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Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a worldwide omnivorous pest. It is the primary insect pest in many economically important stored crops. The insecticidal activity of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Ajania potaninii and Ajania fruticulosa were evaluated against Plodia interpunctella. EOs obtained by hydro-distillation were analyzed by GC–MS. Fumigant toxicity testing indicated that both EOs and their main components were toxic to P. interpunctella adults. 1,8-Cineole exhibited the strongest activity, having an LC50 of 0.86 mg/L air and being twice as active as camphor. Myrtenol was also strongly toxic to P. interpunctella adults (LC50 0.99 mg/L air), while camphor, verbenol, borneol, and the two complete EOs exhibited lower toxicity. None of the EOs or main components exhibited significant toxicity against the larvae of P. interpunctella. This study provides evidence of the individual active substances accounting for the insecticidal activity of EOs from A. potaninii and A. fruticulosa. These EOs have potential as biological insecticides for controlling insect pest damage in stored crops.

Akdeniz un güvesi Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller, Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), dünyada birçok depolanmış tahılı istila eden en önemli böcek zararlılarından biridir. Zararlıyla mücadelede kimyasal mücadele çok tercih edilen bir yöntemdir. Bununla birlikte, kimyasalların ekonomik, sosyal ve çevresel zararlarından dolayı, alternatif bir yöntem olan biyolojik kontrole olan ilgi giderek artmaktadır. Entomopatojenler biyolojik kontrolde çok önemlidir ve zararlılarda istenen enfeksiyonlara neden olurlar. Entomopatojenlerin virüsler, bakteriler, protistler, mantarlar ve nematodlar gibi birçok türü vardır. Son yıllarda, entomopatojenik nematodlar; Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema riobrave, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Heterorhabditis sp., Steinernema sp. ve Xenorhabdus nematophila, entomopatojenik mantarlar; Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (=Isaria fumosorosea), Beuveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, entomopatojenik bakteriler; Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Photorhabdus temperata, Bacillus thuringiensis ve Bacillus subtilis, entomopatojenik protistler; Vairimorpha ephestiae, Leidyana ephestiae, Mattesia dispora ve Mattesia oryzaephili ve son olarak Nükleer Polihedrozis Virüs (NPV) E. kuehniella’da bulunmuş yada ona karşı test edilmiştir. Bu derlemede, E. kuehniella popülasyonlarında bulunan veya test edilen bu entomopatojenik organizmaların değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır., Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller, Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one of the most important insect pests that invade the stored grain of many grains around the world. Chemical control is a very preferred method in the fight of this pest. However, due to the economic, social and environmental damages of chemicals, the interest in biological control, which is an alternative method, is gradually increasing. Entomopathogens have very important in biological control and that cause desired infections in pests. Entomopathogens include many species such as viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi and nematodes. In recent years, entomopathogeic nematodes; Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema riobrave, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Heterorhabditis sp., Steinernema sp., and Xenorhabdus nematophila, entomopathogenic fungi; Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (=Isaria fumosorosea), Beuveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, entomopathogenic bacteria; Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Photorhabdus temperata and Bacillus subtilis, entomopathogenic protists; Vairimorpha ephestiae, Leidyana ephestiae, Mattesia dispora and Mattesia oryzaephili, and virus; Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) were reported from E.kuehniella. In this review, it is aimed to evaluate the recent status of these entomopathogenic organisms found or tested for E. kuehniella

In an experiment conducted to evaluate the efficacy of four botanical extracts (Solvent extraction) viz., Sweet flag (Acorus calamus), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), Medicinal Coleus (Coleus forskohlii) in comparison with three Essential oils (Steam distillation) viz., Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and Lemongrass (Cymbopogan citratus) against the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, it was observed that Sweet basil, O. basilicum at 5% was found to be effective against G. mellonella with a maximum of 89.29% larval mortality followed by Sweet flag (A. calamus) with 65.71% mortality. Medicinal coleus, (C. forskohlii) with 56.66% mortality and Turmeric (C. longa) with 45.47% mortality in the descending order of efficacy. Among essential oils tried, Peppermint oil (M. piperita) has resulted in 80.24% larval mortality, followed by Eucalyptus oil (E. globulus) with 69.05% mortality and Lemongrass oil, C. citratus (50.48%). The botanical treatment with Sweet basil, O. basilicum (21.81%) resulted in minimum comb weight loss by G. mellonella followed by Sweet flag, A. calamus (29.04%). Among the essential oil, Peppermint oil, M. piperita (24.56%) afforded less comb weight loss, indicating the effectiveness of treatment in controlling the larval damage. Dört botanik ekstraktın (Çözücü ekstraksiyonu) etkinliğini değerlendirmek için yapılan bir deneyde, Tatlı bayrak (Acorus hint kamışı), Zerdeçal (Curcuma longa), Tatlı fesleğen (Ocimum basilicum), tıbbi Coleus (Coleus forskohlii) üç Essential ile karşılaştırıldığında yağları (Steam distilasyon) yani, Okaliptüs (Eucalyptus globulus), Nane (Mentha piperita) ve Limon otu (Cymbopogan citratus) büyük mum güvesi Galleria mellonella'ya mücadelesi için karşılaştırılmıştır. Tatlı fesleğen, O. basilicum'un %5 oranında G. mellonella'ya karşı maksimum %89.29 larva ölüm oranı ile etkili, bunu %65.71 ölüm oranı ile Tatlı bayrak (A. hint kamışı), azalan etkinlik sırasına göre %56.66 ölüm oranı ile tıbbi coleus (C. forskohlii) ve %45.47 ölüm oranı ile Zerdeçal (C. longa) takip etmektedir. Denenen uçucu yağlar arasında Nane yağı (M. piperita) %80.24 larva ölümü ile sonuçlanmıştır. Bunu %69.05 ölüm oranı ile Okaliptüs yağı (E. globulus) ve Limon otu yağı, C. citratus (%50.48) izlemiştir. Tatlı fesleğen, O. basilicum (%21.81) ile yapılan botanik tedavi, G. mellonella tarafından minimum petek ağırlığı kaybı ve ardından Sweet flag, A. kalamus (%29.04) ile sonuçlandı. Uçucu yağlar arasında, Nane yağı, M. piperita (%24.56), daha az petek ağırlığı kaybı sağladı, ve bu da tedavinin larva hasarını kontrol etmedeki etkinliğini göstermektedir.

