The Frequency of Insect Fauna, Other Pests, and Associated Natural Enemies in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

The available data shows that Egypt has not conducted a thorough investigation into insect pests that impact quinoa. The main objective of this study was to identify and categorize insects and other natural enemies of quinoa in the Fayum Government. In four categories—insect pests, other pests, insect natural enemies, and spider natural enemies—a variety of new records have been recorded. The fauna was divided into two class-taxonomy categories, insect and miscellaneous, in addition to three behavioral categories: pest (P), natural enemy (N), and other (O). These groups of animals have diverse roles in the environment, including eating excrement, breaking down organic matter (fungivores), producing honey, and decomposing organic matter. Thirty-five insect species were found in the data during each of the two seasons; 22 of these insect species were pests, 9 were natural enemies, and 4 were categorized as other. The insect pest species (P) Monomorium pharaonic, Myzus persicae, and Schizomyia buboniae were the most significant, followed by Cataglyphis savignyi (O), which feeds on dead insects in the soil, and then the natural enemies (N) Philonthus longicornis, Paederus aliferii, and Kleidotoma sp. In the miscellaneous group, Collembola species were highly significant, followed by the true spiders Sengletus extricates, Wadicosa fidelis, and Pardosa sp. Quinoa cultivation faces many challenges, such as climate change, that require the production of more food of higher quality and quantity to combat global hunger and improve food security and safety.