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Stored grain mites are found worldwide, but infestation is difficult to detect due to their small size. Despite extensive taxonomic studies on mites, further research is required to evaluate the nutritional losses caused by their infestation. In this study, we assessed the nutritional composition and varietal differences of the wheat varieties, Faisalabad-08 and Sehar-06, infested with Rhizoglyphus tritici (Bashir, Afzal, Honey and Khan) after one, three and six months of storage at 25 ± 2 °C and relative humidity of 70 ± 5%. The results showed significant variations in thousand kernel weight (TKW), moisture, crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), crude fiber, ash and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) of wheat grains and wheat flour. The mite population in Sehar-06 increased significantly, reaching 6562 individuals after six months at the highest infestation level (T3). Over the six-month period, both wheat varieties experienced a reduction in thousand kernel weight (TKW), with Sehar-06 showing a greater decrease. Sehar-06 also showed the largest increase in moisture content, rising from 16.10% in the control to 17.87% in T3 after six months. It also had significant decreases in crude protein (CP) and crude fat (CF), from 14.35% and 1.31% in the control to 11.55% and 0.57% in T3, respectively. Crude fiber and ash increased, whereas nitrogen-free extract (NFE) decreased from 65.64% in the control to 62.12% in T3. These findings provide valuable information on the nutritional impact of mite infestation in stored wheat for farmers, grain storage managers and food manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A first cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the distribution and identification of tick species infesting donkeys, in district Dera Ismail Khan and two tehsils i.e. Daraban and Kulachi. A total of 1370 donkeys were examined and a total of 2190 ticks were collected from different body parts of donkeys. Thirteen tick species belonging to seven genera identified in this study were Rhipicephalus sanguineus (13.196%), Amblyomma variegatum (1.416%), A. americanum (2.001%), Rhipicephalus decoloratus (2.657%), Dermacentor reticulatus (3.651%), D. marginatus (4.711%), Hyalomma rufipes (8.538%), H. dromedarii (12.251%), H. excavatum (9.963), H. anatolicum (19.132%), H. scupense (12.702%), Haemaphysalis punctata (4.803%) and Ixodes ricinus (2.602%). H. anatolicum was the dominant species with 19.132% prevalence, while, A. variegatum was least prevalent, with 1.416% prevalence. The relative abundance of tick species in three tehsils of D.I.Khan was 46.06, 30.85 and 22.90% in tehsil D.I.Khan, Kulachi and Daraban, respectively. Mane and ears were the most affected parts of the host body, while, the tail, eyes and muzzle were less affected. The statistical analysis of the prevalence of ticks among different age and sex groups was found significant. Ticks were abundantly distributed in all of the study areas and further studies related to tick prevalence, distribution, molecular and serological detection of tick-borne pathogens in donkeys, are needed in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollen foraging shows a collective approach by honeybees belonging to a colony which organize and carefully regulate it with the passage of time. The comparative amounts of larval brood and stored pollen in the hive closely correlated with the pollen requirement of a honeybee colony. Intercrop, diversity and average number of visiting pollinators contributed positively to the fruit weight and fruit quality. The flight activity of honey bees is greatly subjective to the weather and flow conditions along with the strength of colony and the number of foraging bees. Weather conditions usually depend on the wind intensity, air temperature and wind force. The situation of flow relies on diurnal flowering pattern, nectar and the pollen output alongside the combination of these aspects. The observation included following steps i.e. installing pollen traps at the entrance of the hive, recording number of pollen carrier bees returning to the hive, calculating quantity of bee pollen collected in the pollen trap trays and weighing the total weight of pollen collected by the hive, calculating the Visitation Rate (number of flowers visited by pollinators in one minute), Visitation Frequency (number of pollinators visit one plant per minute) and Pollinator Diversity ( different pollinators found during 5 minutes visit of field). Apis mellifera entering in the hives with pollens at the different time intervals of8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 1400 and 16:00 hours for five minutes. The highest number of bees entering in the hives were at 12:00 hours showing the average value of 73.2. The starting and ending time period i.e. 08:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 16:00 shows lower average value of 14.6, 30.3, 66.4 and 28.6 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to determine the effects of screen bottom board trays on reducing ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Acari:Varroidae) populations in honeybee Apis mellifera linguistica (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies in the winter, spring and summer season (2013-14). Four honeybee colonies were exposed to oxalic acid (3.2%), thymol (0.5 g) and formic acid (65%) on screen bottom boards in winter, spring and summer seasons. The fourth group had screen bottom board trays but without any chemical. There was a trend of fallen mean number of mites 157±6.28, 97±3.81, 132.75±9.76 and 26±1.68 in winter, 160±20, 149±30, 161.75±18.5 and 27.5±1.04 in spring and 188.25±5.34, 196.25±5.48, 144.25±7.74 and 34.5±4.94 (Mean±SE) in summer, respectively. The average efficacy (%) of the four groups were 86±.58, 66.5±3.93, 75±7.04, 18.25± 10.25 in winter, 77±3.52, 76.75±30, 79±2, 18.25±0.75 in spring and 74.75±1.44, 65.75±1.11, 63±2.04, 18.25±1.11 in summer season, respectively. No queens were lost, and there was no adult honeybee mortality in any of the colonies during the experiment. It can be concluded that screen bottom board trays alone and with soft chemicals in all three seasons effectively control the Varroa mite and can be used without any side effect during all the three seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]