Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) cause extensive damage to many stored products, thereby reducing their nutritional and economic value. However, controlling these pests with insecticides can have an impact on the environment as well as on human health. Thus, it is important to identify more environmentally safe compounds, such as plant oils, that can be used as an alternative means of pest control. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of 5 plant oils isolated from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Lamiaceae), onion (Allium cepa L., Amaryllidaceae), flax (Linum usitatissimum Mill., Linaceae), caraway (Carum carvi [Lindl.] H. Wolff, Apiaceae), and brown galingale (Cyperus fuscus, or saad L., Cyperaceae) for use on the stored-products insect pests T. castaneum and O. surinamensis. The efficacy of these oils was evaluated at concentrations of 1, 2, 3, and 4 µL per mL and at an exposure time of 24 h. Results indicated that O. surinamensis was more susceptible to plant oils than T. castaneum, which showed a greater resistance to these natural products. Results also revealed that caraway and lavender oils were the most toxic of all treatments rendered for T. castaneum, with 50% lethal concentration (LT50) values of 1.2 and 2.4 µL per mL, respectively. The onion and lavender oils displayed the highest efficacy on O. surinamensis with insect mortality reaching 100% with onion oil and an LT50 value for lavender oil of 0.6 µL per mL. These results suggest that onion, lavender, and caraway oils are potentially promising and environmentally acceptable alternatives for the control of T. castaneum and O. surinamensis.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is a disease vector for several pathogens that affect human health worldwide. Therefore, there is a need to produce synthetic chemicals that can effectively control mosquitoes; however, these chemicals can also cause a range of environmental and health problems. In the present review, we compiled all available information from the literature between 2005 and 2018 on plant products that have been used to control A. aegypti and tabulated their modes of action. This review classifies these plant-based products according to their bioactivities (toxicity, repellency, feeding deterrence, and oviposition deterrence) and provides new insights, findings, and patterns of their application. Plants contain a wide spectrum of chemical compounds that can effectively control mosquito populations; therefore, they should be developed to control diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Plant products are mostly safe for human, animal, and environmental health. Moreover, because of the diversity and low use of plant-derived compounds as insect control agents, mosquitoes have not acquired resistance to them. The present review indicated that the bioactivities of many plant compounds can effectively control A. aegypti in laboratory conditions, and the comprehensive cataloging and classification of natural plant product bioactivities in this review will facilitate the search for new applications of these substances in insect pest control strategies.

Background: Head lice infestation with Pediculus humanus capitis is a widespread health concern among school children. The prevalence of lice infestation and the associated risk factors were assessed among primary school girls in Albaha region.Methods: A total of 672 girls in Al Makhwa area were examined and interviewed. The prevalence of pediculosis was 45.45%.Results: The results indicated there was a significant relation between lice infestation and several risk factors: crowdness in classrooms (89.52% in heavily crowded classes); sharing bedrooms (P≤0.001); hair washing frequency and the person washing it (P≤0.001); sharing combs and towels (69.53 and 71.4% respectively); using a hair-dryer (P≤0.001). Girls' school class level, hair characters, family income, number of family members, mother's education and occupation, mode of transport to school and presence of a house servant were found to have no significant impact on head lice infestation.Conclusions: Family education is needed to implement proper personal hygiene practices and cease sharing personal items. Periodic screening of students at school and home is recommended for early detection and treatment.

The surveillance of mosquitoes is the primary method for protecting humans from the spread of dangerous diseases such as malaria and dengue fever transmitted by certain mosquito species. The present study aimed to survey and identify mosquito species in the Taif governorate to determine their medical importance and monitor their distribution across seasons. A black hole light trap was used to collect adult mosquitoes, with four readings per month over an entire year recorded. A total of 3796 adult mosquitoes were collected, and 12 species were identified. All species belonged to the following genera: Culex, Aedes, Anopheles, Culiseta, and Lutzia; however, mosquito genera of medical importance (i.e., Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles) were examined in the present study. Adult mosquito species occurred throughout the entire year, with peaks of density and activity during summer and autumn (24-30°C), confirming that environmental temperature plays a key role in mosquito existence and distribution. This study might provide evidence regarding the spread of mosquitoes and creates a database of the mosquito species in the Taif governorate, which would assist in pest control programs.