Saliou Niassy

• PhD
• Coordinator of Inter-Phytosanitary Council of the African Union at African Union

Palm weevils are widely distributed throughout Ghana causing severe economic injuries to palm plantations. However, the description and categorisation of palm weevil species based on the morphology in Ghana are lacking. This study sought to identify and determine the morphometrics and reproductive parameters of different Rhynchophorus morphotypes i...

BACKGROUND The cotton jassid, Amrasca biguttula, a dangerous and polyphagous pest, has recently invaded the Middle East, Africa and South America, raising concerns about the future of cotton and other food crops including okra, eggplant and potato. However, its potential distribution remains largely unknown, posing a challenge in developing effecti...

Cirina butyrospermi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), commonly known as the shea caterpillar, is an edible insect in several West African countries. However, this insect is seasonal due to a long pupal diapause. This study therefore aims to explore the potential for mass rearing of C. butyrospermi by determining the role of photoperiod and 20-hydroxyecdy...

This study develops a comprehensive system dynamics model to predict and manage African armyworm (Spo-doptera exempta) outbreaks, a major threat to cereal crops across Africa. We applied system dynamics approache with its archetypes (causal loop diagram (CLD), reinforcing (R) and balancing (B)) to analyse the population dynamics of the pest. The VE...

Push–pull technology (PPT) integrates maize with the legume fodder Desmodium sp. and the border crop Brachiaria sp., aiming to enhance maize production in Rwanda. Despite its potential, the adoption of complementary soil management practices (SMP), vital for PPT’s success, remains low. This study employs spatial econometric methods to evaluate the...

This study investigates the use of Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi) essential oil as a natural attractant for managing Bactrocera dorsalis, a highly destructive fruit fly species worldwide. The plant was cultivated, and essential oil was extracted through hydrodistillation. Analysis of volatile compounds via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) r...

Edible insects are perceived as an incredible opportunity to mitigate the major challenge of sustainably producing healthy foods for a growing world population in the face of climate change uncertainties over the coming decade. In this study, we assessed the nutrient composition and sensory properties of Acheta domesticus, Apis mellifera, Gnathocer...

The Insects for the Green Economy conference (IGEC) was held on 28–29 February 2024 at the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD) at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of the conference was sustainable food systems and livelihoods in Africa, aiming to explore into the multifaceted r...

Background Desmodium species used as intercrops in push-pull cropping systems are known to repel insect-pests, suppress Striga species weeds, and shift soil microbiome. However, the mechanisms through which Desmodium species impact the soil microbiome, either through its root exudates, changes in soil nutrition, or shading microbes from its nodules...

Data mining, particularly the analysis of multivariate time series data, plays a crucial role in extracting insights from complex systems and supporting informed decision-making across diverse domains. However, assessing the similarity of multivariate time series data presents several challenges, including dealing with large datasets, addressing te...

This study reports for the first-time managed honey bee colony loss rates and associated risk factors during the active beekeeping season 2022/2023 in nine Sub-Saharan African countries, namely Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Benin, Liberia, Nigeria, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The sustainability of bee swarm catches as a main h...

Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is widely considered an excellent nutrient source for food and feed. Despite its economic importance, there is limited information on the impact of temperature on the bionomics of this cricket to guide its effective and sustainable mass production in its geographical range. The biological parameters of G....

The field of animal behaviour has often relied on tracking and recording the behaviour of a single individual. For example, for decades, gregarious locust behaviour research has used a standard assay that tracks the path of an individual in a cell, including how much time it spends next to an adjacent cell containing a group of stimulus locusts. Ho...

Gonimbrasia belina , known as the mopane worm, is a large edible caterpillar in tropical and subtropical regions. However, little is known about the bioecology of this species as influenced by its host trees. This study evaluated the importance of different potential host trees in understanding mopane worms’ behaviour and spatial distribution. To a...

Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm, FAW) is a significant economic pest of maize in Uganda. Many Ugandan maize farmers employ synthetic insecticides as their main form of control despite the negative impacts of these chemicals. We tested the effectiveness of Beauveria bassiana; General Biopesticide Cocktail (mixture of B. bassiana, M. anisopliae,...

This study proposed a spatially explicit non-linear function for estimating the benefits following the release and establishment of the koinobiont endoparasitoid, Fopius arisanus at a landscape scale in Kenya to control the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. The proposed model relates the bioecology of the parasitoid to its impacts on fruit g...

Biological control (BC) technologies are necessary to address the significant constraint that Fall armyworm (FAW) poses in cereal production in Africa. • The study employs a step-by-step modeling approach to map suitable sites of BC technologies, specifically parasitoids (Cotesia icipe). • Pest infestation levels are estimated using an evolutionary...

