Helicoverpa armigera Hübner and Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are the most devastating pests of agricultural and horticultural crops. These polyphagous pest species have a cosmopolitan distribution worldwide. Primarily, synthetic insecticides are used to control to these lepidopterous pests all over the world. Excessive use of synthetic chemicals has created harmful impacts on non-target organisms and environment. Plant-based insecticides have been evidenced as important alternatives to conventional synthetic insecticides. This study was aimed to assess the insecticidal potential of acetone extracts of 40 indigenous flora of Soon valley (Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan) on the 3rd instar larvae of H. armigera and S. litura using leaf-dip bioassay method. Results revealed that some botanical extracts exhibited significant toxicity against both lepidopterous larvae and their response was time and concentration dependent. Initial screening bioassay revealed that highest mortality of 3rd instar H. armigera larvae was exhibited by the 10% extracts of Dodonaea viscosa L. (88%), followed by Olea ferruginea Wall. ex Aitch. (69%), Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. (57%) and Salvia officinalis L. (52.22%). Further toxicity bioassay conducted against 3rd instar larvae of S. litura with different concentrations of 10 most effective plant extracts demonstrated that the extracts of S. officinalis, D. viscosa, O. ferruginea, Sonchus asper (L.) Hill and Nerium indicum Mill. caused significant mortality (i.e. 70 to 95%) of S. litura larvae and exhibited minimum LC50 and LT50 values. Overall study results demonstrate the insecticidal potential of indigenous plant species of Soon valley against H. armigera and S. litura, and suggest their further biochemical characterization and practical implication in the future management programs against these and other lepidopterous pests.

Effective waste management is far behind in developing countries which is sharply harming the natural biodiversity and ecosystem. Predatory ladybird beetle; Coccinella septempunctata, feeds on many soft bodied insect pests. They are exposed to heavy metal contaminants in agriculture and food production systems. This study explored the impact of heavy metal exposure on their survival, growth, feeding fitness. Here, ladybird bird beetle adults were exposed to zinc and lead at two levels (100 and 300 µg/g) using artificial diets. Their mortality, growth and feeding indices were recorded to assess the lethality of Zinc and lead.Both, lead and zinc exerted significant dose-dependent lethal effects on survival, growth and feeding fitness of C. septempunctata. The highest mortality (73.58±2.26%) was recorded at the higher Pb dose (300 µg/g) with the lowest weight gains in comparison to other treatments. Similarly, the lowest relative growth rate (0.39 ± 0.02 mg/mg/day), relative consumption rate (105.71 ± 6.91 mg/mg/day), consumption index (2.54 ± 0.11) and efficiency of conversion of ingested food (2.84 ± 0.11%) were recorded at the higher lead dose (300 µg/g). Zinc metal at lower dose (100 µg/g) did not cause significant effect. The study reveals that heavy metal contaminations in natural agrosystem can negatively affect the physiology and development of exposed C. septempunctata individuals. Resulted outcome of this study necessitates further research to assess the impact of heavy metal pollution on predatory fitness of ladybird beetles for effective insect pest management in food production system.

In Indonesia, there are threats to animal feed security, environmental pressures, human population growth, and increasing demand for protein in the market causing the price of animal-based protein to become more expensive. Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae (Hermetia illucens) serve as one of the candidates for an alternative source of protein substitute for fish meal, which has become limited. In dried BSF larvae, they contain 40-45% protein, 30-35% fat, 11-15% ash, 4.8-5.1% calcium, and 0.6% phosphorus, and various amino acids and mineral. Larval cultivation as fish feed provides many benefits. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the substitution of BSF larvae as an alternative feed that can be used as a conventional feed mixture. The research method used is an experimental method. The study design uses a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The results of this study found that the best feed conversion ratio using BSF larvae flour for catfish seeds 6-8 and 8-12 cm was found in P2 treatment with a percentage of 50% BSF with 1.26 and 1.24 and the value of the best efficiency of feed utilization in the treatment P2 percentage 50% BSF with a value of 94.9% and 83.43%. Replacement of conventional catfish feed partially or as a whole using BSF larvae can increase the growth in length, weight, and will not affect the survival rate of catfish for breeders and catfish breeders. Catfish feed with a mixture of larvae flour BSF can be used to support the success of catfish cultivation.

Legume-rhizobia symbiosis is known for its importance in improving soil fertility. Using theefficient rhizobia strains, farmers can substitute the application of chemical fertilizers.However, several factors limit symbiotic nitrogen fixation, such as rhizobia straincompatibility with host legumes and the soil factors. The physiological, biochemical andmolecular studies that classify rhizobia strains and their association with legume plants arediverse. Therefore, many strategies were adapted to select the best rhizo-bacterial strains forrhizosphere competition. The aim of this review was to identify the potential of rhizobiastrains as biochemical fertilizer and to review the development of new technology systems forfarmer use. This study illustrates the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, role of nitrogen fixation andBNF mechanism. This review is also an update of the abiotic constraint effects on thesymbiosis system.