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BACKGROUND: In agricultural pest management, especially in combatting the invasive red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta), significant challenges emerge as a consequence of the constraints of solely depending on chemical insecticides or entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The utilization of chemical insecticides carries environmental and ecological hazards, whereas EPNs, when applied independently, might not offer the immediate effectiveness necessary for adequate RIFA suppression. Acknowledging these hurdles, our study investigates a synergistic method that integrates EPNs with chemical insecticides, aiming to fulfill the urgent demand for more efficient and environmentally friendly pest control solutions. RESULTS: Our evaluation focused on the interaction between the highly pathogenic Steinernema riobrave 7–12 EPN strain and prevalent insecticides, specifically beta‐cypermethrin and a mixture of bifenthrin and clothianidin, applied at highly diluted recommended concentrations. The findings revealed a notable increase in RIFA mortality rates when EPNs and these insecticides were used together, outperforming the results achieved with each method individually. Remarkably, this enhanced efficacy was especially evident at lower concentrations of the bifenthrin–clothianidin mixture, indicating a valuable approach to minimizing reliance on chemical insecticides in agriculture. Furthermore, the high survival rates of EPNs alongside the tested insecticides indicate their compatibility and potential for sustained use in integrated pest management programs. CONCLUSION: Our research underscores the effectiveness of merging EPNs with chemical insecticides as a powerful and sustainable strategy for RIFA management. This combined approach not only meets the immediate challenges of pest control in agricultural settings, but also supports wider environmental objectives by reducing the dependency on chemical insecticides. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potato tuber worm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is one of the most destructive potato pests in the world. Sexual differentiation is sometimes required to conduct investigations on sex-specific responses, mating, pesticide resistance inheritance, and sterile, Insect-Inherited, Sterility Technique and Control Tactics. The goal of this study was to use a binocular microscope to determine distinct morphological traits of immature stages male and female larvae (L.) and pupal stage (p.). We present a straight forward approach for sexing P. operculella in this paper. Male larvae were distinguished by the presence of dark-colored gonads that were plainly visible through the cuticle. The sex of a male pupa can be determined using a Binocular microscope by the appearance of dark-colored gonads on the dorsal side. Furthermore, the morphology of the genitalia opening at the end of the abdominal segment distinguishes males from females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]