Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), more commonly referred to as the California red scale, is one of the most destructive agricultural pests affecting fruit orchards worldwide. The aim of this research was to study the seasonal density of A. aurantii on guava trees in Armant, Luxor, Egypt, and the effect of chemical control measures and meteorological factors on the seasonal abundance of the scale over two years (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at a privately owned guava orchard. The results indicated that the A. aurantii insect population was active year-round, with each year experiencing four seasonal periods of peak reproduction. For year one, the peak population occurred in mid-June, early October, mid-November, and mid-April, while for year two, these periods shifted slightly: mid-June, mid-September, mid-November, and early April. Meteorological variables had a considerable effect on the population dynamics of A. aurantii; principal component models of the meteorological variables accounted for greater than 95% of the variance in the number of insects recorded from the study. The laboratory toxicity assays found that imidacloprid exhibited a higher level of toxicity than all other pesticides tested, with an LC50 of 0.025 mg/L for nymphal stages, while adult females had an LC50 of 0.207 mg/L after 72 hours of exposure to the compound. The higher sensitivity of nymphs to treatments suggests that timing pesticide applications to coincide with nymphal stages particularly using high efficacy agents like imidacloprid is critical. These findings provide a robust framework for developing integrated pest management strategies for guava orchards in Upper Egypt.Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), more commonly referred to as the California red scale, is one of the most destructive agricultural pests affecting fruit orchards worldwide. The aim of this research was to study the seasonal density of A. aurantii on guava trees in Armant, Luxor, Egypt, and the effect of chemical control measures and meteorological factors on the seasonal abundance of the scale over two years (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at a privately owned guava orchard. The results indicated that the A. aurantii insect population was active year-round, with each year experiencing four seasonal periods of peak reproduction. For year one, the peak population occurred in mid-June, early October, mid-November, and mid-April, while for year two, these periods shifted slightly: mid-June, mid-September, mid-November, and early April. Meteorological variables had a considerable effect on the population dynamics of A. aurantii; principal component models of the meteorological variables accounted for greater than 95% of the variance in the number of insects recorded from the study. The laboratory toxicity assays found that imidacloprid exhibited a higher level of toxicity than all other pesticides tested, with an LC50 of 0.025 mg/L for nymphal stages, while adult females had an LC50 of 0.207 mg/L after 72 hours of exposure to the compound. The higher sensitivity of nymphs to treatments suggests that timing pesticide applications to coincide with nymphal stages particularly using high efficacy agents like imidacloprid is critical. These findings provide a robust framework for developing integrated pest management strategies for guava orchards in Upper Egypt.Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), more commonly referred to as the California red scale, is one of the most destructive agricultural pests affecting fruit orchards worldwide. The aim of this research was to study the seasonal density of A. aurantii on guava trees in Armant, Luxor, Egypt, and the effect of chemical control measures and meteorological factors on the seasonal abundance of the scale over two years (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at a privately owned guava orchard. The results indicated that the A. aurantii insect population was active year-round, with each year experiencing four seasonal periods of peak reproduction. For year one, the peak population occurred in mid-June, early October, mid-November, and mid-April, while for year two, these periods shifted slightly: mid-June, mid-September, mid-November, and early April. Meteorological variables had a considerable effect on the population dynamics of A. aurantii; principal component models of the meteorological variables accounted for greater than 95% of the variance in the number of insects recorded from the study. The laboratory toxicity assays found that imidacloprid exhibited a higher level of toxicity than all other pesticides tested, with an LC50 of 0.025 mg/L for nymphal stages, while adult females had an LC50 of 0.207 mg/L after 72 hours of exposure to the compound. The higher sensitivity of nymphs to treatments suggests that timing pesticide applications to coincide with nymphal stages particularly using high efficacy agents like imidacloprid is critical. These findings provide a robust framework for developing integrated pest management strategies for guava orchards in Upper Egypt.Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), more commonly referred to as the California red scale, is one of the most destructive agricultural pests affecting fruit orchards worldwide. The aim of this research was to study the seasonal density of A. aurantii on guava trees in Armant, Luxor, Egypt, and the effect of chemical control measures and meteorological factors on the seasonal abundance of the scale over two years (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at a privately owned guava orchard. The results indicated that the A. aurantii insect population was active year-round, with each year experiencing four seasonal periods of peak reproduction. For year one, the peak population occurred in mid-June, early October, mid-November, and mid-April, while for year two, these periods shifted slightly: mid-June, mid-September, mid-November, and early April. Meteorological variables had a considerable effect on the population dynamics of A. aurantii; principal component models of the meteorological variables accounted for greater than 95% of the variance in the number of insects recorded from the study. The laboratory toxicity assays found that imidacloprid exhibited a higher level of toxicity than all other pesticides tested, with an LC50 of 0.025 mg/L for nymphal stages, while adult females had an LC50 of 0.207 mg/L after 72 hours of exposure to the compound. The higher sensitivity of nymphs to treatments suggests that timing pesticide applications to coincide with nymphal stages particularly using high efficacy agents like imidacloprid is critical. These findings provide a robust framework for developing integrated pest management strategies for guava orchards in Upper Egypt.Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), more commonly referred to as the California red scale, is one of the most destructive agricultural pests affecting fruit orchards worldwide. The aim of this research was to study the seasonal density of A. aurantii on guava trees in Armant, Luxor, Egypt, and the effect of chemical control measures and meteorological factors on the seasonal abundance of the scale over two years (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at a privately owned guava orchard. The results indicated that the A. aurantii insect population was active year-round, with each year experiencing four seasonal periods of peak reproduction. For year one, the peak population occurred in mid-June, early October, mid-November, and mid-April, while for year two, these periods shifted slightly: mid-June, mid-September, mid-November, and early April. Meteorological variables had a considerable effect on the population dynamics of A. aurantii; principal component models of the meteorological variables accounted for greater than 95% of the variance in the number of insects recorded from the study. The laboratory toxicity assays found that imidacloprid exhibited a higher level of toxicity than all other pesticides tested, with an LC50 of 0.025 mg/L for nymphal stages, while adult females had an LC50 of 0.207 mg/L after 72 hours of exposure to the compound. The higher sensitivity of nymphs to treatments suggests that timing pesticide applications to coincide with nymphal stages particularly using high efficacy agents like imidacloprid is critical. These findings provide a robust framework for developing integrated pest management strategies for guava orchards in Upper Egypt.Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), more commonly referred to as the California red scale, is one of the most destructive agricultural pests affecting fruit orchards worldwide. The aim of this research was to study the seasonal density of A. aurantii on guava trees in Armant, Luxor, Egypt, and the effect of chemical control measures and meteorological factors on the seasonal abundance of the scale over two years (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at a privately owned guava orchard. The results indicated that the A. aurantii insect population was active year-round, with each year experiencing four seasonal periods of peak reproduction. For year one, the peak population occurred in mid-June, early October, mid-November, and mid-April, while for year two, these periods shifted slightly: mid-June, mid-September, mid-November, and early April. Meteorological variables had a considerable effect on the population dynamics of A. aurantii; principal component models of the meteorological variables accounted for greater than 95% of the variance in the number of insects recorded from the study. The laboratory toxicity assays found that imidacloprid exhibited a higher level of toxicity than all other pesticides tested, with an LC50 of 0.025 mg/L for nymphal stages, while adult females had an LC50 of 0.207 mg/L after 72 hours of exposure to the compound. The higher sensitivity of nymphs to treatments suggests that timing pesticide applications to coincide with nymphal stages particularly using high efficacy agents like imidacloprid is critical. These findings provide a robust framework for developing integrated pest management strategies for guava orchards in Upper Egypt.Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), more commonly referred to as the California red scale, is one of the most destructive agricultural pests affecting fruit orchards worldwide. The aim of this research was to study the seasonal density of A. aurantii on guava trees in Armant, Luxor, Egypt, and the effect of chemical control measures and meteorological factors on the seasonal abundance of the scale over two years (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at a privately owned guava orchard. The results indicated that the A. aurantii insect population was active year-round, with each year experiencing four seasonal periods of peak reproduction. For year one, the peak population occurred in mid-June, early October, mid-November, and mid-April, while for year two, these periods shifted slightly: mid-June, mid-September, mid-November, and early April. Meteorological variables had a considerable effect on the population dynamics of A. aurantii; principal component models of the meteorological variables accounted for greater than 95% of the variance in the number of insects recorded from the study. The laboratory toxicity assays found that imidacloprid exhibited a higher level of toxicity than all other pesticides tested, with an LC50 of 0.025 mg/L for nymphal stages, while adult females had an LC50 of 0.207 mg/L after 72 hours of exposure to the compound. The higher sensitivity of nymphs to treatments suggests that timing pesticide applications to coincide with nymphal stages particularly using high efficacy agents like imidacloprid is critical. These findings provide a robust framework for developing integrated pest management strategies for guava orchards in Upper Egypt.Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), more commonly referred to as the California red scale, is one of the most destructive agricultural pests affecting fruit orchards worldwide. The aim of this research was to study the seasonal density of A. aurantii on guava trees in Armant, Luxor, Egypt, and the effect of chemical control measures and meteorological factors on the seasonal abundance of the scale over two years (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at a privately owned guava orchard. The results indicated that the A. aurantii insect population was active year-round, with each year experiencing four seasonal periods of peak reproduction. For year one, the peak population occurred in mid-June, early October, mid-November, and mid-April, while for year two, these periods shifted slightly: mid-June, mid-September, mid-November, and early April. Meteorological variables had a considerable effect on the population dynamics of A. aurantii; principal component models of the meteorological variables accounted for greater than 95% of the variance in the number of insects recorded from the study. The laboratory toxicity assays found that imidacloprid exhibited a higher level of toxicity than all other pesticides tested, with an LC50 of 0.025 mg/L for nymphal stages, while adult females had an LC50 of 0.207 mg/L after 72 hours of exposure to the compound. The higher sensitivity of nymphs to treatments suggests that timing pesticide applications to coincide with nymphal stages particularly using high efficacy agents like imidacloprid is critical. These findings provide a robust framework for developing integrated pest management strategies for guava orchards in Upper Egypt.
