Abstract: Water quality of aquatic habitats is an important determinant of female mosquito oviposition and successful larval development. This study examined the influence of environmental covariates on Anopheles arabiensis mosquito abundance in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Central Province of Kenya, prior to implementation of a malaria vector control program. Experimental rice plots were used to examine the environmental covariates responsible for regulating abundance and diversity of the aq...
Abstract: Phthorimaea absoluta is an invasive pest and a major threat to tomato production in sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania. Although chemical pesticides are commercially available and used locally, mis- and overuse can cause detrimental effects on human and environmental health, and can lead to emergence of resistance among populations of P. absoluta within a short period, increasing production costs among smallholder farmers in Tanzania. The effectiveness of alternative options, s...
Abstract: Insect growth regulators (IGRs) can control insect vector populations by disrupting growth and development in juvenile stages of the vectors. We previously identified and described the curry tree (Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng) phytochemical leaf extract composition (neplanocin A, 3-(1-naphthyl)-l-alanine, lumiflavine, terezine C, agelaspongin and murrayazolinol), which disrupted growth and development in Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto mosquito larvae by inducing morphogenetic abno...
Abstract: The shift in the geographical spread of invasive pests in Africa has rarely been linked directly to climate change. However, it is predicted that environmental changes play a significant role in spreading and expanding pests. The occurrence of new tomato invasive insect pests has been increasing in Uganda during the past century. Assessing the impact of temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and windspeed on the occurrence of invasive tomato insect pests, gives a better understa...
Abstract: The term 'locusts' refers to insect species which can aggregate into migratory swarms that cause wide-scale destruction of crops and pasture, causing significant effect to food security. This review assesses the potential of harnessing locust swarms for beneficial uses. Among 21 known locusts, ~10 species have been traditionally consumed by humans or fed to animals for millennia in 65 countries. Their nutritional composition is comparable or superior to that of conventional meat. H...
Abstract: Globally,antibiotics are facing fierce resistance from multidrug-resistant bacterials trains.There is an urgentneedfor eco friendly alternatives.Though insects are important targets for antimicrobial peptides,it has received limited research attention.This study investigated the impact of waste substrates on the production of antibacterial agents in black soldierfly (HermetiaillucensL.) larvae(HIL)andtheirimplicationsin the suppressionofpathogens[Bacillussubtilis(ATCC6051),Staphylo...
Abstract: BACKGROUND Maize production in Africa is hindered by a myriad of biotic challenges, key among them being invasive and native lepidopteran stemborers. Recent invasion of the continent by fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, has further exacerbated the situation. Fortunately, Cotesia icipe was found to be very promising against S. frugiperda. However, the co-occurrence and interaction between S. frugiperda and the stemborers (Busseola fusca, Sesamia calamistis, and Chilo partellus) ...
Abstract: Although the black soldier fly frass fertiliser (BSFFF) is globally recognised as a promising and potential high-quality organic fertiliser, there is inadequate information on its impact on the growth performance and nutritional status of maize. Furthermore, no information exist on their combination with mineral fertiliser (NPK) as well as economic impact on maize production. This study evaluated the comparative impact of BSFFF, NPK and commercial organic fertiliser (Evergrow®) on...
Abstract: Soil microbes have a wide range of distribution across the world and can be found in different agricultural and forest systems including cultivated soils, ant mounds, decaying trees, leaves, roots, and on insect bodies. Across five counties of Guangdong province of China, the assemblage of bacterial associates of red imported fire ant (RIFA) were examined. The locations were selected based on evidence of high presence of RIFA mounds in these regions. Samples were analyzed from moun...
Abstract: The innovative use of insects to recycle low-value organic waste into value-added products such as food, feed and other products with a low ecological footprint has attracted rapid attention globally. The insect frass (a combination unconsumed substrate, faeces, and exuviae) contains substantial amounts of nutrients and beneficial microbes that could utilised as fertilizer. We analyse research trends and report on the production, nutrient quality, maturity and hygiene status of ins...
Abstract: The utilization of insect-based feeds (IBF) as an alternative protein source is increasingly gaining momentum worldwide owing to recent concerns over the impact of food systems on the environment. However, its large-scale adoption will depend on farmers’ acceptance of its key qualities. This study evaluates farmer’s perceptions of commercial IBF products and assesses the factors that would influence its adoption. It employs principal component analysis (PCA) to develop percepti...
Abstract: The current honey bee decline necessitates the use of alternative native pollinators to ensure global food security. Here, we compared the pollination behaviour and efficiency of the African honey bee (Apis mellifera) and six African endemic Meliponini (Meliponula bocandei, Dactylurina schmidti, Meliponula lendliana, Hypotrigona gribodoi, Meliponula ferruginea and Meliponula togoensis) in a greenhouse with the non-parthenocarpic cucumber variety Super Marketer. Honey bees and D. sc...
Abstract: An increasing demand for pollination services highlights the need for research on alternative pollinators for greenhouse and open field food crops. We compared the foraging behaviour and effectiveness of seven endemic African Meliponinae (Meliponula bocandei, Dactylurina schmidti, Plebeina hildebrandti, Meliponula lendliana, Hypotrigona gribodoi, Meliponula ferruginea, Meliponula togoensis) as alternative pollinators to honey bees of greenhouse cultivated Cantaloupe melons. It was ...
Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, three fruit dlies: Ceratitis cosyra (Walker, C. fasciventris (Bezzi) and C. capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) are important pests of commercial fruits. C. cosyra and C. fasciventris affect.....(continue from the attached PDF)
Abstract: The study was conducted in western Kenya, a prime banana growing area during the period of May 1996 to February 1999. The objectives were to control the banana weevil and parasitic nematodes with neem materials, thereby reducing yield losses and contributing to sustainable banana production. The repellent, antifeedant, ovipositional deterrent, and growth inhibitory effects of powdered neem seed (NSP), kernel (NKP), cake (NC) and neem oil (NO) on Cosmopolites sordidus and its popula...