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Introduction
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Publications
Publications (326)
Edible insects are widely consumed in different parts of the world and can serve as an alternative nutritional source to conventional foods. Nonetheless, little attention has been given to their quality and shelf life in different packages when exposed to different storage environments. In this study, the effect of storage temperature, duration and...
Oriental fruit fly (OFF) Bactrocera dorsalis and peach fruit fly (PFF) Bactrocera zonata are the most notorious pests that invaded Sudan in 2005 and 2012, respectively, causing severe losses and hindering horticultural production and exports. Prior to 2012, OFF was the most abundant fly in guava orchards in Gezira State. Monitoring fruit flies to d...
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...
Oriental fruit fly (OFF) Bactrocera dorsalis and peach fruit fly (PFF) Bactrocera zonata are the most notorious pests that invaded Sudan in 2005 and 2012, respectively, causing severe losses and hindering horticultural production and exports. Prior to 2012, OFF was the most abundant fly in guava orchards in Gezira State. Monitoring fruit flies to d...
Bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production is undermined by soil degradation and low biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) capacity. This study evaluated the effect of black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) on bush bean growth, yield, nutrient uptake, BNF, and profitability, in comparison with commercial organic fertilizer (Phymyx, Phytomedia In...
Koinobiont endoparasitoids regulate the physiology of their hosts through altering host immuno-metabolic responses, processes which function in tandem to shape the composition of the microbiota of these hosts. Here, we employed 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing to investigate whether parasitization by the parasitoid wasps, Diachasmimorpha longic...
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....
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...
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...
One invasive species that decreases citrus fruit yield is the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. The psyllids are the carriers of Candidatus Liberibacter species, the pathogen that causes citrus greening disease (commonly called huan-glongbing, or HLB), which is the most devastating citrus disease in the world. Originally from Southea...
The prevailing global market demands locally produced, sustainable oils for biomedical applications. This study focused on evaluating the quality of cricket-derived oils and meals from Scapsipedus icipe Hugel, Tanga, and Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer common delicacy in Africa, following standard methods for physicochemical properties, fatty acid comp...
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,...
Abstract
Fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera are the most damaging pests of horticultural crops, leading to severe economic losses affecting the national income of various countries, especially Sudan. Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) were reported in Sudan in 2005 and 2012, respectively. Only the male annihilation techn...
Oriental fruit fly (OFF) Bactrocera dorsalis and (Peach fruit fly) (PFF) B. zonata are the most notorious pests that invaded Sudan in 2005 and 2012 respectively, causing severe losses and hindered horticultural production and exportation. Monitoring fruit flies to determine species composition, seasonality and occurrence of competitive displacement...
Background
Koinobiont endoparasitoids regulate the physiological functioning of their hosts through altering metabolism and immune responses, processes which function in tandem to shape the structure and composition of the microbial communities of these hosts. Here we investigated the hypothesis that parasitisation by the virulent Diachasmimorpha l...
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...
Natural enemies are major challenges in laboratory rearing of grasshoppers, but the identity and virulence of these towards the edible long-horned grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Serville) is scarcely known. In this study, fungi and bacteria were isolated from R. differens collected from Mbarara, Masaka, Hoima, Kampala and Kabale districts in Ugand...
Wheat bread is among stable foods that are nutritionally imbalanced, thus enrichment is crucial. We evaluated the nutritional impact of high-valued wheat bread enriched with varying levels of meat powder from hen fed diet with insect (Hermetia illucens)-based meal. Crude protein and ash in bread increased with increasing inclusion of meat powder. L...
Black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) has gained global prominence due to its
potential to enhance soil health and crop production. However, there is limited
knowledge about its performance on leguminous crops. This study evaluated the
comparative effect of BSFFF and other commercial fertilizers on the growth, yield and
profitability of bush b...
