A new Record and Severe Infestation of the Maladera modesta (

successive seasons. The results indicated that the twenty-four plants are more infected by M. modesta . The population density recorded that, the general weekly mean number of M. modesta was more abundant at Beheira Governorate than recoded at Giza Governorate throughout two successive seasons 2021 and 2022. The statistical analysis of the total mean number of M. modesta showed a significant difference at <0.0001 for two different locations. At Giza Governorate showed that the adults recorded its highest levels of infestation in the months (June, October, September, July, Augusta, May, April, November and March) However, the months of January, February and December, insect population was absent . At Beheira Governorate, showed that the adults recorded their highest levels of infestation in the months of (June, Augusta, July, September, April, May, October and March), and the months of January, February, November and December, insect population was absent .


INTRODUCTION
Medicinal & aromatic and ornamental plants occupy a high position due to their importance in their entry into the medical field.Medicinal and aromatic plants are grown in Egypt for the purpose of local consumption as the content of nutrients, also includes volatile oils and vitamins necessary to build the human body.They are also grown for the purpose of export to generate revenue in the hard currency of the country.Ornamental plants are called beauty plants, and they help create many job opportunities.The importance of ornamental plants is to increase and maintain air humidity in the place where it is placed.Adding special beauty to home decor.Eliminate negative vibes and boost positive energy.Air purification and removal of toxic gases.These plants are infected with many pests that feed on roots, and vegetative or reproductive organs such as Thysanoptera and Heteroptera, including the Thripidae, Miridae, Pentatomidae and Pseudococcidae families), whereas others cause erosion or tunnels on heads (Noctuidae), or infested leaves (beetles) or roots (Elateridae) (Conti, 2003).El-Gendi (2007) in Egypt, recorded eighteen insect species on marjoram and chamomile.Nysus cymoides Schill, Nezara viridula L., Lygus gomellatus H.S., Nesidiocoris tenuis Reut., Bourletiella horttensis (Fitch), Empoasca decipiens Paoli, Trupanea stellata Fuessly, Myzus persicae (Sulz.)and Aphis gossypii Glover were the main insect pests on chamomile.Mona's (2010) Survey of twenty-two pest species, from one mite species and ten predator species, were recorded on sweet marjoram at Giza and North Sinai governorates, while only seventeen pest species, one mite species and nine predator species were found on sweet basil at both governorates.Thirteen species of insect pests belong to eight families and five orders were recorded on Calendula plants.Twelve insect pests belonging to nine families under six orders were recorded on chamomile plants (Solaiman, 2015).Anew record and one of the economically important insect pests, it follows the order Coleoptera and the family Scarabaeidae attack a wide range of hosts botanicals) Alfieri (1976), Ahrens, 2004 (Pest cause Great economic losses in many countries of the world, and crops are attacked several economic crops such as grains, legumes, small fruit plants and shrubs and trees are characterized by a seasonal presence, high density, and severe damage in the north and southern India (Bahatnagar et al., 2004;Mehta et al., 2010 As well as attacking weed plants (Tashiro, 1987).larvae and adults destroy plants and spread with high density and high activity from the month of March to the month of July and feed on the vegetative growth of fruit trees and different forests (Falach & Shani, 2002) and (Keith 2005).Complicated by the presence of larvae below the surface of the soil and their active feeding on living roots (Veeresh,1974).The life cycle of an insect includes two generations per year in which overwintering larvae develop into pupae and adults, and begin to emerge at the beginning of April, when they mate and lay eggs (Harari et al., 1994).The insect was recorded in Iran in 1970 and spread in the eastern regions Middle East and some regions of Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India (Ahrens, 2000), and in Libya and Yemen (Ahrens, 2004).It was first recorded in Jordan in 1994 and in high densities by light traps during the period May -September, where it is found in high concentrations on potato tubers, causing economic losses on this crop (Katbeh-Bader & Enrico, 1999).
The insect entered Iraq through the random importation of seedlings ornamental plants from neighbouring countries, in which the insect is infested huge economic losses and the death of many seedlings in most Baghdad nurseries The death rate of shrub rose seedlings was about 70-80% registered.The pest was first reported in Iraq in 2015 (Al-Jassany et al., 2016) recorded this pest for the first time in Iraq during the year 2015-2016, They stated that adults are present from March to June, larvae stay in the soil for 6-7 months feeding on roots, causing damage leading to death of plants.They recorded the grubs in the soil planted with rose, olive, citrus, jasmine, Nerium, Christ thorn and cypress.The pest was first reported in Egypt in 2016 (Hedaya and Abdel-Aziz 2016) Maladera insanabilis (Brenske, 1894),(Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae, Sericini): A New Horticultural Pest In Egypt found in Nobaria and Alhamam districts, North Coast infesting new soil sand.Nehal (2021) Seasonal fluctuations of the scarab beetle, Maladera castanea that infest strawberry plants in the field were conducted during the 2019/2020 season.The obtained results revealed that the highest population of scarabs was recorded in October, and April, with averages of (61.2, 57.0, beetle/trap) under field conditions, The behaviour of the adult scarabs to the preferred color and the activity periods was studied.The results showed that the white colour was the most preferred one for the beetles, recording 37.0±2.6 adults/hour.The adults were assumed to have night activity during the period from 06:00 pm to 12.00 midnight, where the average number of M. castanea scarabs was recorded as 226.2± 8.1 adults/trap.The drying process for three weeks showed a 100% decrease in the population, while the starvation process recorded a 90% decrease; after all, a 100% decrease was recorded after four weeks.The study aimed to survey and population dynamics of M. modesta upon some medicinal, aromatic and ornamental plants as new hosts.The results indicated that the twenty-four plants are more infected by the M. modesta (Dodonaea viscosa, Duranta erecta, Matricaria chamomilla, Ocimum basilicum, Cassia javanica, Salvia leucantha, Pelargonium zonale, Murraya exotica, Bidens pilosa, Pittosporum tobira, Tecoma stans, Ambrosia maritime, Mentha piperita, Mentha viridis, Chrysanthemum coronarium, Conocarpus erecutus, Citrus aurantium, Azadirachta indica, Tropaeolum majus, Coriandrum sativum, Spathodea nilotica, Vinca rosea Jasminum grandiflorum, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Origanum marjorana).From (Table 1), the results confirm that this insect feeds on the growing apex and new leaves of plants.Infestation degree (+ = (1 to 10 leaves) few, ++ = (10 to 20 leaves) moderate, +++ = (20 to 100 high infestation leaves).