A variety of pests and diseases affect the biological activities of honeybees. The bee-eater is one of the birds that most influences various honeybee activities. The main objective was to assess the impact of the European bee eater on the honeybee activities included areas of sealed worker brood, unsealed worker brood, stored pollen, and stored honey (inch² /colony). The study also investigated bee eater (Coraciiformes: Meropidae) predate on virgin honeybee queens and foraging activity.The results showed variations in the areas of unsealed worker brood, storage pollen, and storage honey during the period of bee-eater Merops spp. emergence. However, there was no significant change in the sealed worker brood area and the numeral of combs covered with bees between the times when bee-eaters were emergence and not found in the apiary region. In March, when bee-eaters were not found, the areas of unsealed worker brood, honey, and pollen were 452.5, 621.0, and 351.0 inch² per colony, respectively. These areas decreased to 295.5, 393.0 and 223.0 inch² per colony, respectively, in April during the period of bee-eater Merops spp. emergence. Furthermore, it was observed that the mean numeral of sperm storage in the spermatheca was 3.18 million cells when bee-eaters were not found in the apiary region, compared to 1.01 million cells during the period of bee-eater Merops spp. emergence. The research also noted that bee-eating birds negatively impact honeybees worker foraging activity of pollen collection, especially in the early morning.
Field trials were conducted to apply novel insecticides that are effective against cotton leafworms and safe for insect predators. So, a field experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of managing this insect, Mithoran® (ecdysone agonists), compared with conventional ones (Contrado, Diracomel, and Fantyextra), and their harmful effects on insect predators. Moreover, sugar beet productivity was computed over the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 seasons. In both seasons, the rate of reductions (%) in larvae populations was (81.71, 82.90) due to Mithoran®, (80.24, 82.93) for Contrado®, (81.02, 82.77) to Diracomel, (82.27, 83.45) to Fantyextra®. Statistical analysis of data proved non-significant differences among these insecticides. On the other side, the average of elimination (%) in Chrysoperla carnea predator numbers for Mithoran® (36.25, 33.33) is very low compared to Contrado® (92.68, 91.54), Diracomel® (94.35, 90.75), and Fantyextra ® (91.83,93.35). Further, the mean of dropping in formicid species predatory individuals because of Mithoran® (43.62, 43.30) is too low compared to Contrado® (90.25, 89.33), Diracomel® (92.51, 90.76), and Fantyextra ® (92.53, 93.04). Statistical analysis of data found significant differences among these compounds. Concerning productivity, the yield of roots and sugar are equal among these insecticides through two seasons. Furthermore, the data showed that Mithoran® (Methoxyfenozide) is highly efficient in suppressing these insect populations. At the same time, it is highly safer against insect predators than traditional insecticides. Also, statistical analysis demonstrated insignificant differences between these compounds in sugar beet yield. Therefore, Mithoran® should be put in the devastated insect IPM program for the sugar beet crop.
An experiment was conducted at Sakha Agricultural Research Station Farm, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, in soil naturally infested with broomrape species, Orobanche crenata and O. ramosa to evaluate the effectiveness of the broomrape fly, Phytomyza orobanchia as a biocontrol agent against broomrape species in faba bean and tomato fields during 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 growing seasons. Field experiments were designed in a completely randomized block design with four replicates. Release ratios of 0, 3, 6, and 9 pupae per broomrape spike were applied under semi-field cages compared with open field. The results showed highly significant differences between treatments in both seasons. Efficiency of P. orobanchia increased significantly with increasing release ratio , while, don’t observed any effect in the cages. Compared to the cages where pupae were released Open field showed P. orobanchia activity levels almost identical to with three pupae released. The results indicated that fly activity begins in February, peaking during March and early April, coinciding with maximum broomrape capsule/spike formation and seed destruction within the capsules. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between temperature and fly infestation, while the relationship was inverse with relative humidity. These results suggest that warm and relatively dry conditions enhance insect activity and efficiency. These findings support its integration into integrated broomrape management programs in faba bean and tomato cropping systems.