Etofenprox is a broad spectrum pyrethroid insecticide with low toxicity to mammals, fishes, and honeybees. In the present study it was evaluated as grain protectant against Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae, Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) adults, Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) adults, Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults, and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae and adults. Etofenprox was applied at 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 ppm on wheat, or maize in the case of P. truncatus, and tested at different combinations of temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C) and relative humidity (RH) levels (55 and 75%). Progeny production of the tested coleopteran adult species was also assessed. For E. kuehniella, after 21 days of exposure 75.6% of the exposed larvae were killed at 20 and 30 °C/55% RH. Mortality of P. truncatus adults reached 99.4 and 97.8% at 10 ppm of 55 and 75% RH, respectively, at 30 °C. For S. oryzae, after 21 days of exposure, mortality was moderate at both RH levels, even at the elevate doses, reaching 66.7% at 10 ppm at 20°C/75% RH. All R. dominica adults died 21 days post-exposure at 30°C/55% RH and 25 or 30°C/75% RH at 10 ppm. For T. confusum adults, mortality was 81.1% 10 ppm 21 days post-exposure at 20°C/75% RH. Etofenprox killed 99.4% of the exposed T. confusum larvae at 10 ppm respectively 14 days post-exposure at 25°C/55% RH. Concerning progeny production, complete suppression was recorded for P. truncatus, R. dominica, and T. confusum in various combinations of temperature/RH. Our findings indicate that etofenprox is a well-promising insecticide for the protection of stored grains. However, its performance differs among insect species and abiotic conditions.

A description is given of the ovum and first and second instars of the larva of Scoparia pyralella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) together with an account of the biology in captivity and further observations on the final instar larva.

This study revealed the contact effect of the rhizome powder of Z. officinales on developmental stages of Ephestia cautella and evaluates the fumigant effect of its powder and oil extract on the developmental stages of E. cautella. Botanical insecticidal activity against E. cautella in stored cocoa beans was evaluated in the laboratory by administering powder (rhizome of Z. officinales at different concentrations, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 g). Egg hatchability, adult emergence, larvae mortality and adult mortality of the moth were used as indices of insecticidal activity. Larva and adult mortality were assessed at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. This experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with three replications. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Tukey HSD at 5% level of significance. There was no significant different (P > 0.05) in the percentage egg hatch and percentage adult emergence at all application rates of the plant powder. At 72 h post treatment, all conc. caused more than 40% adult mortality except conc. 0.5 g and 1.0 g 23.33% and 31.67% mortality respectively. Findings from this study revealed that the rhizome powder and ethanolic oil extract of Z. officinale are effective for the control of E. cautella on dried cocoa bean in storage since they inhibited development of E. cautella from eggs to adult stage. Findings from this study also revealed insecticidal potential of Zingiber officinales as great repository of secondary plant metabolites.

The toxicity of a tea saponin (TS) was investigated on mortality, digestive system, detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. The larvae were fed on a diet containing diffe...

In this study, 18-38 nm-sized and spherical-shaped nanopowder Fe3O4 NPs concentrations (0.4, 2, 10, 50, 250 µg/10 µl) was force-fed to sixth instar (180 ± 20 mg) Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larvae under laboratory conditions. The effects of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) on the pupal and adult developmental times, pupal and adult weights and adult longevity of G. mellonella were recorded. Results showed that treating G. mellonella with 250 μg/10 µl Fe3O4 NPs significantly increased pupal weights. Additionally, while adult developmental time increased post 250 μg/10 µl Fe3O4 NPs treatment, it was observed that pupal developmental time, pupal and adult weights, and adult longevity were not statistically significantly different when compared to the control. This study was supported by Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University Scientific Research Projects Unit with the project number ABAP21F9.

