Four new species of Zeugodacus Hendel are described from India viz., Zeugodacus momordicae David & Ajaykumara, sp. nov. from Arunachal Pradesh infesting male flower buds of Momordica dioica, Zeugodacus nasivittatus David & Abhishek, sp. nov. from Meghalaya, Zeugodacus (Sinodacus) sinuvittatus David & Abhishek, sp. nov. from Himachal Pradesh and Zeugodacus (Zeugodacus) umiam David & Kennedy, sp. nov. from Meghalaya. An illustrated key to all species of Zeugodacus from India is also included. Bactrocera (Parazeugodacus) abbreviata (Hardy) and Dacus (Mellesis) vijaysegarani Drew & Hancock are recorded for the first time from India.

Eggs of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) and the Indian meal moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stalion were evaluated as hosts for mass-rearing Trichogramma pretiosum Riley. The efficacy of the Trichogramma reared on both the hosts were studied on fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). Parasitoids developed from each source were evaluated on the source host and on the target host, S. frugiperda. T. prestiosum reared on the two factitious hosts viz., C. cephalonica and G. mellonella were able to parasitize S. frugiperda eggs under laboratory conditions. Parasitoids reared on G. mellonella (GF) exhibited significantly higher parasitism rate and lower host larval emergence than the parasitoids reared on C. cephalonica (CF) when tested against S. frugiperda. The results demonstrate that the choice of rearing host influences the parasitism efficiency, host suppression, and fitness traits of T. pretiosum. These findings support the development of optimized mass-rearing protocols and the application of this parasitoid in biological control strategies targeting S. frugiperda.

Two new species of Phytalmiinae belonging to the tribe Acanthonevrini are described from India, namely Ptilona confracta David & Hancock, sp. nov. from Arunachal Pradesh and Tritaeniopteron obscurum David, Salini & Nikhil, sp. nov. from Karnataka. Tritaeniopteron de Meijere is recorded for the first time from India based on the new species T. obscurum; male and female syntypes of T. punctatipleurum (Senior-White) are dissected and illustrated. A female of Erectovena desperata (Hering), both sexes of Felderimyia gombakensis Hancock & Drew and Phorelliosoma hilaratum Hering, recorded for the first time from India are dissected and illustrated. An illustrated key to 23 species of Acanthonevrini belonging to 12 genera from India is included. DNA barcode sequences of Felderimyia fuscipennis Hendel, Ptilona confracta, P. confinis (Walker), Rioxoptilona dunlopi (van der Wulp) and Themara yunnana Zia were obtained and reported.

The present study was conducted during 2023–24 and 2024–25 to evaluate the field efficacy of new-generation insecticides against major insect pests of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and to assess household-level residue mitigation techniques for safe tomato consumption. Field trials tested chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, spinosad, and indoxacarb at three dosages. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC at the recommended 1× dose reduced Helicoverpa armigera populations by 59.82% and 51.60% across the two seasons, and aphid populations by 32.20% and 39.09%, achieving tomato yields of 17.40 t ha⁻¹ with a benefit–cost ratio of 2.67:1, which were comparable to the marginally higher yields recorded at higher doses. Higher doses increased pest suppression and yield but reduced beneficial coccinellid beetles. Therefore, the identification of the most suitable insecticide was based on performance at the recommended (1×) dose, where effective pest control was achieved with minimal impact on beneficial arthropods. Among household decontamination methods, a 2% salt solution achieved over 84% residue reduction across all insecticides at the 1× dose, followed by lukewarm water (81.58–85.17%), lemon juice (78.82–81.88%), tamarind solution (78.15–79.55%), and tap water (77.46–79.38%). Residue removal was more effective at recommended doses due to lower initial deposits. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC at the recommended dose showed effective pest control while preserving natural enemies, and simple household washing techniques, particularly salt solutions, significantly reduced residues, ensuring safer tomato consumption.