Abstract An updated checklist of the genus Eumerus Meigen, 1822 is presented from Pakistan along with two new country records, i.e., Eumerus vestitus Bezzi, 1912 and Eumerus sogdianus Stackelberg, 1952. Eumerus sogdianus is native to Central and Southern Europe, but recorded from east to Central and Southern Asia, and Eumerus vestitus is native to the Afrotropical region, but recently also recorded from India. Both species are collected from northern areas of Pakistan - the extreme edge of the western Himalayas, where a significant diversity of hoverflies has been reported in recent studies. A brief diagnosis, identification key, and a taxonomic remark on known Pakistani Eumerus species are presented. A distribution map and detailed photographs of the newly recorded species are also presented.

ABSTRACT White-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera Horváth (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) is a migratory and serious pest of rice crop worldwide including Pakistan. The current experiment was carried out to assess the antixenosis and antibiosis level of flfteen rice genotypes against S. furcifera under greenhouse conditions. In antixenosis studies, proportion of nymphs and adults settled was recorded in relation to control. Less preferred varieties by nymphs were RPP49 (3.80), N22 (5.60), IR 64 (6.20), IR 72 (6.60), Basmati Pak (6129) (5.40), and Super Basmati (5.00) as compared to TN1 (12.00). Lower number of eggs were laid on RPP49, N22, IR 64, Super Basmati and PKBB 8. Based on feeding marks the genotypes ranked from highest to lowest as RPP49, N22, IR 64, IR 72 and Basmati Pak. In antibiosis tests, RPP49, N22, IR64, IR 72, Super Basmati and Basmati Pak varieties performed well as compared to TN1. Minimum feeding rate (47.8 mm2) was recorded on RPP49 followed by N22, IR 64, IR74, Basmati Pak, Super Basmati, PKBB 8, PK 10684 and PK 10436 as compared to TN1(470.8 mm2). The results revealed that RPP49 emerged as the new resistant source against S. furcifera. Super Basmati, Basmati Pak have shown a moderate level of resistance while PKBB 8, PK 10684 and PK 10436 are new varieties with a moderate level of resistance to S. furcifera which can be used as resistance source in breeding programs against S. furcifera.

RESUMEN La falsa chicharrita del arroz, Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) es una plaga migratoria y grave para los cultivos de arroz en todo el mundo, incluso Pakistán. El presente experimento se llevó a cabo para evaluar el nivel de antixenosis y antibiosis de quince genotipos de arroz contra S. furcifera en condiciones de invernadero. En los ensayos de antixenosis, la proporción de ninfas y adultos asentados se registró en relación con el grupo control. Las variedades menos preferidas por las ninfas fueron RPP49 (3.80), N22 (5.60), IR 64 (6.20), IR 72 (6.60), Basmati Pak (6129) (5.40) y Super Basmati (5.00) en comparación con TN1 (12.00). Se depositó un número menor de huevos en RPP49, N22, IR 64, Super Basmati y PKBB 8. Con base en la huella de alimentación, los genotipos ordenados de mayor a menor fueron RPP49, N22, IR 64, IR 72 y Basmati Pak. En ensayos de antibiosis, las variedades RPP49, N22, IR64, IR 72, Super Basmati y Basmati Pak obtuvieron buenos resultados en comparación con TN1. La menor velocidad de alimentación (47.8 mm2) se observó en RPP49, seguida por N22, IR 64, IR74, Basmati Pak, Super Basmati, PKBB 8, PK 10684 y PK 10436, en comparación con TN1 (470.8 mm2). Los resultados revelaron que RPP49 se ha convertido en la nueva fuente de resistencia contra S. furcifera. Super Basmati y Basmati Pak han mostrado un nivel moderado de resistencia, en tanto que PKBB 8, PK 10684 y PK 10436 son nuevas variedades con nivel moderado de resistencia, capaces de ser utilizadas como fuente de resistencia en programas de reproducción contra S. furcifera.

ABSTRACT The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a major pest of all aspects of life, like the domestic, medical and veterinary and causal agent of several pathogenic diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential of different insecticide-free baits against house fly by incorporating flower methanol extract of Helianthus annuus (sunflower) and Tegetes erecta (marigold) at 10%, 20% and 30% bait formulation of corn syrup, dried milk and water. However, imidacloprid and thiacloprid (each at 5% concentration) were also included in the study for comparison. Results showed that insecticide baits were superior in causing mortality of adult house fly but dependent upon syrup. Overall, 20% baits of both extracts caused more than half population death of house fly within 48h. On the other hand, the mortality rate by 30% baits (from sunflower and marigold) had a similar impact as observed in case of imidacloprid and thiacloprid baits. Therefore, biological baits could play a more active and safer role in the management of house fly as compared to synthetic insecticides.

ABSTRACT American bollworm (ABW), Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), is considered as a major pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, all over the globe. Due to its destructive feeding nature and continuous consumption of the same chemicals, it devolved resistant against many insecticides. Therefore, a combined application of bio- and synthetic-pesticide need to evaluate against this pest. The entomopathogenic viruses like nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), a member of baculoviruses, can be the potential candidates for better control against ABW. The present study was conducted to assess the comparative efficacy of NPV and Spinosad 240SC (with the concentration of 250 mL · ha-1) against ABW in the controlled environment. The ABW was treated with different concentrations of NPV and Spinosad separately and in a combination of NPV with 0.1% Spinosad. The results revealed that highest concentrations showed highest mortality (95%) followed by 95%, 92%, 84%, 82% and 78% mortality at 1 × 109, 1 × 108, 1 × 107, 1 × 106 and 1 × 105 POBs, respectively. Spinosad when mixed in diet give 100% mortality at 0.8% followed by 50.87%, 42.10%, 29.82%, 26.31% and 22.80% mortality at 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 0.025% respectively. The results of this study revealed that microbial control of ABW through NPV is an effective tool. The repeated use of synthetic pesticides caused the resurgence of many insect pests, and this study results would provide useful insight to build a framework for future investigations for the management of many major insect pests.

Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.), a popular and economically profitable bulbous cut flower, has high demand in both Pakistan domestic and international markets on account of its attractive spikes, florets of huge forms, dazzling colors, varying sizes, and long vase life. However, its quality production is badly affected by non-uniform sprouting, poor crop stand, and old cultivars. To overcome these problems, an experiment was conducted to elucidate the effect of humic acid (HA) applied along with NPK (17:17:17) and five exotic cultivars of gladiolus, ’Eminence’, ’Cantate’, ’Essential’, ’Corveira’ and ’Fado’, on uniform crop stand, growth, flowering, and quality of cut gladiolus. Among HA treatments, three applications of HA and NPK, applied at planting, 3-leaf, and 6-leaf stages of plant development, followed by two applications of HA and NPK, applied at planting and 3-leaf stage, proved best for early and uniform sprouting, more foliage growth per plant, greater leaf area, and total leaf chlorophyll contents, earlier spike emergence, greater number of florets per spike, longer stems and spikes, and greater diameter of a spike, higher flower quality, longer vase life, higher number of cormels per clump, and greater cormel diameter and weight. Plants grown without HA and NPK application (control) or application of NPK alone, applied at planting, had poor growth, reduced yield, and inferior quality. Among cultivars, ’Fado’ performed best for commercial cultivation, considering the applications of HA.