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Mulberry pyralid, Glyphodes pyloalis Walker is an important pest on mulberry. The essential oil of Rosemary Rosemarinus officinalis L. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) has been investigated on toxicity and physiological characteristics of this moth under controlled conditions. The major compounds of the oil were analyzed as 1, 8 Cineol (20.021%), Borneol (7.17%), Camphor (6.541%), Geraniol (6.281%), Camphene (5.623%), Linalool (4.993%) Alpha fenchyl acetate (4.222%) and Verbenone (4.147%). Lethal and sublethal concentrations (LC₁₀, LC₃₀ and LC₅₀) were estimated 0.77%, 1.18% and 1.59% (v/v) respectively. The essential oil affected the nutritional indices of fourth instar larvae of G. pyloalis. efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD), relative consumption rate (RCR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were reduced in larvae treated with R. officinalis essential oil while approximate digestibility (AD) in treated larvae was significantly increased compared with the control. The essential oil affected the insect’s some key metabolic compounds like; lipid, protein and carbohydrates. Similarly this effect was also significant in the activities of certain key enzymes like; alpha- amylase, lipase, protease, glutathione-s-transferase and esterases.

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The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) is a serious and economically important pest of cruciferous crops worldwide. The nutritional indices of this pest on four host plants including two canola (SLM₀₄₆ and RGS₀₀₃) and two cabbage cultivars (Green-Cornet and Glob-Master) were determined under laboratory conditions (25 ± 0.5 °C, 65 ± 5% RH and 16: 8 L: D h). The highest relative consumption rate (RCR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were recorded on RGS₀₀₃ (95.68 ± 14.52 mg/mg/day) and SLM₀₄₆(0.382 ± 0.041 mg/mg/day), respectively. The efficiency of the conversion of ingested food (ECI) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) were significantly higher on SLM₀₄₆ (2.298 ± 0.646 and 2.471 ± 0.719%, respectively). However, there was no significant difference among cultivars regarding approximate digestibility (AD) index. The highest feeding performance of the larvae of P. xylostella was found on SLM₀₄₆. The nutritional indices are appropriate tools in host plant resistance evaluation and they also could provide profound understanding of the behavioral and physiological bases of insect-host plant interactions.  

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Nutritional indices of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) larvae, an economic insect pest of agricultural crops in the world, were studied on five corn hybrids (SC700, SC704, SC500, DC370 and SC260) when incorporated into artificial diets under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 1 °C, relative humidity of 65 ± 5% and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) h. The highest values of consumption index (CI) and relative growth rate (RGR) for the fourth instars were on SC500 (37.21 ± 3.34 and 0.43 ± 0.07 mg/mg/day, respectively) and lowest values of these indices were on SC704 (21.44 ± 2.83 and 0.18 ± 0.04, respectively). Among the five corn hybrids tested, efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) of fifth instars was the highest on SC260 (6.92 ± 0.5%) and the highest value of efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) was on SC704 (10.71 ± 3%) while the larvae fed on SC700 had the lowest values of ECI and ECD (3.57 ± 0.3 and 4.39 ± 0.4%, respectively). For the sixth instar larvae, although the lowest CI and approximate digestibility (AD) values were observed on SC260 (3.49 ± 0.17 and 53.89 ± 3.70%, respectively) the highest value of ECI and ECD was on SC260 (9.11 ± 0.6 and 16.54 ± 1.5%, respectively). For all instars (fourth to sixth instars), ECD value of H. armigera was the highest on SC260 (10.15 ± 1.08%) and lowest on SC700 (6.32 ± 0.47%). The result of this study pointed out higher nutritional performance of the larvae H. armigera reared on SC704 and SC260 and lower performance on SC700 and SC500.

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The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) is a serious and economically important pest of solanaceous crops worldwide. The nutritional indices of this pest on three host plants including pepper Capsicum frutescens, eggplant Solanum melongena and tomato Solanum lycopersicum were determined under laboratory conditions at 26 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5% RH and 16: 8 (L: D) h. The highest relative consumption rate (9.40 mg/mg/day) and approximate digestibility (95.20%) were recorded on eggplant. The relative growth rate (RGR) (0.08 mg/mg/day) was the highest on tomato. The efficiency of the conversion of ingested food (ECI) (1.66%) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) (2.22%) were significantly highest on pepper. Results showed that pepper was the most nutritionally suitable food and even small amount of this food could successfully support maximum RGR as evidenced by high value of ECI and ECD.

