The effects of different fertilizers including ‘ Cow manure’ , ‘ Vermicompost’ , ‘ NPK’ (20-20-20 NPK), ‘ NPKBN’ (NPK+Azotobacter vinelandii), ‘ NPKBP’ (NPK+Pantoea agglomerans+Pseudomonas putida), and ‘ NPKBNBP’ (NPK+Azotobacter vinelandii+Pantoea agglomerans+Pseudomonas putida) were compared with the control treatment. Comparisons included not only the nutrient and chlorophyll content of cucumber leaves, but also the demographic parameters and body size of APHIS GOSSYPII Glover. The highest nitrogen content (2. 45%) was observed in ‘ NPKBN’ and the highest phosphorus, along with potassium content (0. 58 and 12. 17%, respectively) was observed in ‘ cow manure’ treatment. The highest chlorophyll content (37. 51 SPAD units) was measured in ‘ NPKBNBP’ treatment. Results showed that the intrinsic rate of increase (r) varied from 0. 409 (in ‘ Cow manure’ ) to 0. 480 d-1 (in ‘ NPKBP’ ) under application of different fertilizers. Net Reproductive rate (R0) varied from 71. 65 to 79. 25 nymphs/individual in ‘ Vermicompost’ and ‘ NPKBP’ treatments, respectively. The largest (1. 28 mm) and smallest (1. 00 mm) body length of the aphids was measured on ‘ Vermicompost’ and ‘ Control’ , respectively. Results revealed that ‘ NPKBP’ was the most suitable fertilizer for population growth of A. GOSSYPII, compared with the other treatments, and the aphid’ s longevity and fecundity was relatively low under ‘ Vermicompost’ application.

Nowadays new and safety pesticides have a significant importance on the integrated pest management in the world, so in this study we report the sublethal effects of imidacloprid on cotton aphid (APHIS GOSSYPII) reproduction by demographic toxicology. These experiments were carried out at 25±1oC, 70 ± 5% RH and photoperiod of 16: 8(L:D). Leaf discs of cucumber immersed in the recommended concentration of the above mentioned insecticide and then located in the 5.5 cm diameter Petri dishes. A newly emerged adult female was released on the lower surface of each leaf discs. There after various parameters such as longevity, daily fecundity rate and the intrinsic rate of increase were recorded. Imidacloprid reduced adult longevity (4 days) compared to the control (16 days). Life expectation in control and imidacloprid treatment were 4.30 and 2.25 days respectively. Gross fecundity rate in imidacloprid treatment and control were 3.97 and 49.13 respectively. R0 were 13.52 and 1.45 in control and imidacloprid treatment respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.05 in imidacloprid and 0.26 in control that is reduced by 81% in imidacloprid treatment. These results show the significant effects of imidacloprid on the life table parameters of A. GOSSYPII.

A survey was conducted in fields of cucumber and watermelon in Bengaluru, India during April, 2014 for determination of the common parasitoids (Hym.: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) attacking melon aphid, APHIS GOSSYPIIGlover (Hemi.: Aphididae). Three species of Aphidiinae, including Aphidius platensis Brethes, 1913; Binodoxys acalephae (Marshall, 1896) and Lipolexis oregmae(Gahan, 1931) were collected and identified, from which Aphidius platensisis newly recorded for India. The early evidence of Aphidius colemani Viereck, 1912 in India can also be contributed to A. platensis. Diagnostic characters of three species were compared with closely related species in brief.

Wettable powder formulation of L. muscarium blastospore was evaluated on second nymphal instars of A. GOSSYPII (Glover) in six experiments. Treatments consisted of fresh blastospore’s and fresh formulated blastospores with six concentrations and distilled water as control, arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The experiments were separately repeated one and seven months later, with previous formulated blastospore stored in laboratory conditions (22±2oC temperature) and in refrigerator (4±1oC temperature) at similar conditions. Variance analysis of experiments demonstrated significant differences among treatments and concentrations (p<0.01). Comparing means showed that 1 month formulated blastospore stored in refrigerator with 56.19±7.28% and 7 months formulated blastospore stored on laboratory shelf with 15.15±1.83% had the highest and the lowest mortality percent, respectively.Comparison of lower and upper confidence limits of LC50s showed significant differences only between 7 months formulated blastospore stored on laboratory condition and the other treatments. Comparison of lower and upper confidence limits of LT50s showed significant difference only between 108 spore/ml. of 1 month formulated blastospore stored in refrigerator and the others. Result of recent experiments illustrated that produced blastospores on potato extract, and prepared formulation was virulent on A. GOSSYPII.

In the present study, sublethal effects of Metarhizium anisopliae (LC30) on APHIS GOSSYPII were evaluated at three constant temperatures of 20, 25 and 30 º C, relative humidity of 65 ± 5% and a light period of 16h. Data analysis was performed using Age-stage two sex life table procedure. The lowest duration of immature stages for A. GOSSYPII was estimated at 25 º C (4. 37 day). The highest recorded value for female longevity was also recorded at this temperature (16. 73 day). Different temperatures had significant effects on total fecundity of treated individuals with sublethal concentration of M. anisopliae and the lowest recorded value for this parameter was obtained at 30 º C (3. 60 nymph). Furthermore, sublethal effects of M. anisopliae on population growth parameters of offspring from treated individuals were also significantly different at temperatures tested. Since the recorded value of birth rate was dramatically lower than death ones at 30 º C, the estimated value for intrinsic rate of increase (r) showed a negative value (-0. 091 day-1) at this temperature. The estimated values of net reproductive rate (R0) at 20 and 30 º C (5. 46 and 0. 47 offspring/individual, respectively) were significantly lower than recorded value for this parameter at 25 º C (66. 29 offspring/individual). The results obtained revealed that temperatures of 20 and 30 º C significantly affect pathogenecity of M. anisopliae to A. GOSSYPII. Our findings could increase the efficiency of M. anisopliae in management programs of different pests.

APHIS GOSSYPII Glover (Hem.: Aphididae) is an important pest of vegetables and ornamental plants in greenhouses. Continued use of chemical pesticides for control of this pest has caused several problems and it is necessary to use other management methods, such as biological control. Coccinula elegantula weise (Col.: Coccinellidae) is one the natural enemies of cotton aphid with effective role in control of this pest. In this study, the effect of temperature was investigated on functional response and predation potential of this coccinellid with respect to different densities of the aphid. Based on the results, the predator exhibited type II functional response at three tested temperatures (18, 25 and 32oC). By increasing the temperature from 18 to 25oC, handling time of C. elegantula was significantly increased and searching efficiency was decreased; but these parameters didn’t change when the temperature increased from 25 to 32oC. According to the results of the present study, in which the high searching rate and short handling time of C. elegantula were found to be at 25 and 32oC and the fact that optimum temperature range for A. GOSSYPII development over cucumber is 22.5 to 30oC, and more importantly if we can overcome the obstacles of mass rearing, this predator could be a valuable and potential species in biological control of cotton aphid.