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Objectives: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is frequently affected by fungal infections during the pre-and post-harvesting periods, resulting in severe losses to the farming economy. The common pre-and post-harvest pomegranate pathogens affecting the final yield and quality of the fruits are Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium implicatum, and Aspergillus niger. This study aimed to isolate and identify the pathogens causing pomegranate rot diseases. Also, the values of Xanthium strumarium extracts as eco-friendly control agents and three Trichoderma strains as biological control agents against the pomegranate fungal pathogen were determined. Methods: The plate dilution method was used to isolate fungi populations from pomegranate plants. The pathogens fungi were identified by the morphological and molecular method by sequenced of internal transcript spacer (ITS) region. The antifungal activities of X. strumarium extracted either by both ethanol or methanol and Trichoderma were investigated. Results and conclusions: The isolated and identified pathogens were P. implicatum, A. alternata, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and F. chlamydosporum. The obtained sequences of these fungi were deposited in NCBI gene bank with accession numbers OK562113–OK562125. The efficiency of X. strumarium extract against pomegranate fungal pathogens ranged from 40.32 to 69.53% for ethanol extract and from 44.40 to 70.28% for methanol extract compared to 44.43%–85.71% for the antifungal Nystatin. Moreover, the efficiency of Trichoderma was 42.22%–72.50%, 42.30%–70.21%, and 44.54%–72.50% for strains ABSA-16, TSA-17, and ABSA-18, respectively. It could be concluded that the isolated pomegranate's pathogenic fungi in Taif were P. implicatum, A. alternata, A. niger, F. oxysporum, and F. chlamydosporum. The extract of X. strumarium obtained from the Taif region and Trichoderma can successfully assist control the pomegranate's pathogenic fungi at pre-and post-harvest, and hence can be successfully included in the IPM programs.

Objective: Trichogramma species are minute endoparasitoids of insect eggs that are considered one of the most efficient natural enemies due to their vital role against lepidopteran pests. This experiment was achieved to evaluate the effect of the emergence time of T. evanescens (Westwood) on the emergence rate, % females, % males, sex ratio, longevity, and the emergence of first generation (F1). Methods: Mass rearing of Sitotroga cerealella and T. evanecsens was performed and the previous parameters were investigated throughout an emergence period extended to 16 hrs. Results and conclusion: The emergence time has a clear impact on the tested biological parameters. The highest values of % emergence of T. evanecsens was obtained at the 7th hrs of emergence. The female percentage increased gradually to achieve the highest rate (63.58%) at the 3rd hrs, then it declined gradually to record the lowest rate (50.00%) at the 15th hrs and 16th hrs of emergence. A significant decrease in the female numbers was started after 8th hrs. There were significant negative correlations between the emerging time and each of emergence percentages and the % female. There was a negative correlation between the emerging time and longevity of T. evanescens. The longevity was 3.06 days for the parasitoid wasp adults emerged at the 1st hr and enhanced to be 3.19 days at the 3rd hrs. Also, there was a negative correlation between the emerging time and the emerging percentages of F1. Finally, the impact of developmental time on the fitness of female wasps proposes that the high quality of T. evanescens could be enlarged by enhancing the percentage of the individuals emerging early at the 7th hrs of emergence.

Objectives: The activity and productivity of the honey bee colony depend upon many factors operating simultaneously and reacts to some environmental conditions. We aimed to study the morphometric characteristics and glands development of nurse and forager of hybrid Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann) workers in relation to activities of the colony during the different seasons. Methods: The study was conducted during spring, summer, fall, then winter in 2020/2021. Ten colonies of hybrid Carniolan honey bees, every colony with about 14,000 bees, were utilizedz. The seasonal variations of foraging activity, hoarded pollen area, and sealed brood area were determined. Also, the body weight, some morphometric characteristics, and development of glands of nurses and foragers bees were measured. Results and conclusions: The highest numbers of foragers and pollen foragers/colony/min., stored pollen area, and worker sealed brood area were recorded in May. Measurements of nurses reared during spring were larger than nurses and foragers of other seasons for body weight, mandibular and hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs), length and width of the 2nd wax mirror. The highest proboscis and corbicula lengths were found in foragers reared during spring, without significant differences between worker castes. It can be concluded that the performance of the colony, morphometric characteristics, and development of glands were dependent on the time of the year. Beekeepers in Kafrelsheikh province and similar environmental condition areas should provide the colonies with pollen substitutes or supplements during April, June, and October to February to maintain the strength of the colonies.

Objectives: The honeybee mainly uses the wax comb for brood rearing and food storage. Repeated brood rearing in the comb changes the wax color and cell dimensions. Therefore, we aimed to study the decline of body size of the individual bees and its impact on colony productivity in relation to comb age. Methods: Twenty colonies of hybrid Carniolan honeybees, each of 12,000 bees, were used. Combs aged 1–3 years were used as new combs, and combs aged 4–6 years as old combs. The weight of the worker, queen, drone, and royal jelly (RJ)/queen cell, storing pollen and honey, and rearing worker and drone brood were determined. Results and conclusions: The body weights of the newly emerged worker, drones, queens, and nurse and forager workers of colonies with the new combs were significantly heavier than those of the colonies with the old combs. Colonies with the new combs were significantly more active in storing pollen and honey, RJ production, and rearing workers and drones. We concluded that the body sizes of the individual bees were declined, and the productivity was decreased in the colonies with the old combs. Replace combs after three years with new others is recommended to encourage colony growth and increase productivity.

Objectives: The small hive beetles (SHBs) cause dangerous damages to bee colonies in several countries. Some African countries represent the native land to these beetles. The SHBs are not well established in North Africa and South Europe (the closest land to the native countries). Therefore, this study aimed to model the current and future distribution of SHBs in Africa and South Europe utilizing temperature datasets. Methods: A total of 250 occurrence data was incorporated in the study. Six temperature variables were used in the Maxent analysis to model the suitability of the study countries for the SHBs. Three climate models were used to estimate the future distribution of SHBs in 2050 and 2070, considering the lowest and the highest limits of the Shared Socio-economic Pathways (126 and 585). Results and conclusions: The high performance of the used model was confirmed by analyzing omission/commission rates as well as the area under curve. All future maps showed the potential expansion of SHBs towards the Northern parts of Africa and some parts in Europe. Such potential expansion was discussed in light of current distribution of SHBs. The study concluded that the SHBs can cause damages to bee colonies in new regions in Africa and Europe during the near future.