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Nutritional indices of the willow leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting, third instar larvae and adults were studied on four host plants including Salix alba L., Salix aegyptica L., Populus caspica Bornm.and Populus alba L.at 22 ± 2 ºC, 70 ± 10% R.H., and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D). The results showed that the highest consumed food by the larvae and adults (148.5 ± 18.0 and 175.21 ± 4.51 mg dry weight, respectively) was on P. caspica. The larvae fed on S. alba and S. aegyptica had the highest efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) (2.3 ± 0.33 and 2.23 ± 0.67%, respectively) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) (2.5 ± 0.35 and 2.41 ± 0.72%, respectively). Approximate digestibility (AD) of larvae was the highest on P. caspica and P. alba (98.51 ± 0.25 and 98.14 ± 0.1%, respectively). The lowest relative consumption rate (RCR) of the larvae and adults was on S. alba (0.14 ± 0.001 and 0.13 ± 0.006 mg/mg/day, respectively). ECI and ECD values of the adults fed on various host plants were not significantly different. Adults fed on P. caspica had the highest values of RCR (0.59 ± 0.01 mg/mg/day), relative growth rate (RGR) (0.02 ± 0.008 mg/mg/day) and AD (98.72 ± 0.24%). These results demonstrated the higher feeding performance of the willow leaf beetle on P. caspica and its poorer performance on P. alba.  

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The aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from aerial parts of Berberis thunbergii L. and Alhagi maurorum Fisch. were tested against the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), for antifeedant activity, which was measured by nutritional indices parameters such as relative growth rate (RGR), relative consumption rate (RCR), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and feeding deterrence index (FDI). Treatments were evaluated by the method of flour disc bioassay in the dark, at 27 ± 1 °C and 60 ± 5% RH. Aliquots of 10 µl of several concentrations from each extract (0.25-2.0%) and controls (solvents) were spread evenly on the flour discs. After evaporation of the solvent, 10 adult insects were introduced into each treatment. After 72 h, nutritional indices were calculated. Results indicated that nutritional indices varied significantly as extract concentrations increased. The difference between extracts and treatments was significant (P < 0.05). In this study, A. maurorum decreased RGR, RCR and ECI significantly more than those of B. thunbergii extract. In addition, hydroalcoholic extracts decreased RGR, RCR and ECI significantly more than those of aqueous extracts. Both plant extracts increased FDI as the extract concentrations were increased, showing high feeding deterrence activity against T. castaneum. Generally, antifeedant activity of A. maurorum was greater than that of B. thunbergii and hydroalcoholic extract was more effective than aqueous extract.

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The Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller is one of the conventional hosts for rearing of natural enemies to be used in biological control programs. In this study, the effects of three cereal flours (wheat, corn and barley) on some biological parameters, nutritional responses, as well as proteolytic and amylolytic digestive activities of the fifth instar larvae of E. kuehniella werestudied to determine suitability of the cereals for optimum growth and reproduction of E. kuehniella. The highest rate of larval survival (0.88) and larval growth index (9.77) were obtained in larvae which fed on corn flour. The relative growth rate (9.17 ± 0.33 mg/mg/day) and the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (12.08 ± 1.11%) were the highest rate for fifth instar larvae which fed on corn flour. The highest protein concentration in midgut of larvae (63.77 ± 2.31 mg/ml) and consequentially, proteolytic activity including tryptic (0.0012 ± 0.00 Umg-1) and chymotryptic (0.543 ± 0.001 Umg-1) were observed in larvae that fed on corn flour. According to the results obtained, corn (Var. 704) was the most suitable cereal for laboratory rearing of E. kuehniella, resulting in the highest rate of biological and physiological parameters.

