Various treatments are found to be moderately effective in managing Demodex-related diseases except tea tree oil (TTO) and terpinen-4-ol (T4O), which showed superior miticidal and anti-inflammatory effects in numerous clinical studies. Their possible effects include lowering mite counts, relieving Demodex-related symptoms, and modulating the immune system. This review summarizes the current clinical topical and oral treatments in human demodicosis, their possible mechanisms of action, side-effects and resistance in treating this condition. TTO (especially T4O) is found to be the most effective followed by metronidazole, ivermectin and permethrin in managing the disease. This is because TTO has anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects. Furthermore, nanoTTO can even release its contents into fungus and Pseudomonas biofilms. Combinations of different treatments are occasionally needed for refractory cases, especially for individuals with underlying genetic predisposal or are immuno-compromised. Although the current treatments show efficacy in controlling the Demodex mite population and the related symptoms, further research needs to be focused on the efficacy and drug delivery technology in order to develop alternative treatments with better side-effects profiles, less toxicity, lower risk of resistance and are more cost-effective.

Laboratory strain-R of Tribolium castaneum, resistant to lindane and multi-resistant strain-L, having developed resistance to lindane and malathion under field conditions, were compared with the standard susceptible strain-S for the nature of resistance to different groups of insecticides. Lindane resistance in both the strains extended to aldrin, dieldrin, endrin and heptachlor. Unlike laboratory strain-R, resistance did not extend to endosulfan in the field strain-L. Both the strains were found susceptible to p, p′-DDT, methoxychlor and allethrin. Also, lindane resistance did not extend to organophosphorous insecticides, viz., malathion, fenitrothion and dichlorovos. Lindane resistance extended to carbaryl and carbofuran, and only slightly to propoxur in the laboratory strain-R, whereas field strain-L remained susceptible to this group of insecticides. Synergist piperonyl-butoxide was found to overcome cross-resistance to endosulfan and propoxur, but to carbaryl in the lindane resistant strain-R. It is, therefore, indicated that one of the three mechanisms responsible for lindane resistance in the laboratory strain of T. castaneum, was stable in the field strain. Thus, the other two mechanisms showing cross-resistance to endosulfan and carbamates were unstable.

Investigations were carried out on the seasonal population fluctuations of the moth Cydia ptychora. The population increased from May to September and declined from November to April. Increasing temperatures and decreasing r.h. appeared to be associated with population decline, while the reverse seemed to favour population increase.

From light trap catches, sex ratios of adults showed considerable variation from month to month. The overall ratio was 2:1, in favour of the males, but there was a tendency for adjustment towards an apparently female-biased ratio from March to August.

Bracon (?) hancocki was found to be a major parasite. Other biotic factors contributing to population regulation included 13 hymenopterous parasites and three predators (Philodicus temerarius, Bactria sp. nr. guineensis and Chrysopa sp.)