A5073850374- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Spectroscopy and Chemometric Analyses
- Diptera species taxonomy and behavior
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Research on scale insects
- Agricultural Practices and Plant Genetics
- Moringa oleifera research and applications
- Agricultural pest management studies
- Malaria Research and Control
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
2015-2025
University of Nairobi
2019
Efforts to recycle organic wastes using black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens into high-nutrient biomass that constitutes a sustainable fat (biodiesel) and high-quality protein ingredient in animal feeds have recently gained momentum worldwide. However, there is little information on the most suitable rearing conditions for growth, development survivorship of these flies, which prerequisite mass production technologies. We evaluated physiological requirements growth reproduction H. two...
A wide range of insects affect crop production and cause considerable yield losses. Difficulties reside on the development adaptation adequate strategies to predict insect pests for their timely management ensure enhanced agricultural production. Several conceptual modelling frameworks have been proposed, choice an approach depends largely objective model availability data. This paper presents a summary decades advances in population dynamics, phenology models, distribution risk mapping....
Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) has rapidly spread in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and emerged as a major pest of maize sorghum the continent. For effective monitoring better understanding bioecology management this pest, Community-based Armyworm Monitoring, Forecasting, Early Warning Management (CBFAMFEW) initiative was implemented six eastern African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda Burundi). Over 650 Community Focal Persons (CFPs) who received training...
In recent years, there has been a rapidly growing demand for readily accessible substrates mass production of Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens Linnaeus. Beer results in various by-products that typically end up uncontrolled dumpsites constituting pollution problems, which merits urgent attention. The present study investigated whether the 12 formulated diets composed brewers' spent grains (BSGs), yeast and cane molasses can serve as substrate H. production.Four different BSGs were...
In 2003, a new fruit fly pest species was recorded for the first time in Kenya and has subsequently been found 28 countries across tropical Africa. The insect described as Bactrocera invadens, due to its rapid invasion of African continent. this study, morphometry DNA Barcoding different populations B. invadens distributed range Africa sample from pest's putative aboriginal home Sri Lanka investigated. Morphometry using wing veins tibia length used separate other closely related species....
The acceptance of eco-friendly black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as sustainable alternative protein ingredient in poultry feeds continues to gain momentum worldwide. This study evaluates the impact BSFLM layer chick and grower diets on growth, carcass quality economic returns. Mean weekly weight total live per varied significantly. highest final was achieved when birds were provided diet with 25.6% BSFLM. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average (ADG) overall significantly, except for...
The Lake Baringo and Victoria regions of Kenya are associated with high seroprevalence mosquito-transmitted arboviruses. However, molecular identification potential mosquito vector species, including morphologically identified ones, remains scarce. To estimate the diversity, abundance, distribution vectors on mainland shores adjacent inhabited islands in these regions, we collected adult immature mosquitoes obtained corresponding sequence variation at cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) internal...
Edible insects are currently promoted worldwide as an alternative animal protein source, but they mostly still harvested from the wild where predisposed to contamination with agrochemicals. This study analysed six species of edible (Ruspolia differens, Rhynchophorus phoenicis, Schistocerca gregaria, Oryctes sp, Pachnoda ephippiata and Acanthoplus sp) collected different habitats and/or reared in laboratory Kenya Uganda for safety agrochemical contaminants using liquid chromatography mass...
Abstract The horticulture industry in Benin is under threat due to fruit fly infestation on important crops such as cucurbits and mango. Given the economic losses infestations, population dynamics of flies these were monitored over 6 years (2004–2010) using three parapheromones—cuelure, methyl eugenol terpinyl acetate. A total 2,714,186 specimens belonging 14 species four genera ( Bactrocera , Ceratitis Dacus Zeugodacus ) collected. dorsalis was dominant that accounted for 89%, 89.6% 77.2%...
Plant chemistry is an important contributor to the interaction with herbivores. Here, we report on a previously unknown role for foliar and glandular trichome volatiles in their specialist herbivore of solanaceous plants, tomato red spider mite Tetranychus evansi. We used various bioassays chemical analyses including coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) liquid chromatography quadrupole time flight mass (LC-QToF-MS) investigate this between cultivated African nightshades T....
Stingless bees are important pollinators of wild plants and crops. The identity stingless bee species in Africa has not been fully documented. present study explored the utility morphometrics DNA barcoding for identification African populations, to further employ these tools identify potential cryptic variation within species. samples were collected from three ecological zones, namely Kakamega Forest, Mwingi Arabuko-Sokoke which geographically distant cover high, medium low altitudes,...
A new native edible cricket species, Scapsipedus icipe Hugel and Tanga, has been described in Kenya for the first time. However, there is lack of information on suitable diets their effects developmental time, survival, weight gain, body length, growth index, preoviposition, oviposition, postoviposition, fecundity, egg eclosion period, adult emergence, longevity this which are prerequisite large-scale production. In study, six (wheat bran, soybean, fish offal, pumpkin leaf, carrot, maize...
A longitudinal study to identify the species of Liriomyza leafminer, their distribution, relative abundance, and seasonal variation, including host range, was conducted in vegetable fields at three altitudes Kenya from November 2011 2012. Three main were identified: huidobrensis (Blanchard), sativae Blanchard, trifolii (Burgess), which L. most abundant across all irrespective cropping season accounting for over 90% total specimens collected. collected infested incubated leaves 20 crops...
Three Liriomyza species [Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard), trifolii(Burgess), and sativae Blanchard] have been reported as the most important leafminer pests in vegetable production systems Africa. In Kenya, farmers rely on indiscriminate synthetic insecticides use. On-farm field investigations were set up at three different locations (Sagana, Kabaru, Naromoru) central Kenya to determine effect of pesticide application abundance leafminers their parasitoids under management practices,...
This study aimed to evaluate the performance of broiler chickens fed on 3 black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) and Greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum)-based meals. We evaluated growth performance, carcass quality, profitability under various commercial pathways (doorstep, retail, whole, assorted). Desmodium BSFL powders were formulated into ratios: T1 25:75, T2 50:50, T3 75:25. A feed was used as a control. One hundred twenty mixed-sex 1-day-old chicks (Cobb) reared in...
Abstract Analysis of landmark-based morphometric measurements taken on body parts insects have been a useful taxonomic approach alongside DNA barcoding in insect identification. Statistical analysis morphometrics largely dominated by traditional methods and approaches such as principal component (PCA), canonical variate (CVA) discriminant (DA). However, advancement computing power creates paradigm shift to apply modern tools machine learning. Herein, we assess the predictive performance four...
Abstract Temperature‐dependent development, parasitism and longevity of the braconid parasitoids, Fopius arisanus Sonan Diachasmimorpha longicaudata Ashmed on Bactorcera invadens Drew Tsuruta & White, was evaluated across five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 35°C). Developmental rate decreased linearly with increasing temperature for both parasitoid species. Linear Brière‐2 nonlinear models were used to determine lower threshold at which developmental (1/D) approached zero. For F....
Abstract The African citrus triozid (ACT), Trioza erytreae Del Guercio, is a destructive pest particularly on citrus, and vectors, “ Candidatus ” Liberibacter africanus (CLaf), which the causal agent of greening disease. Our study seeks to establish distribution host‐plant relationship ACT across production areas in Kenya. We also modelled risk spread using maximum entropy modelling algorithm with known occurrence data. results infer that widely distributed causes severe damage four...