Experiment
Population Dynamics of M. modesta Infesting Some Medicinal, Aromatic and Ornamental Plants with Water Trap.
In the beginning, the general weekly mean number of M. modesta was more abundant at Beheira Governorate (44.9 individual / one water trap) than those recorded (41.8 individual / one water trap) at Giza Governorate throughout two successive seasons 2021 and 2022.(Irrespective of varieties of plant).The statistical analysis of the total mean number of M. modesta showed a significant difference at <0.0001 for two different locations whereas the T value was equal (30.15).(Fig. 4).

Giza Governorate:
The numbers of adult M. modesta were weekly recorded.The data obtained from (Fig. 5), showed that the adults recorded their highest levels of infestation in the months (June, October, September, July, Augusta, May, April, November and March) with respective averages of (103.0, 78.0, 76.8, 70.2, 48.5, 45.5, 33.3, 18.7 and 11.5).However, in the months of January, February and December, the insect population was absent.

Beheira Governorate:
As well as the numbers of adult M. modesta were weekly recorded.The data obtained from (Fig ( 6) showed that the adults recorded their highest levels of infestation in the months (June, Augusta, July, September, April, May, October and March) with respective averages of (110.8, 78.5, 78.4, 69.0, 60.2, 59.7, 32.7, and 28.5).However, in the months of January, February, November and December, The insect population was absent.the month of March To the month of July and feed on the vegetative growth of fruit trees and different forests and the life cycle of an insect includes two generations per year in which overwintering larvae develop into pupae and adults, and begin to emerge at the beginning of April, when they mate and lay eggs.

Fig. ( 4
Fig. (4): population dynamics of M. modesta infesting some medicinal, aromatic and ornamental plants using water traps at different regains (Giza and Beheira) Governorates throughout two successive seasons 2021 and 2022.

Fig
Fig. (5): Population dynamics of M. modesta adult on water trap at Giza Governorate throughout two successive seasons 2021 and 2022.

Fig
Fig. (6): Population dynamics of M. modesta adult on water trap at Beheira Governorate throughout two successive seasons 2021 and 2022.

Table ( 1
): Survey of M. modesta on some medicinal, aromatic and ornamental plants at different Governorates throughout two successive seasons 2021 and 2022.