Abstract: The oviposition behaviour of Maruca testul ali s on host plant (cowpea), non-host plant s (cotton and sunhemp), and artificial substrates (filter , butter, crepe, and aluminium foil papers) was observed in laboratory and field. These studies were carried out with the aim of gathe ring data on oviposition behaviour patterns e s pecia l ly on how the ovipositing female inter acts with host pla nts, non- host plants as well as potential artificial oviposition substrates. It was also i...
INTRODUCTION 1.1 Pheromones and related compounds It has long been known that animals communicate with each other. The communication becomes more important the more social the animal is. Even in microorganisms and plants communication seems important. For example, "biological communication" as broadly defined, 1 involves the release of one or more stimuli by an individual of a species to induce a reaction to the receiver and the benefit of such a reaction may be to the emitter, the receiver o...
Abstract: This study was conducted to assess the possibility of immunising rabbits against Rhipicephalus appendicuatu Neumann, the vector for East Coast fever and Corridor disease, the most important tick-borne diseases in East and Central Africa. The antigens whose efficacy in the control of this vector were assessed included commercially available insect moulting hormone, beta-ecdysone and tick haemolymph components. However, since antibodies play a major role in the acquisition of tick re...
Abstract: Trypanosomiasis continues to be a serious problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The inadequacies of existing control strategies necessitate the development of alternative control measures. In most cases, the causative agents of African trypanosomiasis, Trypanosoma spp., require an obligatory passage through the tsetse, Glossina spp (Diptera; Glossinidae ), vector. This developmental step of the parasite leads to vector-parasite interactions, especially within the midgut. Among the vector ...
Abstract: The overall goal was to contribute to crop-productivity by developing sustainable pest management and the objective was to select and identify an efficacious local B. thuringiensis isolate active against the selected stem borers, C. partellus, E.saccharina, B. fusca and S. calamistis.Various isolates of B. thuringiensis were isolated from soils and dead insects collected from different places in Kenya. They were screened against various stem borers including C. partellus, E. saccha...
Abstract: Tsetse flies are the biological vectorsof human and animal trypanosomiasisand hence representant medical and veterinary importance. The sense of smell plays a significant role in tsetse and its ecological interaction, such as finding blood meal source, resting, and larvicidal sitesand for mating. Tsetse olfactory behaviour can be exploited for their management;however, olfactory studies in tsetse flies are still fragmentary. Here in my PhD thesis, usingscanning electron microscopy,...
Abstract: Background:Vector-borne pathogens (VBP) present a seriousthreat to both animal and humanhealth globally due to their zoonotic potential.‘One Health’ epidemio-surveillance systems that integrate human, animal, and arthropod vector facetsof VBP transmission enhance detection and can give rise to informed effective multi-sectoral vector-borne disease control options. The most important vectors are ticks and mosquitoes, which have a cosmopolitan distribution due to their ecological...
Abstract: Termites have recently gained importance as major pests in cocoa agroforests (AF) because of a loss in overall biodiversity at the transition from shaded agroforestry system to intensively managed unshaded monocultures (full sun) systems. Termite control relied almost exclusively on persistent organochlorine insecticides which are currently under restrictive use due to increasing concern over damage to human health and the environment. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are considered as...
Bush meat (Grass cutter) is one of the best natural meats with lots of nutritional advantages. The increase in consumption of bush meat serves as alternative which bridges the gap of the inadequacy of animal protein and other nutrition. The grass cutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) meat samples used in this research were collected from Emure Owo market, in Owo local government of Ondo state, Nigeria. The hairy skin of the fresh lifeless grass cutter was removed using hot water. The grass cutter ...
Bush meat (Grass cutter) is one of the best natural meats with lots of nutritional advantages. The increase in consumption of bush meat serves as alternative which bridges the gap of the inadequacy of animal protein and other nutrition. The grass cutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) meat samples used in this research were collected from Emure Owo market, in Owo local government of Ondo state, Nigeria. The hairy skin of the fresh lifeless grass cutter was removed using hot water. The grass cutter ...
This paper, which is perhaps our umpteenth and umptieth on scientific method and scientific methodology, proposes, discusses and lays bare the canon of what we propose to call “irreducible simplicity”. We believe and hypothesize that this approach would encompass, and play a natural, pivotal and a vital role in all aspects and facets of scientific activity from the cradle to the grave such as grounds-up hypothesis conceptualization, hypothesis building, detailed hypothesis specification, ...
Abstract: Maize is the main staple crop of most communities of the East African mountains but the yield is affected by both biotic and abiotic factors. While soil nutrients increase the maize yields, infestation of maize fields by Lepidopteran pests such as, Chilo partellus (Crambidae) and Busseola fusca (Noctuidae) generally reduces the yields. In addition to enhancing maize yields, some soil elements such as silicon (Si) aid plants in overcoming abiotic and biotic stresses. Hence, any fact...
Abstract: The present study aims to determine the phylogenetic relationships among the sand lizards, Pedioplanis. In addition, a single mitochondrial gene is used to investigate the geographic genetic structure of the widey distributed P. burchelli. With 11 species, Pedioplanis is the most speciose genus among the southern African genera of the family Lacertidae. All the species are restricted to the subcontinent with the exception of three (P. namaquensis, P. undata and P. benguellensis), w...
Abstract: This thesis reports studies on three aspects of Glossina biology:- a) Studies on the peridomestic behaviour of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in the sleeping sickness epidemic focus of Busoga, Uganda. b) Application of analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons in the chemotaxonomy of Glossina and c) Studies on the ovulation and late mating of virgin Glossina. A search near homesteads, made over a period of 20 months, revealed tsetse puparia and puparial shells under Coffea canephora (coffee),...
Abstract: A study was conducted on the activity response of unfed adults of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus to some o the environmental changes during the three main seasons here in East Africa. Ticks of two different ages were subjected to various treatments in the laboratory to vary their physiological (hydration) states and thereafter exposed in the field. Observations there made on the activity responses in relation to changes in temperature and relative humidity within the micro-habitat at...