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The five specimens of Miotragocerus gluten were collected from the Lower Siwalik outcrops nearby the villages Chabbar Sayadan and Phadial in Punjab, Pakistan. The newly discovered specimens include the two horn cores and isolated teeth. Miotragocerus gluten is the medium-sized bovids, having brachydont to the sub-hypsodont type of dentition. The cusps are elevated, and the crown is surrounded by a rugose enamel layer. The present study reveals the abundance of bovids in the middle Miocene deposits which indicates a grassland ecosystem in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a major pest of several crops leading to significant yield losses. Developing effective and eco-friendly pest management strategies against fall armyworm (FAW) is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study investigates the synthesis and evaluation of the insecticidal activity of silver nanoparticles based on an aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL-AgNPs) against FAW. The synthesized MOL-AgNPs were characterized and confirmed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging. Four concentrations (200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm) of MOL-AgNPs and a deionized water as blank control were tested against larval mortality of the last three larval instars of FAW by food dipping method. Results showed different concentrations of MOL-AgNPs exhibited significantly higher larvicidal activity (p<0.05). In the 4th instar, 67.5%, 82.5%, and 95% larval mortality were observed in MOLAgNPs at 500 ppm after 24, 48, and 72 h of the larval exposure, respectively. Similarly in the 5th instar larvae, 72.5% (24 h), 83.75% (48 h), and 90% (72 h) mortality was observed after larval exposures to maximum concentration (500 ppm) of MOL-AgNPs. The 6th instar larvae showed 52.5% (24 h), 57.5% (48 h), and 85% (72 h) percentage mortality at 500 ppm. The MOL-AgNPs demonstrated high larvicidal activity which increased with the increase in concentrations of MOL-AgNPs and duration of exposure. The concentration levels with increased duration of exposure resulted in higher larval mortalities in all three larval instars. However, a more pronounced impact of larvicidal activity was observed on the 4th and 5th instars as compared to the 6th instar. The mortality rates recorded for both the concentration of the nanoparticles and the duration of exposure highlighted the potential of MOL-AgNPs as an eco-friendly and effective pest management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]