The future of the food system on the planet is increasingly facing uncertainties that are attributable to population growth and a surge in demand for nutritious food. Traditional agricultural practices are poised to place strain on production, as well as natural resources and ecosystem services provided, particularly under a changing climate. Given...

The biology of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) was studied on third instar larvae of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) to optimize its mass rearing in the laboratory. The mean parasitoid emergence rate ranged from 55–92% during its first 13 days of life. The number of females was higher than that of males. The mean development time from egg to ad...

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) threatens maize, sorghum, and millet production in Africa. Despite rigorous work done to reduce FAW prevalence, the dynamics and invasion mechanisms are still poorly understood. This study applied interdisciplinary tools, analytics, and algorithms on a FAW dataset to provide insights and proje...

Before the invasion of the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda into Africa, smallholder farmers had been using indigenous practices such as applying fish soup to plants to manage stemborer pests. Although farmers have since begun adapting this practice against FAW, no attempt has been made to scientifically evaluate this practice. Therefore,...

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technologies offer effective solutions to reduce the negative effects of crop pests while considering human and environmental health. However, disseminating these technologies faces several barriers, with one of the most significant being the lack of farmer awareness regarding their availability, deployment, and upt...

Background and aims Crop cultivation practices and soil legacies are intrinsically linked and are hypothesized to influence direct and indirect plant defences against phytophagous insects. In this study, we tested how soils conditioned by push-pull (maize (Zea mays)- Desmodium spp.- Brachiaria spp. intercrop) or maize monoculture (non-push-pull) af...

Spodoptera frugiperda is a significant economic pest of maize in Uganda. Many Ugandan maize farmers employ synthetic insecticides as their main form of control despite the negative impacts of these chemicals. The study aimed to determine the effect of synthetic, semi-synthetic and bio-pesticides on maize leaf damage, and abundance of S, frugiperda...

Classical biological control (CBC) has been exploited as a safer alternative for suppressing the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, by importing, rearing, and releasing the larval parasitoid, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata . Although D. longicaudata has been released in Kenya through the Africa Fruit Fly Programme, the extent of its dispersal a...

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, an invasive pest originating from the Americas is a serious pest threatening cereal production and food security in Zambia. We studied the prevalence and abundance of natural enemies of FAW in three Agroecological regions (AERs I, II, and III) to identify those that could potentially serve as bio-cont...

Background and aims Crop cultivation practices and soil legacies are intrinsically linked and are hypothesized to influence plant direct and indirect defence against phytophagous insects. In this study, we tested how soils conditioned by push-pull (maize (Zea mays)- Desmodiumspp.- Brachiaria spp. intercrop) or maize monoculture (non-push-pull) affe...

Background Edible insects are a sustainable source of high-quality animal protein. Insect farming is gaining interest globally, particularly in low-income countries, where it may provide substantial nutritional and economic benefits. To enhance insect farming practices in Africa, new farming systems are being developed. However, knowledge on how to...

Before the invasion of the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda into Africa, smallholder farmers had been using indigenous practices such as applying fish soup onto plants to manage stemborer pests. Although farmers have since begun adapting this practice against FAW, no attempt had been made to evaluate the practice scientifically. Therefore,...

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith, 1797), is a serious pest of several crops, particularly maize and other cereals. It has long been known as a pest in the Americas and has invaded most of Africa and parts of the Middle East, Asia, and Australia in the last six years. Its new status as an invasive species causing serious dama...

Edible caterpillars are the most traded edible insects in Cameroon, particularly in the humid forest zone, where they are excellent sources of proteins and fats for many indigenous peoples. Their large consumption and their wild harvest have been a major concern, and there is a need for sustainable management. However, specific data on species’ div...

Introduction Horticulture is an important sub-sector for many African countries. Tephritid fruit flies continue to cause serious direct and indirect damage to the sub-sector. The male annihilation technique (MAT) using methyl eugenol (ME) is among the most revered techniques in fruit fly management. However, ME-based lures are only available to som...

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith, has caused massive maize losses since its attack on the African continent in 2016, particularly in east Africa. In this study, we predicted the spatial distribution (established habitat) of FAW in five east African countries viz., Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Ethiopia. We used FAW o...

Disruptions in the food supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have destabilized the balance between production, supply, transport, distribution, and consumption. Consequently, these disruptions have affected food and nutritional security all over the world. This study proposes a framework for investigating the impact of COVID-19 on food sup...