The mango mealybug Rastrococcus invadens (Williams) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) is a destructive and important insect pest of fruit trees in Africa and Asia, especially the mango. Females and nymphs feed on plant leaves and fruits and produce honeydew that causes sooty mold, leading to yield reduction. Although it is an important pest, the distribu...
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 cou...
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,...
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 spread and establishment of Alien invasive species (AIS) in new environments outside their native range are increasing worldwide at an unprecedented rate due to human activities and climate change. Once they arrive in new habitats, very often the population of AIS tend to multiply at exponential rate owing to several intertwined factors, key am...
BACKGROUND
Tephritid fruit flies are a major constraint to the global production of horticultural crops. In Africa, an array of native and alien invasive fruit fly species represents a key challenge to the horticultural industry. In an effort to develop a safer management tool for these pests, we previously identified glutathione (GSH) and glutamic...
The impact of invasive alien pests on agriculture, food security, and biodiversity conservation has been worsened by climate change caused by the rising earth’s atmospheric greenhouse gases. The African citrus triozid, Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio; Hemiptera: Triozidae), is an invasive pest of all citrus species. It vectors the phloem-limited bacte...
Bactrocera dorsalis and several Africa-native Ceratitis species are serious constraints to fruit production in sub-Saharan Africa. A long-term trapping and fruit collection study was conducted (2011–2016) in two contrasting agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Cameroon to determine fruit fly species composition, seasonality, attraction to various lures...
The edible long-horned grasshopper Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera:Tettigoniidae) is a highly nutritious food source consumed in over 20 African countries. Its occurrence is highly seasonal, and wild harvesting is carried out using locally designed and inefficient light traps, thus limiting sustainable utilization as an important food sourc...
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...
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...
One Health (OH) has gained considerable prominence since the beginning of the 21st century, among others, driven by the recent epidemics and the increasing importance of zoonotic diseases. Yet despite the holistic and multidimensional nature of OH, to date most emphasis has been on the interactions between animal and human health, with considerably...
The African citrus triozid (ACT) Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is a principal vector of “Candidatus Liberibacter species”, the pathogens implicated in citrus greening disease, infecting millions of citrus trees annually. Unfortunately, present control measures are insufficient, necessitating the development of novel climate-...
The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) is a key pest of Citrus sp. worldwide, as it acts as a vector for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the bacterial pathogen that causes citrus Huanglongbing. Diaphorina citri has been reported in Kenya, Tanzania, and more recently in Ethiopia. This study assessed the genetic diversity and phyloge...
BACKGROUND
The white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is an invasive pest that threatens the production of several crops of commercial value including mango. Though it is an important pest, little is known about its biology and ecology. Specifically, information on habitat suitability of A. tubercularis occurrence and...
BACKGROUND
The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is a destructive, invasive species that poses a serious threat to the citrus industry wherever it occurs. The psyllid vectors the phloem‐limited bacteria ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’ and ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’, causal agents of the incurable citrus greenin...
Currently, no data exist on the utilization of the newly described cricket species (Scapsipedus icipe) meal as additive in food products, though they have high protein (57%) with 88% total digestibility as well as a variety of essential amino acids. This article presents the first report on the effects of processing techniques and the inclusion of...
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...
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...
Fruit flies belonging to the order Tephritidae are the most notorious pests that attack various fruit and vegetable species, causing severe economic losses. Guava orchards at Elfaki Hashim; North of Khartoum, (Khartoum State) and Elsawagi Elgenobia (Kassala State) in the middle and east of Sudan respectively were selected to assess the response of...
Wild swarms of the long-horned grasshoppers Ruspolia differens (Serville) which are widely harvested for consumption and sale in Africa are seasonal and unsustainable, hence the need for innovative ways of artificially producing the insects. We investigated the development, survival, and reproduction of R. differens in the laboratory on diets mixed...
The impact of invasive alien pests on agriculture, food security, and biodiversity conservation has been worsened by climate change caused by the rising earth’s atmospheric greenhouse gases. The African citrus triozid, Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio; Hemiptera: Triozidae), is an invasive alien pest of all citrus species. It vectors the phloem-limited...