Rice an important staple food crop of the world, which is attacked by the various insect pests, among them the stem borers are the most destructive pests, distributed in all rice growing areas of the world and cause the severe losses. This research investigated the efficacy of the parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) to control the white stem borer (Scirpophaga innotata) in rice. In this respect the field studies were conducted in lower Sindh, Pakistan for the year, Kharif - 2017 and 2018. Trichogramma egg parasitoid over 230 species are reported to have been remained in biological control of insect pests of over 200 insect species belonging to 70 different families, mainly the order Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Orthroptera and Thysnoptera, in order to manage the white stem borer of rice the Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) was used as a bio-control agent. The Studies revealed that T. chilonis proved an effective biocontrol strategy against white stem borer of rice. The result of this study could be useful in an integrated pest management program for the management of white stem borer of rice the Trichogramma chilonis. Keywords: Stem borer, Biocontrol, Parasitoid, Population suppression.

Genus Stericta Lederer, 1863 of Korea is reviewed, with five described species. Among them, Stericta flavopuncta Inoue & Sasaki, 1995 is recorded from Korea for the first time. A key to Korean species of the genus Stericta, and illustrations of adults and genitalia are provided.

The current work was done Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia compestris essential oils harvested from the Eastern Algerian Sahara, their insecticidal characteristics against the eggs and adults of the date moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae. Indeed, two treatment modes were used; by contact application on eggs and by inhalation against adults. It appears from the results that the hatch rates were less than the hatching rate recorded in the control (96% ±00.00). The hatching rate reported on eggs treated by the highest dose (160 μl/ml) of Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia compestris essential oils are 16.66 ± 08.81 and 37.77 ± 13.47 respectively. Statistical treatment results by the Chi-square test (χ2), attest that the treatment by A. herba-alba and Artemisia compestris essential oils at the same dose (160 μl/ml) affect significantly (χ2 = 35.62, p = 0.00 and χ2 = 21.17, p = 0.00 respectively) the hatching rate compared to the control. The sensitivity of adults to essential oils is expressed by 100% mortality rates obtained after 10 min of treatment by the highest doses (80 μl/ml and 160 μl/ml) of A. herba-alba essential oils, the same mortality rates (100%) were notified with the same doses (80 μl/ml and 160 μl/ml) after 20 min and 15 min of treatment by Artemisia compestris essential oils respectively. The dose-dependent mortality data revealed that there was a significant difference between the five doses of A. herba-alba essential oil tested except at the last treatment time (20 min) for which it was appeared p = 0.571, while for A. compestris essential oil, a significant difference was recorded with p varying between 0.00 and 0.003. The lowest LD50 value (0.09 μl/ml and 16.71 μl/ml) were noted during the longest treatment time (20 min), while the highest LD50 value (75.85 μl/ml and 263.7 μl/ml) were found during the shortest time (5 min) of A. herba-alba and A. compestris respectively. J. Bio-Sci. 29(2): 09-17, 2021 (December)

The present study was conducted to determine some biological criteria such as the first appearance of adults, peak date, and a number of generation for controlling honeydew moth in vineyard in Antalya province, Turkey during 2014 and 2015. In this study, the adult population was determined by pheromone traps and larval population was observed by counting the larvae on the grape clusters. It was determined that the pest adults were first seen in mid-April; however, the population was at very low levels until mid-June. It was demonstrated that the adult population of the pest could generate 4 peaks in June, July, August and September-October. The study results showed that the pest could be important in coastal vineyards. Besides, it has been showed that the effective temperatures sum based on the degree day model that was proposed in the literature could be employed to determine the honeydew moth adult and larval populations in vineyards.

To determine the effects of temperature on the development and reproduction of top borer Scirpophaga excerptalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), the durations of different developmental stages and reproductive capacity of S. excerptalis were measured at 20, 23, 26, 29 and 32℃. The results showed that the average durations of various developmental stages of S. excerptalis shortened with increasing temperatures from 20 to 32℃. The durations to complete one life cycle were 113.17 days at 20℃, and 39.50 days at 32℃. The developmental rate of each stage and generation was positively correlated with the temperature, which was consistent with the Logistic regression model. The temperature thresholds for egg, larval, pupal and preoviposition stages and the total cycle were 13.73, 14.73, 13.91, 13.66 and 14.10℃, respectively. The effective accumulative temperature was 112.62, 370.01, 188.17, 23.82 and 718.07 degree-days (DD), respectively. The adult longevity shortened with increasing temperatures, and the highest number of eggs laid per female was 204.74 eggs at 29℃. The survival rates of eggs, larvae and the whole generation were the highest at 26℃, which were 87.25%, 56.67% and 37.21%, respectively while the highest survival rate of the pupa was 76.69% at 29℃. There was no significant difference for the total cycle at 23-29℃. The results indicated that temperature was the key factor affecting the development and reproduction of S. excerptalis, and the optimum temperature for development and reproduction ranged from 23 to 29℃.

