Aflatoxins are produced by different strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, found in different agricultural commodities. Contamination of aflatoxin in food crops is a global issue and ingestion of such crops leads to drastic effects on health of animals and humans. Up to 25% of...

The melon fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) is a quarantine insect pest worldwide and affects the vegetable quality through its direct feeding and indirectly by passing way for secondary pathogens. This study investigated the host susceptibility, preference and offspring performance of ...

Key chili and maize growing areas of Pakistan were selected for a focused baseline study of the levels of Aspergillus spp. Investigations were undertaken using a combination of molecular and culture-based techniques. Samples investigated included soil samples, one-year-old corn cobs, and fresh...

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is considered as one of the major insect pest for apple growers in Balochistan province, Pakistan. To mass rear codling moth in the laboratory for different research purposes, three artificial diets with different compositions were...

During past few years, continuous detection of khapra beetle was reported in rice consignments shipped from Pakistan to USA and Mexico. It triggered partner countries to enforce export restrictions on Pakistani processed rice causing millions of dollars loss to the country. Finally, it accelerated...

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the important fruit crops in Sindh, Pakistan. However, in recent years, the papaya crop had been adversely affected with papaya mealybug. Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) initiated its project "Phytosanitary Risk Management Program...

Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) is designated as a quarantine insect pest worldwide due to its voracious feeding on stored grains. Development of insecticidal resistance and its ability to withstand starvation for longer time makes it one of the most destructive arthropod for stored products....

Typhlodromus divergentis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a predatory mite of the family Phytoseiidae. Phytoseiid mites are known as one of the most promising biocontrol agents against spider mites. Biological studies of T. divergentis including preference of prey stage and predatory potential on ...