Synthetic insecticides heavily applied to manage agricultural pests are highly hazardous to the environment and non-target organisms. Their overuse through repeated treatments in smallholder farming communities is frequent. Botanical biopesticides are ideal for sustainable pest management in agricultural environments by keeping synthetic insecticide use at a minimum. Here we evaluated a locally prepared neem seed extract (NSE) alongside emamectin benzoate against both lepidopteran pests Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) on tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill under natural field conditions in Pakistan. We compared pest severity, fruit injury, quality, marketability, and cost:benefit ratio (CBR) between treatments. The concentration of azadirachtin A in the NSE was 26.5 ppm. NSE at 2% (20 mL/L) and the emamectin benzoate at the recommended field rate in Pakistan were sprayed weekly throughout the fruiting stage. The pest larvae were significantly more abundant on fruits than on flowers and leaves. Fruit injury and losses were significantly more important in untreated control compared to NSE and emamectin benzoate treatments. NSE efficacy varied with respect to the cultivars used and the seasons. Cultivar Eden harboured more pests than Adventa, and emamectin benzoate suppressed more pest individuals than NSE. Both the insecticidal treatments were comparable in terms of marketable yield productions as well as unmarketable, uninjured, and recovered fruit yields. NSE generated a higher CBR (1: 9.26) than emamectin benzoate (1: 3.23). NSE suppressed pests by acting as an antifeedant, similar to its synthetic counterpart. Smallholder growers can thus use NSE as a cost-effective solution in tomato pest management in Pakistan.

This study was conducted to investigate weed infestations of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fields in the region of Tarim River. Forty‐nine species among 17 families were identified in these cotton fields, and 24 of them were annuals. The eight dominant weed species in the cotton fields of Tarim River basin included Chenopodium glaucum, Solanum nigrum, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium hybridum, Bolboschoenus planiculmis, Sonchus arvensis, Phragmites australis, and Mulgedium tataricum. The number of weed species in the Aksu River tributary area, Yeerqiang River tributary area, and the upper and lower reaches of the Tarim River reached 29, 36, 35, and 33, respectively. Twenty species were found widely distributed among each basin. The dominant weeds in the cotton fields in the Aksu River basin and upper reaches of the Tarim River were S. nigrum and C. glaucum, those in the cotton fields in the Yarkand River basin included C. album and C. hybridum, and those in the cotton fields in the lower reaches of the Tarim River were C. glaucum and C. album. Notably the 20 common surveyed species of C. glaucum, S. nigrum, C. album, C. hybridum, B. planiculmis, S. arvensis, P. australis, M. tataricum, and others, could pose a serious challenge to regional crop production if not adequately controlled. As such, each cotton field should adopt a suitable weeding scheme with strengthened weed monitoring according to the local conditions, especially the weed distribution area characteristics.

The study systematically investigated the key biological and ecological characteristics of Cyamophila willeti , a major pest of the tree species Styphnolobium japonicum . We focused on its circadian mating rhythm, oviposition preference, and the effects of temperature on population parameters. Using the age-stage, two-sex life table approach, we compared the development, reproduction, and population growth potential under different temperature conditions. Results showed that mating activity peaked at 12:00 and 17:00, with females significantly preferring shoot tips for oviposition. At 25°C, female and male adult longevities were 39.88 ± 0.93 and 46.71 ± 1.69 days, respectively, and the mean fecundity per female was 647.75 ± 52.94 eggs. At 29°C, longevity was significantly reduced to 11.88 ± 4.10 days for females and 13.89 ± 4.31 days for males, while fecundity decreased to 47.63 ± 4.26 eggs. Most nymphs did not develop beyond the fifth instar at 33°C. These findings indicate that the optimal temperature for population growth of C. willeti is around 25°C, whereas high temperatures (≥29°C) significantly suppress survival and reproduction. This study establishes a foundation for monitoring C. willeti and developing effective control strategies.

Malaria is considered as the single most prevalent life-threatening infectious disease in the world which spreads to human populations by Anopheles mosquito. Malaria infection poses serious risks to adults, children and pregnant women. The adverse effects in pregnant women include anaemia, fetal demise and premature delivery. The incidence of malaria is higher in children younger than five years in endemic areas like tropical Africa. The vector potential of female species Anopheles varies due to different meteorological conditions. Climate based models have also shown an enhancement of disease following extreme weather changes. This review gleans an insight into the association of malaria with different climatic variables. It covers etiology, symptoms’ manifestation, life cycle of the parasite, transmission, epidemiology, drug resistance, impact of El Niño cycle, malarial association with climatic change and conclusions and technological innovations.