Lantana camara is weed with a wide range of chemical constituents, including primary and secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids. These compounds contribute to its medicinal and pesticidal potential. The essential oils and different solvent fractions derived from L. camara exhibit notable variations in their respective chemical compositions across various plant parts, spatial distributions, and interspecific comparisons. The principal components, notably lantadene A, lantadene B, lantadene C, lantadene D, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and several others, constitute a significant portion of the essential oil derived from the leaves and flowers. Researchers have discovered that L. camara oil exhibits potent insecticidal activity against a range of pests, with variations in potency observed across different seasons due to changes in chemical composition. In addition to the essential oils, solvent extracts of L. camara, primarily methanolic extracts of the leaves of this species, demonstrate considerable potential as fumigant and contact toxins for stored grain pests. However, these have been comparatively less characterized with respect to their insecticidal properties, particularly in comparison to the essential oils. Molecular docking studies have demonstrated that phytochemical compounds present in the plants interfere with the activity of several enzymes that are responsible for the growth and survival of insects. For example, compounds such as β-caryophyllene and linalool exhibited a high binding affinity to AChE, thereby enhancing its neurotoxic effects. In conclusion, this review identifies L. camara as a natural insecticide with a complex set of modes of action attributed to its rich phytochemical profile. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern molecular techniques might expose avenues for the sustainable management of pests and control, ultimately making L. camara a key resource for such applications. Further studies are necessary to characterize such bioactive compounds and their uses in controlling pests in agricultural operations.

Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Podosphaera fusca, poses a significant threat to global cucurbit cultivation. This report presents a noteworthy observation with potential implications for managing the prevalent biotic stress in cucumber crops. Our research unveils the active feeding behaviour of the earwig species Forficula auricularia on P. fusca, highlighting its potential as a promising natural biocontrol agent. Molecular identification techniques, resulting in accession number OQ102947, unequivocally confirmed the species as F. auricularia. While this discovery is promising, further studies are crucial to evaluate the biological control efficiency of F. auricularia against P. fusca in cucurbit crops.

Plant-emitted volatiles provide spatial cues that guide insects to suitable habitats, often facilitating encounters with potential mates. In this study, volatiles from walnut trees (Juglans spp.) were observed to function as navigational signals for Holotrichia longipennis (Blanchard), directing males to areas where receptive females were present. Adult beetles began emerging around 7:30 PM, followed by intense flight activity exhibited by both sexes. Mating subsequently occurred, with copulation lasting an average of 2.28 hours. These observations suggest that walnut tree volatiles may play a crucial role in guiding adults to conspecifics for mating. Future research should focus on identifying the specific volatile compounds involved in eliciting this behavioral response and evaluating their potential synergistic effects with sex pheromones.

Synthetic pesticides have been extensively and often indiscriminately used for the management of insect and mite pests. Their prolonged and excessive use has led to insecticide resistance, environmental contamination, and adverse effects on non-target organisms and human health. These concerns have intensified the search for safer and sustainable botanical alternatives. Tagetes minuta (wild marigold) is a promising candidate, as it produces essential oils rich in bioactive compounds such as (Z)-β-ocimene and tagetone, which possess strong insecticidal, acaricidal, and repellent properties. The efficacy of T. minuta essential oil has been demonstrated against a wide range of pests, including stored-grain insects, field crop pests, and livestock ectoparasites. This review summarises the chemical composition, bioactivity, and pest management potential of T. minuta essential oil, highlighting its prospects as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional synthetic pesticides.

Background: Implementing integrated strategies for weed management is essential in maximizing blackgram yield. Unchecked weed proliferation leads to substantial decrease in crop productivity. Methods: The current field experiment was conducted at Salooni, Himachal Pradesh, to evaluate the efficacy of different integrated weed management practices during Kharif 2022 and 2023. Eleven treatments targeting weed control were evaluated both at pre and post - emergence stages. Result: The predominant weeds were Echinochloa colona, Galinsoga parviflora, Cyperus species and other broad leaf weeds were Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium repens, Trianthema species, Ageratum conyzoides. Data on weed dynamics revealed that; after weed-free treatment, the application of Imazethapyr 75 g/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS; Pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS and Pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha + imazethapyr 75 g/ha (PE) recorded a significantly lower total weed count as compared to other treatments. Parameters related to blackgram growth and yield, including plant height, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, grain yield and haulm yield were significantly higher with weed-free treatment followed by application of imazethapyr 75 g/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS, remaining at par with application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha + imazethapyr 75 g/ha (PE) and pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS. The most economically efficient weed control method was the combination of pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha + imazethapyr 75 g/ha (PE), as it resulted in the highest net returns and marginal benefit-cost ratio.