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...
Fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera are the most damaging pests of horticultural crops, leading to severe economic losses hindered exportation. Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) were reported in Sudan in 2005 and 2011 respectively affecting most of the fruits and vegetables in Sudan threatening income of poor farmers. On...
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...
In the scope of mitigating the negative impacts of pesticide use and managing greenhouse whiteflies, Trialeurodes vaporariorum sustainably, 16 endophytic fungal isolates from five different genera (Beauveria, Trichoderma, Hypocrea, Bionectria, and Fusarium) were screened for their ability to colonise two preferred host plant species, namely, tomato...
The African citrus triozid (ACT), Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is the major vector of the ‘Candidatus Liberibacter africanus’, associated with the African citrus greening disease [huanglongbing (HLB)]. Although T. erytreae is a very destructive pest in citrus production with yield losses up to 100%, there is limited informati...
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...
Globally, the expansion of livestock and fisheries production is severely constrained due to the increasing costs and ecological footprint of feed constituents. The utilization of black soldier fly (BSF) as an alternative protein ingredient to fishmeal and soybean in animal feed has been widely documented. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) used a...
In recent years, community’s perceptions and acceptance of edible insects as novel foods has gained momentum worldwide. Despite the importance of entomophagy in Kenya, little information exists on knowledge, perceptions and practices of edible insects among different communities. This study seeks to address this information gap by conducting survey...
The sustainable utilisation of black soldier fly (BSF) for recycling organic waste into high-quality protein feed and organic fertiliser with a low environmental footprint is gaining momentum worldwide. Although BSF farming is becoming a rapidly growing agribusiness, studies on the BSF farming’s economic aspects are limited. This study analysed the...
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...
The invasion and wide spread of Spodoptera frugiperda represent real impediments to food security and the livelihood of the millions of maize and sorghum farming communities in the sub-Saharan and Sahel regions of Africa. Current management efforts for the pest are focused on the use of synthetic pesticides, which are often economically unviable an...
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...
The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) is a potential substitute of fish meal in feeds. However, information on the nutrition and safety of these feeds is inadequate. This study examined the quality of fish feed pellets extruded from blends formulated with and without black soldier fly larval meal (BSFLM). A further aim was to study the influ...
Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) has become a serious menace to sustainable production of tomato in Kenya. A survey was conducted between April 2015 and June 2016 to determine its distribution, abundance, infestation, and damage levels on tomato, and associated natural enemies. Trap counts of T. absoluta moths were recorded in all surveyed 29 counties, whic...
The present study is the first modeling effort at a global scale to predict habitat suitability of fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda and its key parasitoids, namely Chelonus insularis, Cotesia marginiventris,Eiphosoma laphygmae,Telenomus remus and Trichogramma pretiosum, to be considered for biological control. An adjusted procedure of a m...
The African citrus triozid (ACT), Trioza erytreae, is an important pest of citrus. Both nymphs and adults damage the plant by feeding on the sap causing young shoots to die. Trioza erytreae also vectors Candidatus Liberibacter africanus, the bacteria that cause citrus greening disease. Since certain non‐host plants are known to repel insect pests,...
Edible crickets are among the praised insects that are gaining recognition as human food and livestock feed with a potential of contributing to food security and reduction of malnutrition. Globally, the sustainable use of crickets as food or feed is undermined by lack of information on the number of the edible crickets, the country where they are c...
Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are devastating agricultural pests of economic importance vectoring pathogenic plant viruses. Knowledge on their diversity and distribution in Kenya is scanty, limiting development of effective sustainable management strategies. The present study is aimed at identifying whitefly pest species present in Kenya acro...
Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is one of the most economically important invasive pests affecting horticulture production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Mango is the main host for this species and causes up to 80% yield loss. To mitigate against this pest, an area-wide integrated pest management (IPM) programme is being promoted in SSA, and Ethiopia is...