The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is responsible for serious economic losses to bee keepers in developing countries. Larvae feed on the wax comb in weak colonies or during the storage of wax combs in winter. The objective of the current study was to assess the effect of the Cytokinin plant growth regulator, Benzyladenine (6-BA), on the most important parameters of adult performance and reproductive potential of G. mellonella. The 3rd instar larvae were force-fed on an artificial diet supplemented with six concentrations, viz., 100, 10.0, 1.0, 0.1, 0.01 & 0.001ppm of 6-BA. No adult moths could metamorphose at the higher three concentrations because of larval and pupal deaths. The most important results could be summarized as follows. The adult emergence was blocked by 6-BA, in a dose-dependent course. Also, the tested compound displayed strong adulticidal activity, since adult mortality increased in a dose-dependent course. The total adult longevity of moths was significantly prolonged.All longevity compartments were remarkably prolonged. On the other hand, 6-BA failed to affect adult morphogenesis. The oviposition efficiency was deleteriously prohibited. Also, 6-BA exhibited a tremendous inhibitory effect on the female fecundity and reducing effect onfertility. The embryonic development in eggs laid by treated adult females was severely retarded, since the incubation period of these eggs was remarkably prolonged.

Elegia species deposited in the Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum (HMIM) were examined and three species were identified. Elegia kharazii sp. nov. is described based on a single male and two females collected in Gilan and Golestan Provinces, Iran and compared with the externally similar European species E. similella (Zincken, 1818). Elegia saecula Kemal, Kýzýldað & Koçak, 2020 (syn. nov.) is considered as a junior synonym of Elegia iozona (Meyrick, 1937). Elegia atrifasciella Ragonot, 1887, collected in the north-west Iran (East Azarbaijan Province), is a new species for the fauna of Iran.

The parasitization of Trichogramma chilonis parasitoids was found higher in the blocks where parasitoids were released to control Chilo infuscatellus at weekly interval (52.4 %) as compared to fortnight (40.9%) and monthly intervals (32.7%). Mean parasitization was (42.7%) when 80,000 thousand parasitoids were released on monthly basis followed by 41.4% (40,000), 37.8% (20,000) and 34.0% (10,000). However the mean infestation was below economic threshold levels ranging from 5.3 to 6.5 % in all the blocks where the parasitoids were released in variable numbers.

Trachypteryx electrica sp. nov. is described from West Kazakhstan. The new species significantly differs from other species of the genus Trachypteryx Ragonot, 1893 in the female genitalia: the ductus bursae is strongly reduced and the diverticulum is absent. Two species of the subgenus Bazaria Ragonot, 1887 of the genus Gymnancyla Zeller, 1848, G. turanica sp. nov. and G. latialata sp. nov., are described from the Kyzylorda Province of Kazakhstan. Christophia constricta sp. nov. is described from the same locality. The male and female genitalia are illustrated for all species described.

Orius strigicollis (Poppius) has been commonly released to control minute pests due to its remarkable foraging and predation ability. Despite decades long history of mass-rearing using eggs of Cadra cautella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as food, the cost of this food impeded the predator’s marketing potential. Finding cost-effective artificial diets for mass rearing programs is, therefore, the key to promote the use of this generalist predator in practice. The aim of this study was to explore suitability of alternative diets for mass rearing of this predator, using the age-stage, two-sex life table. Eight recipes of artificial diets were initially screened, and the candidate diets were subsequently evaluated using the population parameters of O. strigicollis. The highest intrinsic rate of increase was found in the O. strigicollis fed on the meridic combined Diet 1, where nymphs and adults were fed different diets. However, the intensive period of oviposition by females reared on oligidic Diet O3 contributed to the shorter rearing period (42 d) and lower rearing cost than that on combined Diet 1 (60 d). Besides, with the harvest rate of 0.919, the minimal population size of 10,774 individuals with a stable age-stage distribution was needed for daily harvesting 1,000 third instars of O. strigicollis reared on Diet O3 at the rearing cost of 0.295 NTD (new Taiwanese dollar) per nymph. Thus, Diet O3 was determined to be the most cost-effective recipe for the mass-rearing of O. strigicollis among those used in this study.

Reducing the usage of chemical pesticides used to control pests in agriculture and stored products is an important phenomenon. Also, eco-friendly biopesticides have become highly important for use in the management of the pest control programs to overcome the negative influences of other synthetic chemicals. In this study oxidative stress changes induced by one important phytochemical compound, juglone, in Galleria mellonella larvae were investigated. For this purpose, effective concentrations (LC10: 0.5 mg; LC30: 1.5 mg; LC50: 2.3 mg) of juglone were added into the 2 g diet of the first instar larvae. Hemolymph samples from the last instar larvae were used to analyses of antioxidant enzyme activity (glutathione peroxidases – GPx, glutathione-S transferase - GST, catalase - CAT, and superoxide dismutase - SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GST) and MDA level in the hemolymph of last instar G. mellonella larvae exposed to dietary juglone changed dose-dependently when compared to the control larvae. However, there was no change detected in GPx enzyme activity in both treated and untreated larvae. Consequently, effective doses of juglone are toxic to the model and pest insect G. mellonella.

