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The objective of this study was to identify the species of thrips associated with rice crops in order to determine population fluctuation of the dominant species. Studies were conducted during the month of April to August in the year 2017 form different growth stages of rice in Babolsar city, Mazandaran Province (Northern Iran). Samplings were done from four fields located at two sites, KeyxaMahalle and MirBazar. A total of seven species of thrips belonging to four genera and two families (Thripidae and Phlaeothripidae) were identified. Amongst them, Haplothrips eragrostidis Priesner was the dominant species accounting for 75.47% in abundance. This was followed by Thrips hawaiiensis Morgan comprising 6.47%. The other species include Anaphothrips sudanensis Trybom, Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom), F. tenuicornis (Uzel), Thrips tabaci Lindeman and Haplothrips flavicinctus (Karny) which comprised of4.85%, 4.32%, 4.31%, 4.04% and 0.54% respectively. The maximum number of thrips species was found in the middle of July and minimum in the month of May. Assessment of thrips abundance in rice fields were started at the beginning of dough stage and were continued until complete maturity.

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The data on biology and taxonomy of the new subspecies Bracon pallicarpus dorytomovorus Samartsev & Dokuchaev ssp. nov. are given. It was shown that in the Northern Okhotsk region, the wasps of the new subspecies are solitary univoltine parasitoids of the Dorytomus cinereus Hochhuth, 1851 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) larvae which feed on the central axis of the catkins of the willow Salix rorida Lakschevitz (Salicaceae). Having consumed the weevil larva, the parasitoid forms a cocoon inside the host's tunnel and overwinters as a pupa inside the fallen catkin. Bracon pallicarpus dorytomovorus ssp. nov. adults emerge the next year in the second half of May. The status of the specimens of the type series of B. pallicarpus pallicarpus Thomson, 1892 was specified and its differences from 30 closely related species are presented. Bracon schmiedeknechti Fahringer, 1927 was synonymised with B. pallicarpus pallicarpus (syn. nov.).

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Several phytophagous insect pests are known to attack okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench in the field. However, information on the fruit-damaging species and the effective time for insecticide application(s) is still scanty. Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to identify the categories of damage inflicted on okra fruits by associated insect herbivores and to ascertain the phenological growth stage in which insecticide applications will significantly reduce insect-induced fruit damage and improve crop yield. Treatments consisted of the application of Cypermethrin 20EC at two-week intervals on NHAe47-4 variety of okra during the vegetative stage (VGS), reproductive stage (RGS), VGS + RGS, and no spray (control). The setup was in randomized complete blocks with four replicates. Results showed that incisions, feeding lesions, localized discolorations, bumps, distortions, and larval exit holes are the major fruit damage symptoms caused by field insect pests of okra. Generally, fruit damage was significantly reduced, while fruit yield was higher in plots that received insecticide sprays at vegetative and reproductive stages than in the control. Fruit production increased significantly by 56.9–69.6% and 57.7–73.1% in 2017 and 2018 in treated plots compared to control, respectively. Fruit damage was reduced by 37.5-92.5% (2017) and 44.6–94.6% (2018), and fresh fruit yield of okra was increased by [58.8–75.0% (2017) and 63.1-76.1% (2018)]. We conclude that an effective field management strategy for insects associated with okra fruit damage should include potent control tactics at the crop's vegetative and reproductive growth stages.

 

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Ecological studies based on field data have shown that vegetation phenology follows a relatively well-defined temporal pattern. This pattern, that is reflecting the cumulative temperature from the date of the beginning of the growth, can be represented by the use of a suitable model. Due to the spatial, temporal, and ecological complexity of these processes a simple method to monitor phenological behavior of the vegetation canopies through remote sensing has proven elusive. Employing ASTER images from different seasons, might make it possible to produce an algorithm for sugarcane phenological date estimation and as well to monitor different stages of the plant growth from cultivation to harvest. For this, a parameter, namely Physiological Date is employed. Based on the field collected data and selected ASTER Images, 133 Regions Of Interest (ROI) having different Phenological Dates (PD) in units of Degree-Days (DDs) were supplied. One hundred of these samples were taken for modeling and another 33 for testing the models. Such indices as NDVI and SAVI along with PDs for the ROIs were calculated. The correlation between these indices and PDs was investigated. This ended up with the introduction of two models of PANDVI and PASAVI respectively based on the use of NDVI and SAVI indices for PD assessment. PANDVI model showed a better correlation with the field recorded data although either of the models can be well enough predictive.

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The mating disruption technique has been widely used for the control of several lepidopteran pests. In the present study, we assessed the efficiency of two formulations of SPLAT Neo, a wax emulsion containing E-11-hexadecenol, with and without the insecticide cypermethrin, in affecting mating disruption of Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée). We also determined the best phenological age or stage of the crop for the application of the pheromone formulation, based on its effectiveness in reducing injuries on tomato fruits. We performed two field trials. The first field trial had three treatments: (1) Areas treated once (30 days after transplanting seedlings) with SPLAT Neo (mating disruption, formulation without cypermethrin); (2) Areas treated once with SPLAT Cida Neo (attract and kill, formulation with cypermethrin), and (3) Control plots, i.e. areas treated with the growers’ pest management procedures, based on pre-scheduled calendar applications of conventional insecticides. The use of SPLAT Neo with and without cypermethrin resulted in a significant season-long reduction of the average number of N. elegantalis eggs throughout the tomato cycle, compared to the control. Areas that received two SPLAT Neo applications had a lower number of males captured by monitoring pheromone traps, a lower number of eggs laid in the field, and significantly lower levels of fruit injury at pre, first, and second tomato harvests. The crop subjected to a single SPLAT Neo application, however, experienced reduction in fruit injury only at the second harvest. Our data suggest that two SPLAT Neo applications promote efficient control of N. elegantalis, resulting in significant reduction of fruit damage in tomato.