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Aims: The Scomberoides commersonnianus (Talang Queenfish) is in the Persian Gulf waters and constitutes a part of catches in Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Fish food habits are important in understanding food chains. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diet composition of Talang Queenfish in the coastal water of Hormozgan province.
Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 422 Talang Queenfish were collected from coastal waters of Bandar Abbas. Total length and fork length were calculated. The weight was measured by a digital scale and recorded on a special sampling sheet. Tables and charts were drawn, using Excel 2007 software, and the data were analyzed, using SPSS 20 software  by T Paoli tests and Pearson correlation coefficient.
Findings: The minimum and maximum fork length was 18 cm and 86 cm, respectively, and the mean fork length was 54.282cm. With increasing the fork length, fish weight increased with exponential model (r=0.0151; p<0.05). The length and weight of fish showed a high correlation (r=0.98; p<0.05). The highest gastrosomatic index was in November and the lowest was in June. The vacuity index was 62.32. The food preferences were fish, Crustacean, and Molluscs. The main food of Scomberoides commersonnianus was Anchovies, and the subsidiary food included Hairtail Fish, Goldstripe sardinella, Ponyfish, Silver sillago, Catfish, Threadfin Bream, Goatfish and other Clupeidae fishes.
Conclusion: According to the vacuity index, this fish does not eat a lot. The food preferences are fish, Crustacean, and Molluscs and Anchovies is the main food. The subsidiary food included Hairtail Fish, Goldstripe sardinella, Ponyfish, Silver sillago, Catfish, Threadfin Bream, Goatfish and other Clupeidae fishes.

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Essential oils of four aromatic plants, Artemisia monosperma Del., Callistemon viminals (Sol.ex Gaertn.) G. Don, Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle and Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw. ex Gordon, were evaluated for their anti-nutritional, antifeedant, growth inhibitory and insecticidal activities against Sopdoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The essential oils of A. monosperma and C. aurantifolia caused the highest reduction in relative growth rate (RGR) at the tested concentrations (125, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000mg/l). The RGR values ranged between 8.63 and 3.05 mg/day for A. monosperma, and between 10.74 and 2.89 mg/day for C. aurantifolia compared with 14.89 mg/day for control after 72 h of treatment. In general, the results showed that the values of relative growth rate (RGR) decreased with increasing the concentration of the tested oils. In addition, the tested oils significantly reduced efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) values, particularly at the higher concentrations of 500, 1000 and 2000mg/l. On the other hand, the tested oils showed antifeedant activity against the larvae of S. littoralis with A. monosperma and C. aurantifolia oils being more active than C. viminals and C. macrocarpa oils. The tested oils showed remarkable growth inhibition effect as the growth inhibition index values were increased from 37.63 to 79.80% for A. monosperma, from 21.69 to 52.12% for C. viminals, from 16.55 to 28.59% for C. aurantifolia and from 37.64 to 52.32% for C. macrocarpa when the concentration increased from 125 to 2000mg/l. Based on chitin formation ratio values, the tested essential oils induced reduction in chitin formation. A. monosperma and C. macrocarpa essential oils revealed the highest insecticidal activity on 4^th instar larvae of S. littoralis. Examination of reproductive tracts of adult females emerged from treated larvae indicated that the tested oils caused undifferentiated ovarioles.

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Effects of four vegetable host plants, artichoke, cabbage, potato and tomato on nutritional indices of the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lep.: Noctuidae), were studied under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% RH, with a 16: 8 L: D photoperiod). Fourth instar reared on tomato showed the highest approximate digestibility (AD) (90.406 ± 1.125%) and efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) (30.249 ± 4.128%). The highest values of efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) and ECI of fifth instars (38.663 ± 4.34 and 20.083 ± 1.581%, respectively) were on artichoke and the lowest of both values on cabbage (ECD: 6.314 ± 1.128 and ECI: 5.448 ± 1.052%).The 3^rd to 6^th instars as a whole showed the highest ECD and ECI values on tomato (23.412 ± 2.252 and 19.845 ± 1.798%, respectively). However, the highest and lowest values of consumption index (CI) were on cabbage (33.943 ± 2.669) and tomato (6.145 ± 0.578). The highest values of relative consumption rate (RCR) and (AD) were obtained on cabbage (1.49 ± 0.109 mg/mg/day and 86.431 ± 1.141%, respectively). The results of nutritional indices and the cluster analysis indicate that tomato was nutritionally the most suitable food for S. littoralis.
 

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This study aimed to produce and characterize solid lipid nanoparticles containing the essential oil (SLN-EO) of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. The preparation was carried out using the high shear homogenization and ultrasound method. The biological activities of the prepared nanoformulation were evaluated against Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae under laboratory conditions. The particle size of SLN-EO was estimated to be under 150 nm (polydispersity index, PDI < 0.2) and zeta potential was negative. Morphology of nanoparticles was in globular form as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy analysis. The loaded essential oil (EO) in SLN was calculated as 92% using the filtration-centrifugation method. The fumigant toxicity of EO as SLN formulation against E. kuehniella larvae was three times greater than that of pure EO. Similar results, but to a lesser extent, were obtained from comparing their contact toxicities. The fumigant durability of EO was enhanced by nanoformulation for up to two weeks. The nutritional indices of larvae, including relative growth rate (RGR), relative consumption rate (RCR), and feeding deterrence (FDI), were influenced considerably by SLN-EO compared to pure EO. The findings suggested the solid lipid nanoparticles as a suitable nanocarrier for EO in sustainable control management of Mediterranean flour moth.