Navel orangeworm (Pyralidae: Amyelois transitella) is a key pest of almonds and pistachios in California. Moths directly infest nuts which leads to reduced crop yield and quality, and infestation can predispose nuts to fungal pathogens that produce aflatoxins. While several integrated pest management strategies have been developed for A. transitella, studies have recently been initiated to explore the use of sterile insect technique (SIT) as an additional control tool. Mass-rearing, sterilization, and transportation methods originally developed for Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) are currently being used for production of A. transitella in a mass-rearing facility, but the impacts of these processes on performance of A. transitella remain unclear. In this study, computerized flight mills were used to evaluate multiple flight parameters of mass-reared and irradiated A. transitella males and females relative to non-irradiated mass-reared moths and two strains of locally reared moths which were neither mass-reared nor irradiated. Mass-reared non-irradiated females performed similarly to both strains of locally reared females, flying a mean 9.4–11.8 km per night, whereas mass-reared and irradiated males and mass-reared non-irradiated males all flew shorter distances, in the range of 3.0–6.7 km per night. All of the mass-reared moths compared to locally reared moths had significantly more non-fliers that did not engage in more than two minutes of continuous flight. Findings from this study suggest that mass-rearing conditions reduce A. transitella flight capacity, while irradiation interacts with moths in a sex-specific manner.

The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella L. is a dangerous pest for the apiculture industry in the world. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the insecticidal activity of the auxin plant growth regulator, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), against G. mellonella and its effect on the growth, development, metamorphosis and morphogenesis of this insect pest. The 3rd instar larvae were force-fed on an artificial diet supplemented with six concentrations, viz., 100, 10.0, 1.0, 0.1, 0.01 & 0.001ppm of IAA. The most important results could be summarized as follows. IAA exhibited the strongest acute toxicity on larvae at the higher two concentrations. At other concentrations, various degrees of toxicity on larvae were found in a dose-dependent course. No pupae or adults were produced at the higher two concentrations. IAA failed to display chronic toxicity on the developed pupae. All emerged adults died at 1.00ppm of IAA but no adult mortality was observed at the three lower concentrations. LC50 value was calculated in 0.24 ppm. IAA enhanced the treated larvae to grow with increasing weight gain. Also, it promoted the treated larvae, since the growth rate increased with the increasing concentration. IAA exhibited a retarding effect on the pupation, only at the higher two concentrations. The larval and pupal durations were significantly prolonged, in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, IAA failed to disturb the hormonal regulation of the development program, since no intermediate creatures were produced. Also, it failed to disrupt the pupal morphogenesis, since no pupal deformities had been observed.

The biotechnical struggle against pests aims to reduce the damage of insects below the economic damage threshold with the help of all sound, odor and visual factors that negatively affect the insect population. One of the biotechnical control methods is the use of sound waves against insects. Moths including Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), detect the sounds emitted by predator bats at 20-200 kHz with their tympanal organs. During flight, a pyralid moth which detects ultrasonic sound, immediately moves away from the source of sound with a sudden maneuver or remains motionless by throwing itself to the ground. Based on this behavior of pyralid moths, sine and square waveforms between 40-50 kHz (21 different frequences) were applied on E. kuehniella, in a choice test system in laboratory conditions. Ultrasonic waves were applied to E. kuehniella adults from a distance of 50 cm, who were in the choice tunnel. Motionless or escape behavior of the moth when exposed to ultrasonic sounds, was investigated. As a result of the research, it was determined that E.kuehniella, which were released in the choice tunnel, remained motionless both in the non-sound control application and against all applied frequency and waveforms.

With the increasing uses of biological control methods, knowing the physiological and immunological effects of these insecticides on insects is essential for them to be used safely in agricultural areas. The aim of the study is to determine the effects of pyriproxyfen and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki individually and as a mixture on malondialdehyde levels (MDA), glutathione-s-transferase, acetylcholinesterase, cytochrome P450 enzyme activities in hemolymph, midgut, and fat body and total (THC) and differential hemocyte counts (DHC) of fifth instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) 24, 48 and 72 h after exposure under laboratory conditions (30 +/- 1 degrees C, 65 +/- 5% RH). The study was conducted in the Animal Physiology Research Laboratory of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Letter, University of Cukurova between 2016-2018. Effects of these insecticides on antioxidant, detoxification enzyme activities and MDA levels were changed depends on exposure time and the differences of tissues. THC decreased after 24 h, whereas it had increased after 48 and 72 h. DHC induced depends on exposure time and applied insecticide. This study revealed that pyriproxyfen and B. thuringiensis applications caused biochemical, physiological reactions and effected the immune defense system of larvae by the alterations in hemocyte counts.

