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Globally, around 2000 plant species are used against pest control. The utilization of botanicals is considered the most economic and biodegradable methods for the control of stored grains pests. Therefore, the current study was carried out to investigate the repellency potential of five botanicals against Callosbruchus maculatus F. in Haripur, Pakistan. The concentrations of Azadirachta indica L., Nicotiana tabacum L., Melia azedarach L., Nicotiana rustica L., and Thuja orientalis L. were, i.e., 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0% in four replicates to establish contact effects. The data were recorded after 1, 2, 3, 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. The repellency effect of these plant species against C. maculatus were increased in both the time- and dose-dependent manner, and highest effect was observed at 72 h. In addition, the repellency effect was 91% for A. indica (class: V), 86% M. azedarach, 82%, N. tabacum (class: V), 79% N. rustica (class: IV), and 75% T. orientalis (class: IV) at 3% concentration against C. maculatus. Furthermore, following 96 hours’ exposure to treatment the sensitivity response of insects decreases as the time interval increases, i.e., 86% A. indica (class: V) was followed by 71% M. azedarach (class: IV), 65% N. tabacum (class: IV), 61% N. rustica (class: IV), and T. orientalis 57% (class: III) repellency at highest concentration of 3%. The current study concluded that A. indica and M. azedarach can be incorporated for the management of C. maculatus and these plant species might be helpful in the productions of new biopesticides.

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C auliflower, Brassica oleracea, belongs to family cruciferace which is a very diverse group comprises 350 genera and more than 3,500 cultivated and wild plants species (Warwick et al., 2003). Cau-liflower is basically a cool season vegetable having a temperature requirement for growth and heading is between 15°C and 20°C. Pakistan is among the top ten producing countries of this vegetable in the world (FAO, 2008). The production of Cauliflower has been reduced by several factors including insect pests such Abstract | Under unprotected condition study was carried out during the months from July to November in the year 2012 and 2013 to investigate population dynamics and observe the impact of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall on population of Plutella xylostella (L.) in Cauliflower, Brassica oleracea crop at District Haripur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Field studies results showed that the population of P. xylostella gradually increased from mid of July where the population was 2.1 and 2.0 larvae and pupae per plant in the year 2012 and 2013 respectively. The population increased in September to highest number of larvae and pupae per plant (8.25 and 8.4) were recorded in the years 2012 and 2013 respectively. Then population declined from September to November 3.5 and 3.1 larvae and pupae was recorded per plant in both years as the lowest number. In the year 2012, mean maximum and minimum temp showed non-significant negative and positive association (r=-0.32 and 0.07) with population of P. xylostella respectively. Similarly R.H (r=0.89) exhibited positive highly significant whereas RF (r=-0.96) showed negative highly significant relationship with P. xylostella during the year 2012. Likewise, during the year 2013, mean maximum temperature showed non-significant negative relation (r=-0.21) whereas mean minimum temperature showed positive non-significant association with P. xylostella population. Mean relative humidity (RH) also exhibited non-significant positive association (r=0.06), while the population effectively influenced by total rainfall (r=-0.82) which exhibited highly significant negative association. Regression analysis showed 87-96% (R 2 ) variability due to weather parameters on the population dynamics of P. xylostella at District Haripur.

S. litura was reared on artificial meals in a controlled laboratory setting at 26.1°C, 16:8 h L:D, and 65.5% RH at the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Islamabad, Pakistan, to evaluate its premature, mature adult stage characteristics and predation by C. cornea. On the artificial diet, the results for various parameters, including total larval duration (19.1 days, 45 percent), pre-pupal period (3.4 days, 92 percent), pupal period (7.05 days, 83 percent), and total immature duration from eggs to adult stage (33.4 days, 33 percent), as well as percent survival rate, were recorded. On a corn-based artificial diet, data on the pre-oviposition period (2.4 days), oviposition period (5.4 days), post-oviposition period (1.63 days), female fecundity (1366 eggs), and adult longevity (8.66 days) of mature stages of S. litura were collected. When supplied as prey, the predator's biological parameters and predatory capacity, C. carnea, were tested on two stages of S. litura (eggs and 1st instar larvae). The studies indicated that the prey significantly affected the total larval duration, immature duration, and % survival rate. The entire larval period was greatly minimized when C. carnea was offered eggs of S. litura for feeding. Additionally, higher % survival and fecundity were observed feeding with S. litura eggs, followed by 1st instar larvae. C. carnea consumed 443 S. litura eggs and 395 S. litura larvae during its larval development. Daily consumption of C. carnea larvae reached a maximum of 73 eggs and 53 1st instar larvae of S. litura. Comparatively, C. carnea larvae recorded maximum egg predation compared to 1st instar larvae of S. litura and the shorter developmental period when eggs were offered as prey. Moreover, 3rd instar larvae of C. carnea were found more voracious than early instars.

T omato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is self-pollinated, cosmopolitan crop mainly grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world (Tahir et al., 2012;Kumar et al., 2017). Tomato is a rich source of minerals, vitamins, sugars, essential amino acids, vitamin A, B, C, iron and phosphorus, it also contains Lycopene which is an antioxidant used to decrease the risk neurodegenerative diseases (Mahla et al., 2017).

and cleaning. Soldiers play a key role in the identification of species and colony defense. They are unable to eat and are fed by workers through trophallaxis, which is also a source of communication (Hickey, 2006). Third one is the reproductive caste (King, Queen, primary and secondary reproductive) responsible for repro-