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In this study, the nutritional indices of the larval stages of Helicoverpa armigera were determined on four vegetable crops under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% RH, with a 16:8 (L: D) h photoperiod). The third instar larvae reared on potato showed the highest value of efficiency on the conversion of ingested food (ECI) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) (8.281 ± 0.767% and 11.016 ± 1.142%, respectively). The highest (0.129 ± 0.014 mg/mg/day) and lowest (0.069 ±0.012 mg/mg/day) relative growth rate (RGR) of the fourth instar larvae were obtained on potato and tomato, respectively. Data indicated that the highest value of (ECI) and (ECD) for fourth instar larvae were on tomato (12.361 ± 2.258% and 18.588 ± 3.834%, respectively). The lowest value of the relative consumption rate (RCR) and approximate digestibility (AD) of the fifth instar was recorded on tomato (0.592 ± 0.063 mg/mg/day) and potato (51.85 ± 4.607%), respectively. The ECI and ECD values of the fifth larval instar were the highest on tomato (12.477 ± 1.333% and 17.624 ± 1.609%, respectively). Overall, among different host plants tested, the highest ECI and ECD of all the larval instars were observed on tomato (9.813 ± 0.692% and 12.506 ± 0.882%, respectively), and the lowest values (3.735 ± 0.201% and 5.463 ± 0.426%) were on artichoke. Tomato and artichoke were the most nutritionally suitable and unsuitable host plants, respectively, for H. armigera.

 

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 The nutritional indices are an important tool in evaluating herbivore responses to variation in host nutritive properties. The current study was conducted to unveil the effects of ten canola cultivars (Brassica napus L.) ('Opera', 'Licord', 'Okapi', 'Talaye', 'Zarfam', 'Modena', 'SLM₀₄₆', 'Sarigol', 'RGS₀₀₃' and 'Hayula₄₂₀') on consumption and utilization indices of the Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) larvae. The results revealed significant differences in nutritional indices of different larval instars of S. exigua fed on the mentioned canola cultivars. The highest value of Digestion Ability of food (AD) for the third and fourth instars was observed on Licord (86.57% and 83.08%, respectively), and for the fifth instars was on Opera (68.79%). The Relative Growth Rate (RGR) and Relative Consumption Rate (RCR) in the fifth instar larvae were significantly greater on Opera, Okapi and Talaye, whereas the lowest values of Conversion Efficiencies (ECI and ECD) were recorded on these cultivars. The highest ECI was observed in the larvae that consumed RGS₀₀₃ (24.27%), Hayula₄₂₀ (20.36%), and Sarigol (19.17%). Furthermore, the larvae reared on Okapi exhibited the highest RGR, which confirms high susceptibility of this cultivar. Based on the obtained results, Okapi, Talaye and Opera were the cultivars susceptible to S. exigua.

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The ­antifeedant activity of nanoemulsion formulation of arugula Eruca sativa Mill. oil was studied against elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola (Müller)(Col.:Chrysomelidae) under laboratory conditions at 25±1ºC, 75±5% RH, and LD 16:8 hours. Ingestive LC₅₀ values of the oil were studied in third instar larvae. Then, physiological parameters were evaluated following 24, 48, and 72 hours post feeding at LC₅₀ level. LC₅₀ values 24, 48 and 72 hours after application were 4.940, 3.791, and 2.938 mg mL^-1, respectively. Arugula oil at LC₅₀ level decreased the nutritional indices including efficiency of conversion of ingested food, relative growth rate, efficiency of conversion of digested food, and relative consumption rate, but increased feeding deterrence index significantly 72 hours post feeding. Nutritional reserves such as total carbohydrate, protein, and lipid contents and also digestive enzymes containing lipase, α-amylase, and protease activity were decreased showing post-ingestive toxicity. The activity of the detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase was increased, indicating that this enzyme may be involved in detoxification of arugula oil, but general esterase did not change significantly. In general, it can be concluded that arugula oil possess antifeedant activity against X. luteola under laboratory condition. It seems that arugula oil has a great potential to be used as effective botanical pesticides. However, further studies such as greenhouse and field experiments are necessary before recommendation and commercialization process.