One health' (OH) is a cross-sectoral approach that addresses human, plant, animal, and environmental health problems. The initiative stems from recognition of the convoluted linkages among global health risks and the need for coherent multipronged countermeasures. For agriculture, environmental degradation and biodiversity depletion wrought by heav...

Background Located in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (South-Kivu), Kalehe and Idjwi are two relatively unexplored territories with little to no research on edible insects even though anthropo-entomophagy practice is widespread. This study therefore aimed at exploring the biodiversity, perception, consumption, availability, host plants, ha...

Agroecological farming systems such as maize–legume intercropping (MLI) and push-pull technology (PPT) have been introduced to mitigate losses from pests. Nevertheless, the regionwide maize yield gained from practicing such farming systems remains largely unknown. This study compares the performance of two uncomplex and interpretable models, namely...

Here, we review the advances in research on management of key oil palm insect pests globally, including defoliators, leaf/fruit scrapers, borers and sap feeders. The common oil palm pest management methods include synthetic insecticides, biopesticides, semiochemical lures, cultural practices, and integrated approaches. However, effectiveness, affor...

Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth is a parasitic weed that is damaging major cereal crops in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Although Striga is recognised as an agricultural scourge, there is limited information available indicating the extent of its growth and spread as impacted by the changing climate in Kenya. This study investigated the impact of curre...

Food insecurity continues to affect more than two-thirds of the population in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly those depending on rain-fed agriculture. Striga, a parasitic weed, has caused yield losses of cereal crops, immensely affecting smallholder farmers in SSA. Although earlier studies have established that Striga is a constraint to crop...

The wonder multistorey garden (WMSG) is an innovative vertical farming system tailored for urban settings that can be constrained by the irrigation regime, and by types and levels of fertilizer application. This study evaluated the effects of applying NPK fertilizer and black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) under different irrigation regimes o...

Following the invasion of Africa by the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, Classical biological control (CBC) has been exploited as a safer alternative for its suppression by the introduction and release of the koinobiont endoparasitoid, Fopius arisanus. Although the parasitoids have been released in several African countries, the extent of t...

Following its recent invasion of African countries, fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), now co-exists with resident stemborers such as Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) causing severe damage to maize crops. Due to niche overlap, interspecific interactions occur amon...

The fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) is a major cereal pest threatening food security in Africa. African smallholder farmers apply various indigenous pest management practices, including rabbit urine; however, there is no scientific evidence for its efficacy. The FAW eggs, first, second and third instar larvae and moths were e...

Insect breeding or farming for food and feed is an emerging enterprise that can address the ever-growing demand for protein and curb high unemployment rates in Africa and beyond. However, for the sector to prosper, its value chain needs to be regulated to ensure sustainability and safety for consumers and the environment. Although a few African cou...

Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) provide pollination services to crops and produce high–quality honey. The application of agrochemicals during the management of crop pests is an increasing threat to pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide. Biopesticides are considered as better alternatives; however, there is limited evidence of thei...

Following the invasion of Africa by the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, Classical biological control (CBC) have been exploited as a safer alternative for its suppression by the introduction and release of the koinobiont endoparasitoid, Fopius arisanus. Although, the parasitoids have been released in several African countries, its extent of...

The fall armyworm (FAW) ( Spodoptera frugiperda ) is a major cereal pest threatening food security in Africa. African smallholder farmers apply various indigenous pest management practices including the application of rabbit urine; however, there is no scientific evidence on its efficacy and mode of action. We evaluated the effect of rabbit urine o...

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda J.E Smith, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious invasive pest of maize that has been established in Kenya since 2016. Little is known about its co-occurrence with resident stemborers, relative infestation and damage and how agronomic factors influence its infestation and damage in maize cropping systems a...

Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. Over the past two decades, a comprehensive, integrated pest management (IPM) package for the management of a plethora of fruit fly pests, including Bactrocera dorsalis, B. latifrons, B. zonata, Ceratitis...

Push–pull technology (PPT) is one of the most viable low-cost agroecological practices that reduces the effects of insect pest infestations (e.g., stemborer) and parasitic weeds (e.g., Striga) in croplands. PPT was evaluated in low-fertility soils and two farming practices, minimum-tilled conservation agriculture practice (CA), and conventionally t...

Fruit production in Sub-Saharan Africa is of paramount importance both socially and economically. Millions of farmers derive livelihoods from mango, avocado, citrus, cashew, and coconut farming, but native and alien invasive species constrain production The region’s capacity to contain invasives is weak due to the absence of national and institutio...

After five years of its first report on the African continent, Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is considered a major threat to maize, sorghum, and millet production in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the rigorous work already conducted to reduce FAW prevalence, the dynamics and invasion mechanisms of FAW in Africa are still poor...

