Efficiency of Some Nanoparticle Oxides in Controlling Cotton Seedling Pests

The present work assessed the effect of three nanoparticles materials; Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NP), silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2NP) and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO NP) with three different concentrations (500, 250 and 125ppm) on managing Egyptian cotton seedling pests Jassid pest Empoasca lybica (De Berg.) (Hemiptera:Cicadellidae), Whiteflies populations Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Thrips pest Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), Aphid (Aphis gossupii Glover), Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), Red spider pest Tetranychus telarius (L.) (Acari: Tetranychidae) and studying their effect on the natural enemies Ladybugs (Coccinellidae ladybug) and Chrysoperla carnea (aphid lion). Under field conditions during 2022 and 2023, the nanoparticles suspensions was sprayed at cotton plants (Gossypium) at the three different concentrations compared with untreated cotton plants as control, the results show that SiO2NP with its three concentrations have the most potent effect in decreasing jassid, aphid, thrips populations count during the two tested years. While TiO2NP has the second effect, FeO NP has the least effect on decreasing the previous pest count on cotton plants during the two tested years. On the other hand, TiO2NP has the most potent effect against the red spider population through its three concentrations, then SiO2 NP and FeONP come in the second and third stage, respectively during the two tested years. The three used nanoparticles and their effect on the ladybug's natural enemy was investigated. The results show there is no negative effect on the ladybug count compared with the untreated cotton plant control. Moreover, at the 250ppm FeONP and 125ppm TiO2NP concentrations, it was noticed that the count of Chrysoperla carnea (aphid lion) and ladybug increased during the two tested years, which led to a decrease in aphid count at this concentration compared with the two other concentrations. Nanoparticles have promising results in pest control as pesticide alternatives.