We evaluated the efficacy of four entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and their compatibility with the bioinsecticide spinosad for control of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) under laboratory conditions. Three EPF, including Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Criveili) Vuillemin isolates Z1 and Iran 1395C, Lecanicillium (= Verticillium) lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare & Gams, isolate Iran 229, and Purpureocillium (Paecilomyces) lilacinum (Thom) Luangs-ard, Hywel-Jones & Samson, isolate Iran 1026 were tested against third and fifth larval instars of Ephestia kuehniella using a filter paper bioassay. Mortality caused by the EPF ranged from 63.3-72.5% for third instars and 50-65.5% for fifth instars, with LT50 ranging from 8.4-10.5 d and 10.1-12.9 d, respectively. The effect of spinosad at LC10 (= 26.2 ppm) on EPF spore germination was evaluated and found to be negligible, ranging from 0% for B. bassiana Z1 to 5.7% for P. lilacinum. The LC50 values for spinosad against third and fifth instar E. kuehniella larvae were 452.5 and 1446 ppm, respectively. Subsequently, spinosad at LC10 was applied to third instar E. kuehniella larvae 24 h before application of the EPFs at LC50. The addition of spinosad to applications of L. lecanii and B. bassiana Z1 and Iran1395C isolates synergized their pathogenicity to E. kuehniella larvae, whereas the effect was merely additive for P. lilacinum. Our results suggest that these EPF isolates can be used effectively in combination with spinosad for management of E. kuehniella in stored products.

To prevent the loss of grains in stored products due to pests, an alternative pest control technique to insecticide spraying is required. The use of natural materials for this purpose can be beneficial, and in this context, we screened 21 plants and found that an Iteaceae plant inhibited the growth of lepidopteran insect larvae. Accordingly, following purification and analysis of the plant extract from I. virginica leaves, allitol and d-allulose (psicose) were identified as growth inhibitors against larvae of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The contents of allitol and d-allulose in I. virginica leaves were estimated to be 14.4 and 4.17 mg/g fr. wt, respectively, and their half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) values were 15.7 and 30.3 mg/g diet, respectively. Therefore, the growth inhibition activity in I. virginica leaves was mainly attributed to the presence of allitol. However, both compounds may be used in insecticidal reagents, and in particular, since the safety of d-allulose has already been confirmed, it could allow this pest management reagent to be directly mixed with stored-product foods.

An optical method, alternate lighting, is proposed to increase the oviposition activity of parasitoid wasps. The Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a substitute host for rearing Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid wasp of exposed-living lepidopteran pests, but its low autonomous oviposition in E. kuehniella larvae had to be improved. We attempted to enhance the oviposition behavior of M. pulchricornis by increasing the movement of E. kuehniella larvae through negative phototaxis by alternate LED lighting. Alternate lighting at 5 min intervals approximately tripled the movement of E. kuehniella larvae and almost doubled the number of eggs laid by M. pulchricornis into them. Silk-thread entanglement was a critical problem that decreased intact wasps when they were together with E. kuehniella larvae; however, it could be relieved under alternate lighting.

An account is given of finding the larva of Pyrausta purpuralis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the British Isles feeding on Prunella vulgaris L. British literature gives Mentha arvensis L. and Thymus spp. as the foodplants apart from a citation of Prunella vulgaris in 1904 that seems to have been overlooked, except for being included as one of several foodplants in mainland European publications in 2012 and 2013. We discuss whether Prunella vulgaris may be the main, if not only, foodplant of Pyrausta purpuralis, at least in the British Isles. Descriptions and illustrations are provided of the larvae of Pyrausta purpuralis and the similar species of P. ostrinalis (Hübner, 1796) and P. aurata (Scopoli, 1763) whose foodplants are also considered.

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the most destructive pest of honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), throughout the world. The present study was conducted to determine the quantitative and qualitative impairing effects of the arthropod venoms, viz., death stalker scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg) venom (SV), oriental Hornet (wasp) Vespa orientalis Linnaeus venom (WV) and Apitoxin of A. mellifera (AP) on the larval haemogram. For this purpose, the 3rd instar larvae were treated with LC50 of each of these venoms (3428.9, 2412.6, and 956.16 ppm, respectively). The haematological investigation was conducted in haemolymph of the 5th and 7th (last) instar larvae. The important results could be summarized as follows. Five basic types of the freely circulating haemocytes in the haemolymph of last instar (7th) larvae of G. mellonella had been identified: Prohemocytes (PRs), Plasmatocytes (PLs), Granulocytes (GRs), Spherulocytes (SPs) and Oenocytoids (OEs). All venoms unexceptionally prohibited the larvae to produce normal hemocyte population (count). No certain trend of disturbance in the differential hemocyte counts of circulating hemocytes in larvae of G. mellonella after treatment with the arthropod venoms. Increasing or decreasing population of the circulating hemocytes seemed to depend on the potency of the venom, hemocyte type and the larval instar. In PRs of last instar larvae, some cytopathological features had been observed after treatment with AP or WV, but SV failed to cause cytopathological features. With regard to PLs, some cytopathological features had been observed after treatment with AP while both SV and WV failed to cause cytopathological features in this hemocyte type. No venom exhibited cytopathological effects on GRs, SPs or OEs.

