Moses Chemurot

Makerere University · Department of Zoology

Following years of its exploitation from only wild colonies, the stingless bee (Meliponula bocandei Spinola, 1853) was recently domesticated in Uganda. Products currently harvested by the beekeepers are honey and propolis. Studies from other countries have shown that stingless bees produce honey that is distinct in physicochemical properties. There...

Following years of its exploitation from only wild colonies, the stingless bee (Meliponula bocandei Spinola, 1853) was recently domesticated in Uganda. Products currently harvested by the beekeepers are honey and propolis. Studies from other countries have shown that stingless bees produce honey that is distinct in physicochemical properties. There...

Edible insects are currently promoted worldwide as an alternative animal protein source, but they are mostly still harvested from the wild where they are predisposed to contamination with agrochemicals. This study analysed six species of edible insects (Ruspolia differens, Rhynchophorus phoenicis, Schistocerca gregaria, Oryctes sp, Pachnoda ephippi...

Insect-based meals such as the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) larvae (BSFL) meal have shown promising results as aqua feed protein supplements. BSFL voraciously consume organic waste converting the nutrients into larval biomass containing 37-63% protein. However, to enable large-scale production of BSFL, the growth performance...

Background Malaria is often persistent in communities surrounded by mosquito breeding habitats. Anopheles gambiae sensu lato exploit a variety of aquatic habitats, but the biotic determinants of its preferences are poorly understood. This study aimed to identify and quantify macroinvertebrates in different habitat types with determined water physic...

This study investigated the relative abundance and identity of microbial contaminants of the edible long-horned grasshopper (Ruspolia differens) harvested from the wild and traded in informal markets in Uganda, to reveal high health risk points. Raw samples of whole R. differens were collected from wild vegetation, trapping sites and markets. Addit...

Recent evidence has shown that improved light traps comprising modified drums and light emitting diode bulbs are more efficient and safer in mass trapping of wild swarms of Ruspolia differens compared to mercury light traps with open-ended drums commonly used in Uganda. However, financial analysis of the improved traps had not yet been conducted pr...

Stingless bees are important resources for pollination of crops, production of medicinal honey and other products. However, throughout the developing countries in Africa, meliponiculture has received less attention in beekeeping development programmes. Here, the current situation of stingless beekeeping in Uganda is assessed. First, stingless bee s...

Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) is a delicacy in many African countries. It is commonly mass-harvested from the wild using light traps consisting of energy-intensive mercury bulbs which pollute the environment when poorly disposed. The catch is collected using open-ended drums which are inefficient in retaining the insects...

Although Braula coeca does not parasitize honey bees, it causes economic impact when its larval stage burrows under the capping of honey combs. We sampled 175 and 195 honey bee colonies between December 2014–September 2015 during the dry and wet seasons respectively from two highland agro-ecological zones of Uganda with the aim of establishing B. c...

Background: There is a high risk of malaria infection in Uganda due to availability of conducive conditions in breeding habitats of An. gambiae s.l., the vectors for Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the abundance and distribution of macro-invertebrates and An. gambiae s.l. are influence...

The animal industry especially aquaculture and poultry sectors contribute greatly to the livelihoods of households in sub-Saharan African countries. The ongoing depletion of fish stocks used as protein source requires substitution with alternative animal sources, e.g. black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, Hermetia illucens. Hence, this study assessed the...

Globally, honeybees are threatened by human-mediated factors like pests, diseases and pesticides. In this study, 370 honeybee colonies were surveyed for selected invertebrate and vertebrate pests in wet and dry seasons (December 2014 to September 2015). Observations were made on human activities, apiary characteristics, landscape and land use type....

The microsporidium Nosema neumanni n. sp., a new parasite of the honeybee Apis mellifera is described based on its ultra-structural and molecular characteristics. Structures resembling microsporidian spores were found by microscopic examination of honeybees from Uganda. Molecular confirmation failed when PCR primers specific for Nosema apis and Nos...

In Uganda, the honeybee, Apis mellifera is kept mainly for honey, other beehive products and for the provision of vital pollination services. Although the beekeeping sector is growing and providing a source of income, food and medicine to many rural households, the potential threat from honeybee parasites and pathogens poses challenges to the secto...

Paenibacillus larvae is a highly contagious and often lethal widely distributed pathogen of honeybees, Apis mellifera but has not been reported in eastern Africa to date. We investigated the presence of P. larvae in the eastern and western highland agro-ecological zones of Uganda by collecting brood and honey samples from 67 honeybee colonies in tw...

Varroa mites are important honey bee ecto-parasites that have caused disaster to the beekeeping industry in Europe and America. The extent of spread of these mites in Africa is not clearly known, but several sub-Saharan African countries including Uganda have been on the varroa-suspect list. We surveyed 16 districts falling in eight agroecological...

Varroa mites are ecto-parasites of honeybees and are a threat to the beekeeping industry. We identified the haplotype of Varroa mites and evaluated potential factors that influence their prevalence and infestation levels in the eastern and western highland agro-ecological zones of Uganda. This was done by collecting samples of adult worker bees bet...

Globally, honeybees provide vital pollination services and direct incomes to beekeepers. Annual estimates of the value of world earnings from honeybees are over 180 billion US dollars. This clearly shows the importance of honeybees and point to the need to protect them. Currently, honeybees are threatened by human-mediated factors like pests, disea...

Varroa mites are important honeybee ecto-parasites that have caused disaster to the beekeeping industry in Europe and America. The extent of spread of these mites in Africa is not clearly known but several Sub Saharan African countries including Uganda are on the Varroa-suspect list. We surveyed 16 districts falling in 8 agro-ecological zones in Ug...

Tannins are known to have anti-digestive properties among primates and undoubtedly influence food selection among grey-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus ugandae) living in Mabira and Lwamunda forest reserves. During the 24 months study, we observed the feeding behaviour of three groups of mangabeys in forests with different levels of degradation and ma...

This study, by a local government official, takes a regional look at hives and management methods used in the Adjumani District of northern Uganda. It also looks at the gender roles of men and women as beekeeping moves from traditional to more modern methods.

Beekeeping is one of the most widespread agricultural activities that are practiced all over the world. The honey harvesting in traditional beekeeping means total destruction of the beehives and sometimes extermination of the bees. The use of hollowed logs, boxes of variable dimensions and designs, and rock or wall holes as hives reflect the remini...

This paper seeks to quantify numbers of beehives and honey losses together with economic losses accruing annually to beekeepers from the rampant bush burning. The hope is that government agencies can counter any breakdown in livelihood strategies and improve the quality of life of the beekeepers. Environmental degradation caused by burning and roam...

The amount of plant foods eaten and sexual differences in food intake among chimpanzees in Kibale Forest was investigated between July 2007 and January 2008. Continuous focal animal sampling was used to collect data on the diet, number, and duration of feeding bouts of 18 individuals of the Kanyawara chimpanzee community. Chimpanzees utilized 42 pl...