The recent upsurge of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål, 1775) has had an impact on East Africa and the Middle East as far as India. It has affected and slowed down many aspects of the Pakistani economy. Swarms of locusts have infested many areas and caused immense damage to all types of crops. Both farmers and economists are concerned and are trying to get the most up-to-date information on the best strategy to manage this pest. This paper is an attempt to (i) provide insight into the dynamics of this upsurge internationally as well as in the various regions of Pakistan, (ii) briefly assess its local impact and locust control measures, and (iii) clarify the role of the various stakeholders in the management, both nationally and internationally, suggesting various improvements for the future.

The desert locust has been a notorious pest since ancient times. A population upsurge hit Pakistan in 2019 and caused tremendous damage to agriculture and livelihoods. To take advantage of this ongoing upsurge, we conducted a field study to verify whether locust collection could be an interesting control method to protect crops in the event of an invasion, as well as an accepted food resource for poor rural communities. A village in the Thar desertic region was selected as a type-locality. An awareness campaign was launched to promote the collection and consumption of locusts as well as to alert people of their nutritional value. Two large swarms arrived near the village and several other swarms affected places nearby. Around 3033 kg of locusts were collected through handpicking at night. Most of the locusts were eaten and, as a result, hoppers of the next generation did not emerge in the type-locality; however, hopper bands appeared in areas where entomophagy was not practiced. The study area had less locust activity because swarms could not lay eggs due to entomophagy by the villagers. The consumption of desert locusts could be an effective practice to prevent malnutrition and protein deficiency and, to a certain extent, an efficient mitigation measure to help local populations to better protect themselves and their crops against locust outbreaks. Collection and consumption of locusts should be encouraged while remaining realistic about its real impact on locust control. This should also be done in concert with local authorities to take into account the risks to human health and to avoid the consumption of insects treated with pesticides.

Seventeen species of the family Gryllidae were reviewed and a Modicogryllus sindhensis is described herein as new. Four species, namely Acheta hispanicus Rambur, 1838, Gryllus septentrionalis F. Walker, 1869, Callogryllus saeedi Saeed, 2000, and Miogryllus itaquiensis Orsini & Zefa, 2017 are recorded as new country and state records. Differences between similar species and a taxonomic key to the species of Sindh are provided.

Colitis, an inflammatory condition of the colon that encompasses ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease, presents significant challenges due to the limitations and side effects of current treatments. This study investigates the potential of natural products, specifically AH and NSO, as organic therapeutic agents for colitis. Molecular docking studies were conducted to identify the binding affinities and interaction mechanisms between the bioactive compounds in AH and NSO and proteins implicated in colitis, such as those involved in inflammation and oxidative stress pathways. An in vivo experiment was performed using an albino mouse model of colitis, with clinical symptoms, histopathological assessments, and biochemical analyses conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the compounds both individually and in combination. Results from the molecular docking studies revealed promising binding interactions between fructose and Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (Ptgs2) and between fructose and cellular tumor antigen p53, with docking energy measured at −6.0 kcal/mol and −5.1 kcal/mol, respectively. Meanwhile, the presence of glucose molecule glucokinase chain A (−6.3 kcal/mol) and chain B (−5.8 kcal/mol) indicated potential efficacy in modulating inflammatory pathways. Experimental data demonstrated that treatment with AH and NSO significantly reduced inflammation, improved gut health, and ameliorated colitis symptoms. Histopathological evaluations confirmed reduced mucosal damage and immune cell infiltration, while biochemical analyses showed normalization of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress levels. This study provides compelling evidence for the potential of AH and NSO as natural, complementary treatments for colitis, suggesting their future role in integrative therapeutic strategies. However, further research into long-term safety, optimal dosing, and mechanisms of action is warranted to translate these findings into clinical applications.

The Cholistan desert hosts a diverse range of flora and fauna, including a rich variety of insects. However, studies focusing on Coleoptera (Beetles) in this region remain limited. To assess their biodiversity, the present study employed random sampling using hand nets, pitfall traps, and hand picking. Coleopterans are ecologically vital as ecosystem engineers and environmental indicators, but global research, especially in arid regions, lacks taxonomic expertise and resources. Although a comprehensive checklist of beetle species is urgently needed for the Cholistan region of Punjab, such efforts are currently constrained by limited knowledge of beetle natural history and distribution. Understanding their habitat preferences is key to evaluating environmental responses and guiding conservation. The present study, therefore, aimed to support future research on beetles in the Cholistan desert by providing baseline data. A total of 1,449 specimens were collected and identified, representing 8 species, 8 genera, and 4 families. The documented species include Blaps gigas (Linnaeus, 1767), Pimelia canariensis (Fabricius, 1781), Scarabaeus gangeticus (Castelnau, 1840), Phyllophaga crinita (Burmeister, 1855), Julodis euphratica (Laporte and Gory, 1835), Anthia sexguttata (Fabricius, 1775), Calosoma auropunctatum (Herbst, 1784), and Trachyderma hispida (Forskål, 1775). Notably, Phyllophaga crinita (Burmeister, 1855) J. aequinoctialis, and T. lima are likely new records for both the Cholistan desert and Pakistan. The study not only enhances the understanding of Coleoptera biodiversity in the Cholistan desert but also provides foundational data for future ecological research and conservation efforts in arid regions of Pakistan.

Conocephalinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigonioidea: Ensifera) are primarily phytophagous insects, some of which are known to cause substantial damage to commercial crops. In addition to their agricultural importance, many conocephaline species exhibit ecological associations with forest biosensors and display diverse behavioral adaptations, including predation, mimicry, and camouflage. The Cholistan desert, located within the Bahawalpur division, is characterized by its distinct xeric insect fauna adapted to arid environments. Despite its ecological significance, the Conocephalinae of this region have remained largely unstudied. The objective of the present survey was to assess the diversity and seasonal abundance of Conocephaline katydids in the Bahawalpur division. Over a 12-month collection period (2022-2023), a total of 697 specimens were recorded and identified, belonging to six species: Euconocephalus incertus Walker, 1869; E. pallidus (Redtenbacher, 1891); E. mucro de Haan, 1842; E. nasutus Thunberg, 1815; E. indicus (Redtenbacher, 1891); and one species of Conocephalus (Anisoptera) maculatus Le Guillou, 1841. This investigation represents the first systematic documentation of Conocephaline katydids from the arid zones of the Bahawalpur division.