The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella L. is a serious destructive pest of honeybee colonies in the beekeeping industry all over the world. The larvae feed on almost all of the honeybee products and have the ability to completely destroy the bee colony, especially the weakened ones. The toxicity and biochemical effect of garden cress, Lepidium sativum seed methanolic extract as natural product against greater wax moth was evaluated under laboratory conditions. The defatted seeds (250g) of garden cress were refluxed in 500 ml methanol, filtered and then dry in a rotary evaporator. Results revealed that the toxic effect of the garden cress extract against 5th instar larvae of G. mellonella was 1.15%, (LC50) after 24h. which induced more histopathological alterations on cuticle layers, fat bodies and muscle. Moreover, it causes highly significant inhibition in α, β esterase and phenol oxidase activities as well as possesses a significant reduction in protein content. On other hand, it causes an elevation in total lipid content and acid phosphatase activity. Also, apoptotic activity with DNA fragmentation was occurred at concentrations of 3, 2 and 1%. GC-MS analysis illustrated the toxic effect of methanol extract of L. sativum seeds related to a high ratio of phenolic, flavonoid and fatty acids constituents.

Survey on the lepidopteran insects attacking oak trees Quercus leucotrichophora and Q. glauca in forest areas revealed 65 species which are mostly polyphagus in habit. The study reports 13 species of lepidopteran belonging to Limacodidae, Erebidae, Geometridae, Pyralidae and Limacodidae as new host for Q. leucotrichophora and four species belonging to Arctiidae and Limacodidae on Q. glauca from both Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand state, India.

Post-harvest losses of agricultural produce caused by store grain pest most especially cereals and grains to store pest require developing cheap, ecofriendly and readily available insecticide to combat this threat and achieve the goal of food security in developing countries. This study investigated the effects of Cleistopholis patens (leaf and stem bark) on Plodia interpunctella infestation in stored maize grains. Powders from the plant were administered at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 g dosages to maize grains containing developmental stages of P. interpunctella both as contact and fumigant insecticides. The insecticidal activities were monitored at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h post-treatment periods. As a contact insecticide, C. patens was significantly (PE‚0.05) more effective than as a fumigant against all developmental stages of the pest. The leaf powder was observed to be weakly effective both as contact and fumigant against P. interpunctella. At its peak, 69.17% larval mortality was achieved at 2.5 g dosage after 96 h exposure, but 1.5 g dosage of the stem bark achieved 0% egg hatchability and 100% larval and adult mortalities at the same length of exposure. Inferences from these results suggest that the plant has some bioactive constituents which if properly harnessed can be co-opted into integrated management of P. interpunctella infesting stored products. Key words: hatchability, contact, fumigant, bioactivity, Indian meal moth and post- treatment.

The current study revealed the effect of some honey bee products viz., pollen, honey, propolis and bee wax and some plant oils on the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Results show that the females produced from the larvae which had fed on bee wax mixed with propolis gave the highest mean of egg, larval, pre-pupal, pupal and development periods which were 7.4 ± 0.40, 34.2 ± 0.66, 6.8 ± 0.86, 13.2 ± 0.66 and 61.1 ± 1.21 days, respectively. The longest mean of pre-oviposition was 3.2 ± 0.37 days, and the shortest means of oviposition and post-oviposition period was 4.4 ± 0.51and 1.0 ± 0.0 days, respectively. The shortest means of male and female longevity were 9.8 ± 0.49 and 8.4 ± 0.75 days, respectively. While the lowest means of the weight of each larva and pupa were 105.2 ± 5.47 and 71.0 ± 2.43 mg, respectively. Also, results show the effect of clove, garlic and rosemary oils on larval mortality of G. mellonella. The highest mean percentage of larval mortality was for clove oil (68.33 ± 3.33%), followed by garlic oil, 51.66 ± 1.66. The lowest mean percentage of larval mortality was for rosemary oil (38.66 ± 4.41%) at a concentration of 3% after 7 days of treatment, respectively.

A facultative commitment to adult migration in the larval stage can be modified again after adult emergence in some Lepidoptera when influenced by an appropriate environmental cue during a sensitive stage. This phenomenon is termed secondary regulation of migration. The sensitive stage in adult beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was determined experimentally by starvation of presumed migrant females reared from gregarious-phase larvae (induced by crowding at 10 larvae per 650-ml jar). When presumed migrant adults were starved for 24 h on either of the first 2 d after emergence, the preoviposition period was shortened. In contrast, preoviposition periods were not significantly shortened for migrants starved on day 3 or when starvation lasted for more than 1 d after emergence. Because the preoviposition period corresponds to the migratory period in beet webworm, the results suggest that the first 2 d of adult life in the beet webworm is the sensitive stage during which presumed migrants can be switched to residents by an appropriate environmental cue. During the sensitive stage or not, starvation did not influence lifetime fecundity, oviposition period, longevity, or hatching rate of eggs laid by the starvation-stressed moths. Starvation on the first day also increased tethered flight performance and accelerated both flight muscle and ovarian development. The results suggest that a pulse of starvation in the sensitive period may inhibit the expected migration by accelerating and compressing the cycle of migratory flight muscle development and degeneration, while accelerating ovarian development, which is normally suppressed until after migration.

