Ingestion and effects of green synthesized cadmium sulphide nanoparticle on Spodoptera Litura as an insecticidal and their antimicrobial and anticancer activities.

The current study investigated the multifunctional properties of Cadmium Sulphide Nanoparticles synthesized using a green synthesis method (CdS NPs) using a green feedstock, Nopal Cactus fruit extract. The biological activities of the CdS NPs were thoroughly investigated, including their insecticidal, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. The different concentrations (0.005-0.04%) of CdS NPs were fed to the larvae of Spodoptera litura, and their ingestion effects were observed on the different biological, biochemical, and oxidative stress markers. There are significant dose-dependent changes in the biochemical parameters like superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and MDA level as a marker of lipid peroxidation in the treated larvae were studied. In the highest concentration (0.04%), significant larval mortality (46.66%), malformation (pupae and adult) (27.78%), inhibition of adult emergence (43.87%), as well as reduced fecundity (25.28%), and fertility (22.74%) as compared to control was observed. CdS NPs have been investigated for antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. In vitro anticancer activities were carried out to decrease the viability of the Pancreatic cancer cell line. The cells showed 18% and 12% viability at a 200 µg/ml concentration when incubated with CdS NPs for 24 and 48 h, respectively, confirming its potent anticancer property. The lack of cytotoxicity against the (RBC) endorses the biocompatible nature of synthesized CdS NPs. It was observed that green synthesized CdS NPs could be used as a promising insecticidal, antibacterial, and anticancer agent.

A revision of the Indian species of Oligosita Walker (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).

The Indian species of the genus Oligosita Walker, 1851 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are revised. One new species, Oligosita aseta Begum & Anis, sp. nov., is described based on specimens collected from Kerala, India. A key to the 16 Indian species of the genus is also given.

Description of a new species of Probrachista (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae) from Ladakh, India.

The present paper deals with the description of a new species Probrachista turtukensis Manhas, Anis & Khan sp. nov, from the region of Ladakh, India. A key to world species of the genus Probrachista Viggiani, is also given.

Enhanced Insecticidal Activity of Thiamethoxam by Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Novel Nanotechnology Approach for Pest Control.

Indiscriminate and unregulated application of pesticides produces deleterious effect in various groups of organisms including humans and the environment. To solve these issues, it has been reported that the residue-free green nanocomposite synergistically enhances the pesticide efficacy. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with a thiamethoxam nanocomposite were synthesized and we investigated their synergistic effect on 4th instar larvae of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). These larvae were allowed to feed on the composite of ZnO NPs with thiamethoxam (10-90 mg/L) and thiamethoxam-impregnated castor leaves. Observations showed an increased larval mortality (27% increased mortality), a malformation in pupae and adults, overdue emergence, and reduced fecundity and fertility. A significant dose-dependent variation in the biochemical parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the treated larvae was also observed. A decline of 72.42 and 33.82% in SOD and GST activity ,respectively, was observed at higher concentration as compared to the control. On the contrary, it enhanced the TBARS level up to 56.7%. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by different biophysical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (average crystalline size 34 nm), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (average particle size 30 nm), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (Zn-O stretching peaks at 432 cm-1 and 503 cm-1). The observation of the present study suggests that ZnO NPs pave the way for developing cost-effective, eco-friendly, and capable nanomaterial for its applications in the field of biological sciences.

A new species of Xiphogramma Nowicki (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Saudi Arabia.

The genus Xiphogramma Nowicki (1940) is recorded for the first time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the description of a new species, Xiphogramma hayati sp. nov. An updated key to the world species of this genus is also provided.

A new genus of Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from India.

A new genus and species, Ayaanella globugaster M.T. Khan & Anis gen. nov. and sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is described from two females collected in Uttar Pradesh State of India.