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Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), poses a significant threat to agricultural and horticultural crops, causing economic damage by direct feeding on plant foliage and through indirect transmission of plant viruses. The current study investigated the occurrence and population dynamics of B. tabaciand its natural enemies in both Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt) and non-Bt cotton fields over a period of 3-years. The study found endurance of B. tabacipopulations in both Bt and non-Bt cotton for a period of 23 weeks. Comparatively, in Bt cotton the higher densities of B. tabaciadult population (13.47 ± 8.03 adults/leaf) were recorded during the last week of July (30th SMW) and nymphal population (91.16 ± 82.67 nymphs/leaf) mid-August (33rd SMW. Similarly, in non-Bt cotton, the peak densities were observed during the last week of July (30th SMW) for adults and during the last week of August (34th SWM) for nymphs with the correspondent value of 7.73 ± 3.64 adults/leaf and 35.66 ± 33.37 nymphs/leaf, respectively. Referring to natural enemies’ diversity, a total of 25 natural enemies were identified, comprising of 23 predators and each one species each of parasitoid and entomopathogenic fungi in both Bt and non-Bt cotton. Primarily, the aphelinid parasitoid Encarsia lutea(Masi) (71.29%) and coccinellid predator, Serangium parcesetosumSicard (7.76%) were prevalent across the 3 years study period. It was perceived from the study that no significant differences in natural enemies’ abundance was observed between Bt and non-Bt cotton. Furthermore, in both Bt and non-Bt cotton the population dynamics of B. tabaciand its natural enemies was greatly influenced by the climatic variables like maximum and minimum relative humidity, temperature, and precipitation. The study revealed a higher population of B. tabaciin Bt cotton compared with non-Bt cotton, and observed regulating of this insect population by natural enemies and climatic conditions. These findings underscore the importance giving consideration to natural enemies of B. tabaciand their population dynamics in the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for sustainable cotton production. Conservation efforts targeting the diverse natural enemies community could further contribute to effective pest management.

Background: Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an invasive pest that can cause serious crop loss to various important food crops and risk to global food security. FAW can cause damage to over 350 plant species by feeding on vegetative and reproductive stages of crops. Currently, chemical pesticides and transgenic maize are widely used to safeguard crops from this serious pest. However, biological control is a safer and more sustainable alternative in the long term for FAW management. Of the various natural enemies of FAW, egg parasitoids of genus Trichogrammahave been used in augmentative biological control of FAW in the Americas and invaded regions such as Africa and Asia. Main body: Several species of Trichogrammahave been reported naturally parasitizing FAW eggs and emerged as important biocontrol agents. This paper presents a comprehensive review of potential and challenges associated with Trichogrammain biological control of FAW. A total of 11 species of trichogrammatids occurred naturally on FAW eggs. This review includes the occurrence of Trichogrammaspecies on FAW, biological attributes, mass rearing, release techniques, field efficacy and interaction and integration with other parasitoids. Integration of Trichogrammawith other parasitoids can resolve the problem related to its penetrative ability against scaled and multi-layered FAW eggs which were discussed. Conclusion: Invasion of FAW in Africa and Asia has provided a prospect for augmentative biological control of FAW using Trichogrammafor sustainable production, especially in maize which is used as food and fodder. Integrating Trichogrammawith safer and selective green pesticides and their conservation with other natural enemies could help in sustainable and environment-friendly FAW control.

Background: The invasive barnacle scale, Ceroplastes cirripediformisComstock (Hemiptera: Coccidae), is a pest native to South America and the Caribbean islands that has recently emerged as a serious threat to agricultural, horticultural, ornamental, medicinal, and aromatic plants. Finding indigenous natural enemies to control the invasive pests is the first step for developing a biological control program. Results: The present study reports Eublemma scitula(Rambur) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) for the first time as a predator of C. cirripediformisin India. The identity of E. scitulawas confirmed morphologically based on male genitalia and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mt COI) gene sequences. E. scitulalarvae were found as dominant predators of C. cirripediformis.The predatory activity of E. scitulawas observed from June to September, with its peak population recorded during mid-July (2.1 larvae per 25 cm of infested shoot). Conclusion: This is the first global record of E. scitulapredating on an invasive barnacle scale insects from India. Furthermore, studies on the feeding potential of E. scitulaunder controlled and field conditions need to be evaluated for utilizing them as a biocontrol agent against C. cirripediformis.