In this study, 38 nm-sized and flake-like-shaped CuO NPs (10, 50, 100, 150 μg/10 µl/larva) were force-fed to fourth instar (100 ± 20 mg) Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae under th...

The bumblebee Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith are experiencing a great population decline in the current global scenario. An attempt to rear these queens has been made under controlled laboratory conditions but the target has not been achieved successfully. The temperature and relative humidity that required for the rearing of bumble bees are also congenial for the successful establishment and transmission of various diseases and parasites. Therefore, the present study was conducted to study the incidence of different pests and disease in relation to weather parameters. Month wise mortality of B. haemorrhoidalis reared under laboratory conditions in year 2019 was studied. A detailed microscopic study of dead bees was done to find out the cause of queens mortality. Four pests and one pathogen, namely, Physocephala tibialis (Diptera: Conopidae) Aphomia sociella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Parasitus fucorum (Arichnida: Parasitidae), Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Nosema bombi (Microspora: Nosematidae) caused mortality in observed B. haemorrhoidalis queens. Among these, Nosema was observed in 54.7% dead B. haemorrhoidalis queens. Whereas, conopid fly, wax moth, hive beetle and mites resulted in 18.7, 10.7 10.1, 0.7 and 0.7% mortality, respectively. The infestation of N. bombi exhibits positive significant correlation with temperature and relative humidity, whereas conopid fly infestation showed a negative significant correlation with temperature. Wax moth, hive beetle and mites attacking the bumblebees showed no correlation with temperature and relative humidity. The current study advocates the adoption of practical management practices for successful rearing and commercialization of bombiculture.

The predatory bug, Orius laevigatus (Fieber, 1860) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), is an important biological control agent and widely used for augmentative biological control of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, 1895 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in greenhouse crops. This bug is generally reared using the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of E. kuehniella eggs produced by adult moths reared on different larval diets on the performance of O. laevigatus. The diets were 95% cornmeal + 5% yeast (CY diet), 53.3% cornmeal + 26.7% wheat bran + 15% Glycerine + 5% yeast (CBGY diet) and 53.3% wheat flour + 26.7% wheat bran + 15% Glycerine + 5% yeast (WBGY diet). Laboratory studies started with newly emerged nymphs of O. laevigatus kept in a climate chamber at 27°C, 60% relative humidity and a 14L :10D photoperiod. Eggs of E. kuheniella adults that were fed on one of the three different larval diets were provided to the nymphs as a source of food and bean pods of water. Following adult emergence, all individuals were sexed, and female and male pairs were put in plastic containers (30 cc) with eggs of E. kuehniella and bean pods. Nymphal development time, fecundity and longevity of O. laevigatus were not differently affected by feeding on the eggs of E. kuehniella reared on the three diets. In addition, the daily and total egg consumption of adults of O. laevigatus were similar. Because the CY diet eggs contain more nutrients, their consumption by nymphs was lower. This study indicates that the CY diet is an adequate diet for rearing E. kuehniella for producing eggs for rearing O. laevigatus.

A fungal culture was isolated with a view to evaluate its potentiality for an effective pest management programme. The fungal culture was characterized at molecular level by using rDNA ITS universal primer. The fungal culture was identified as Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and the ~ 550 bp rDNA-ITS sequence was submitted to the Gene bank and obtained accession number as KR855715. The biological parameters of KR855715 were compared with MTCC strains of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill and evaluate its efficacy against sixth instar of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a major stored grain pest of rice under laboratory condition at temperature 30 ± 1 °C and relative humidity 85–90 %. The biological parameters and efficacy of all these strains were tested at different concentrations viz.., 1 × 107to 1 × 109 conidia/ml. Among these strains, KR855715 showed the highest conidial density (8.13 × 107 conidia/ml) at concentration of 1 × 107 conidia/ml. However, the germination (83.68 %), and mortality (60.00 %) was found to be highest at concentration 1 × 109 conidia/ml.

Helichrysum arenarium (L.) (Asterales:Asteraceae) Moench is a therapeutic plant which contains etheric oil, flavones and flavon glycosides, sterins, bitter substances and tannins having various coumarins. This plant is thought to have important characteristics such as diuretic effect, dropping stones and sand from the kidney, regulating digestive disorders, strengthening the immune system, and having antibiotic and antioxidant effects. Additionally, this plant is traditionally used in liver and biliary tract diseases and also shows anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties. Model organism Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) is an invertebrate species that is frequently used to study the effects of human pathogens and various pesticides, hormones, etc. on immune system. In our study, we examined the effect of various doses of H. arenarium on the hemocyte count and behavior of G. mellonella larvae. According to the findings obtained at the end of our study, H. arenarium caused an increase in hemocyte count with the injection of 0.25% and 0.5% doses compared to the untreated and DMSO groups. At the same time, the 0.25% and 0.5% doses showed a strong encapsulation-melanization response and an increase in phenoloxidase enzyme activity over 24 h compared to the other injected groups. Based on these results, H. arenarium extract has an anti-mitotic activity at high doses (above 0.5%). This effect may be due to the fact that the plant extract supports mitosis at a certain dose, while being toxic when exceeding it.