Lepidoptera represents one of the most abundant and diverse insect groups globally, with more than 178,159 species described in more than 4000 genera. This paper discusses the economic importance of these insects in Cameroon. The work was built on a comprehensive review of 60 relevant published articles from 1955 to 2021. Results show a great diver...

In response to growing food demand, edible insects are perceived as an opportunity to alleviate food insecurity. With its wide edible insects’ biodiversity, the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of Africa’s most critical entomophagous. This study aimed at giving a first insight on inventory showing diversity, perception, consumption, availability...

We evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion of different ratios of Desmodium intortum (DI) and black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on sensory traits and physicochemical qualities of broiler chicks meat. Three formulations: T1:75%BSFL:25%DI; T2:50%BSFL:50DI, and T3:25BSFL:75% DI as a protein source were tested. A conventional feed was used as the...

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (FAW), first invaded Africa in 2016 and has since become established in many areas across the continent where it poses a serious threat to food and nutrition security. We re-parameterized the existing CLIMEX model to assess the FAW global invasion threat, emphasizing the risk of transient and permanent popul...

This study assessed the nontarget effect of entomopathogenic fungi on the Western honey bee Apis mellifera L. and the African stingless bee Meliponula ferruginea Cockrell (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Pathogenicity of five Metarhizium anisopliae (ICIPE 7, ICIPE 20, ICIPE 62, ICIPE 69, and ICIPE 78) (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and...

Since 2016, fall armyworm (FAW) has threatened sub-Saharan ‘Africa’s fragile food systems and economic performance. Yet, there is limited evidence on this transboundary pest’s economic and food security impacts in the region. Additionally, the health and environmental consequences of the insecticides being used to control FAW have not been studied....

Temperature critically affects the performance of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). Mathematical models are critical tools used in predictive microbiology but are less adopted for EPF. We selected eight nonlinear models to describe thermal biology; minimum (T min), optimal (T opt) and maximum (T max) thresholds; and maximal growth (P max) of EPF. Conid...

In East Africa, insect farming is a rapidly growing business providing access to "climate-smart" protein, other nutrients, and income. With the continental drive to transform existing food systems that are becoming continuously unsustainable due to scarcity of arable land and water, and high ecological imprint, insect farming for food and feed with...

The International Journal of Tropical Insect Science (Int J Trop Insect Sci) is a peer-reviewed journal established in 1980 to promote insect science mainly in the tropics. This study aimed to provide a Bibliometric overview of Int J Trop Insect Sci publications and citations between 2012 and 2020, ending September 2020. A sample of 488 documents e...

This Special Issue presents the outcomes from the 23rd African Association of Insect Scientists' Conference held in Cote D’Ivoire, in connection with similar initiatives within and outside Africa. Over 65 scientific papers from several countries, worldwide, were submitted, of which about 40 were accepted and published. The issue focused on new adva...

Olfaction plays an important role in the behavioural ecology of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera:Acrididae). Different locust life stages and sexes use olfactory cues for different behaviours such as grouping, mating, oviposition, feeding, maturation and gregarization, which can be exploited for management of the desert locust. H...

In response to growing food demand, edible insects are seen as a potential source to alleviate food insecurity. With its wide edible insects’ biodiversity, the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in Africa. This study aimed at giving a first insight on the inventory showing diversity, perception, consumpt...

African traditional crops (Poaceae), including sorghum (Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) and African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud), are the most widely cultivated cereal crops in Africa. However, maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation has exceeded the production of...

The potential of semiochemicals to lure insect pests to a trap where they can be killed with biopesticides has been demonstrated as an eco-friendly pest management alternative. In this study, we tested two recently characterized male-produced aggregation pheromones of the bean flower thrips Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom), namely (R)-lavandulyl 3...

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) has rapidly spread in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and has emerged as a major pest of maize and sorghum in the continent. For effective monitoring and a better understanding of the bioecology and management of this pest, a Community-based Fall Armyworm Monitoring, Forecasting, Early Warning and Managem...

This special issue presents the outcomes from “Designing sustainable and circular agricultural systems for the year 2100,” the joint scientific workshop of ISOFAR, the Thünen-Institute, and INRA-Morocco, which was held from November 14 to 16, 2019 in Marrakesh, Morocco. Nineteen scientists from a broad array of background and nationalities came tog...

BACKGROUND: The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a serious pest of maize. Farming systems such as push-pull or maize-legume intercropping have been reported to reduce FAW infestations significantly. However, the exact mechanisms involved in FAW management have not been practically elucidated. We therefore assessed larval h...