 mg/mL of tannic acid was obtained under the extraction conditions of extraction temperature of 40°C, sonication time of 20 minutes and duty cycle of 50%. From SEM analysis, it was found that the raw sample demonstrated rough surface and no porous but kenaf bast fibre display smoother surface with less impurities and few pores appeared after the extraction process using UAE. These results indicate that ultrasound-assisted extraction is an efficient method for extracting tannic acid from kenaf bast fibre with the advantages of lower extraction time and higher extraction yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psyllid fauna of Pakistan is represented by few species only. Here, a Psyllid species: Pseudophacopteron tuberculatum (Crawford, 1912) is recorded for the first time from Pakistan. Description of immatures and adult morphology, micrographs and biology are given to validate this new faunal record and facilitate its prompt identification. Distribution map along with notes on new distributional records of four psyllid species including Acizzia indica (Heslop-Harrison, 1949); Diaphorina aegyptiaca Puton, 1892; Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908 and Euphyllura pakistanica Loginova, 1973 are provided. Ecological relationship of recorded species with ants has also been given. All collected material was identified using the most relevant and available literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Ichneumonidae; Pimplinae; Xanthopimpla; Pothwar; New country record EN Ichneumonidae Pimplinae Xanthopimpla Pothwar New country record INTRODUCTION Pimplinae is the most studied group of family Ichneumonidae as parasitoids of important Lepidopterous pest of agriculture crops (Brooks and Wahl, 1987; Matsumoto and Konishi, 2007). Townes and Chiu (1970) described the genus Xanthopimpla from Indo-Australian area with 22 species groups to classify the large number of species. Xanthopimpla punctata, Xanthopimpla stremmator, and Xanthopimpla flavelinate are reported as new additions from Pothwar region of Pakistan. Pimpia transversalis Vollenhoven, 1879 Xanthopimpla ruficornis Krieger, 1899 Zanthopimpla appendiculata Cameron, 1902 Xanthopimpla brunneciornis Cameron, 1903 Xanthopimpla kandyensis Cameron, 1905 Xanthopimpla lissonola Cameron, 1906 Neopimpla punctata Kvroiwa, 1908 Xanthopimpla punctata Morley, 1913 Diagnosis: Areola complete enclosed by carina 0.4-0.5x as long as wide. [Extracted from the article]

Genus Rodolia Mulsant, 1850 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) mostly associated with the species of scale insects and mealybugs. A total of two species i.e. Rodolia fumida and R. octoguttata were studied from Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan during 2015-2017. R. octoguttata is recorded for the first time from Pakistan. Both of the species have been found as predator of Drosicha mangiferae (Mango mealybug) and collected from six host plants viz. Lagerstroemia indica, Mangiferae indica, Eriobotrya japonica, Alstonia scholaris, Prunus persica and Dalbergia sissoo. Information about host plants, prey, distribution, diagnostic characters and their illustrations have been provided. This information will helpful in identification of these species and their possible utilization in IPM of Mango mealybug and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]