Country bean (Lablab purpureus L.), a popular vegetable in Bangladesh, is severely affected by insect pests and diseases. Farmers’ perceptions of insect pests, diseases, and their management are critical constraints to the establishment of an effective and sustainable pest management approach for this crop. A comprehensive survey was conducted with 300 country bean farmers from six districts of Bangladesh to assess farmers’ perceptions and knowledge of the insect pests and diseases of country bean, and their management practices. The survey results show that country bean farmers have been facing varying pest problems for more than ten years. They could identify eight pests and only one beneficial insect species in their fields, including thrips and jute weevil, as new pests. Among the pests, aphids and pod borers were common in all surveyed areas. More than 80% of farmers said their bean plants were severely affected by bean yellow mosaic virus and white mold diseases. Farmers also mentioned that insect pests and diseases together caused 30–40% yield losses of this crop. About 76% of the farmers solely depended on different chemical pesticides for the production of country bean. Growers frequently used insecticides from the organophosphorus and neonicotinoid groups, and fungicides from the triazole group, to manage pests associated with this crop. Farmers start applying pesticides from the seedling stages, at three-day intervals, maintaining only two- to four-day pre-harvest intervals (PHI). Our findings provide insight into the importance of developing sustainable pest management approaches for country bean production in Bangladesh.

Wild field crickets (Brachytrupes portentosus) were found to have a sex-based demand in the market of Bangladesh. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of sex on nutritional composition ofB. portentosus. Both the male and female adultB. portentosus were found to have high nutritional value. The average weight and dry matter of female species were significantly higher compared to maleB. portentosus. On the basis of dry matter contents, the crude protein (62.1 g/100 g) and crude fibre (9.4 g/100 g) was higher in male than the protein (48.8 g/100 g dry matter; DM) and fibre (8.8 g/100 g DM) content of female species. However, crude fat content was lower in male (22.1 g/100 g DM) than female (29.9 g/100 g DM)B. portentosus. Nitrogen free extract was lower in male (2.8 g/100 g) than female (7.9 g/100 g). Consequently, the energy value was higher in female (496.6 kcal) than the male (458.3 kcal) in 100 g dry matter. High performance liquid chromatography results revealed nine essential and six non-essential amino acids found in adultB. portentosus with slight variation in males and females. Females contained all essential and non-essential amino acids in higher amount than males except for alanine, phenylalanine and threonine. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry results showed that both male and femaleB. portentosus contained palmitic acid, stearic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. However, myristic acid was only found in adult femaleB. portentosus. The atomic absorption spectroscopy results showed higher mineral contents (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Zn and Fe) in both sexes ofB. portentosus. However, male contained higher Ca and K compared to femaleB. portentosus while Zn and Fe were almost same in both sexes.

Agarwood is the resinous heartwood obtained from the injured parts of trees under Thymelaeaceae family particularly from Aquilaria species. Agarwood is considered as the most prized non-timber forest product (NTFP) used in attars as well as medicines. Quality of agarwood is the determiner for defining its commercial value. Different countries use different grading system to explain the quality of agarwood. In Bangladesh, more than 45 compounds have been identified so far, mostly sesquiterpenoids, alkanes, fatty acid and other volatile aromatic compounds that are responsible for its fragrance and high prices. Ether extract, total phenolic contents, flavonoid, antioxidant and microbiological tests have shown tremendous positive results. Chemical profiling of agar products is the best identified using GC-MS technique by the various authors. Present review discusses the full scenario of Aquilaria production, inoculation, extraction methods, determination of agarwood quality and chemical constituents of agar oils and possibilities and barriers of this industry in Bangladesh.

The locust problem is a global threat for food security. Locusts can fly and migrate overseas within a zip and creating a large-scale devastation to the diversified agro-ecosystem. GIS based analysis showed the recent movement of locusts, among them Schistocerca gregaria and Locusta migratoria are predominant in Indian subcontinent and are found more notorious and devastating one. This devastation needs to be stopped to save human race from food deprivation. In our study, we screened some commonly used agricultural pesticides and strongly recommended three of them viz . biphenthrin, diafenthiuron and silafluofen which might be potential to control the desert locusts based on their binding affinity towards the locust’s survival proteins. Our phylogenetic analysis reveals that these three recommended pesticides might also show potency to the other locust species as well as they are also way safer than the other commercially available pesticides. These proposed pesticide’s bioactive analogs from fungus and bacteria may also show efficacy as next generation controlling measures of locust as well as different kind of pests. These recommended pesticides are expected to be highly effective against locusts and needs to bring forward by the entomologists’ by performing experimental field trials. Highlights: GIS map unmasked the 2020 migratory pattern of locusts which now predominant towards Indian subcontinent. Biphenthrin, diafenthiuron and silafluofen showed maximum binding affinity. Biphenthrin and diafenthiuron were relatively safer than silafluofen. Bioactive analogs from fungus and bacteria could be an alternative to control locusts. Pesticides inhibition hotspots for desert locusts were unrevealed.