Evaluating Potential Impact of Certain Natural Enemies on Key Piercing-Sucking Insects Infesting Sweet Basil Plants

Abstract

Biological control is a natural method that suppresses pests and is a practical, eco-friendly, and cost-effective substitute for insecticide-based approaches. The present investigations were carried out to evaluate the potential impact of three natural enemies; Aphidius colemani Viereck, Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) on Aphis gossypii Glover under semi-field circumstances and Beauveria bassiana Balsamo (Vuillemin) on Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) under field conditions. The study was done on sweet basil plants during the season of 2022 at Zagazig district, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. The results revealed that the maximum parasitism percentage of A . colemani was achieved at a rate of 12 parasitoids/cage, whereas the highest percentage of emergence was recorded at a rate of three parasitoids/cage. Data also showed that the reduction percentages of cotton aphid numbers declined as the rate of C . carnea increased. Moreover, B . bassiana caused from 49.19 to 95.20% reduction in the mean numbers of B . tabaci . Therefore, A . colemani , C . carnea, and B . bassiana are being promoted for the management of the major piercing-sucking insects on sweet basil plants under Egyptian field conditions.