Insect survey and population density of main insect pests and natural enemies inhabiting wheat plants in Minia Region, Minia, Egypt

Abstract

The present study was conducted to survey the insects inhabiting wheat fields and to determine the population densities of major pests and their associated natural enemies in the Minia region, Minia Governorate, Egypt, during two successive wheat seasons (2023/24 and 2024/25) Weekly data (direct counts and sweep-net collections) revealed the presence of 20 insect species belonging to 15 families and 10 orders, 12 of them were identified as pests, 7 as predators, and one as a parasitoid. Three cereal aphid species, Rhopalosiphum padi, Schizaphis graminum, and Sitobion avenae, were recorded as the dominant wheat pests. R. padi was the most abundant. While the most abundant natural enemies were Coccinella undecimpunctata, Metasyrphus corollae, Chrysoperla carnea, and Aphidius sp. In the same time, all of them showed significant seasonal fluctuations and highly densities in the second year.
Statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in aphid  populations density between the two seasons. But the populations of C. undecimpunctata, M. corollae, and Aphidius sp. increased significantly in the second season (p < 0.05).

Keywords

Minia Journal of Agricultural Research and Development
Volume 45, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 939-952

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