Abstract: We describe the isolation and characterization of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci from the recently discovered fruit fly pest, Bactrocera invadens. The polymorphism of these loci was tested in individual flies from two natural populations (Sri Lanka and Democratic Republic of Congo). Allele number per locus ranged from three to 15 and eight loci displayed a polymorphic information content greater than 0.5. These microsatellite loci provide useful markers for studies of populatio...
Abstract: The development and survival of immature stages of Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta and White (Dipt.: Tephritidae), a new invasive fruit fly pest in Africa, was studied in the laboratory at five constant temperatures of 15 C, 20 C, 25 C, 30 C and 35 C and photoperiod of L12:D12. The developmental time of eggs was 5.71 days at 15 C, decreasing to 1.24 days at 35 C. Larval development periods decreased from 35.95 days at 15 C to 6.64 days at 35 C. Pupal development at 15 C took 34.0...
Abstract: The development of hosts that are resistant and evaluation of botanical extracts to H. armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is crucial for sustainable management, yet very limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was done to identify alternative methods to insecticide control through host consumption study and botanical extracts. The performance of third-fifth larval stages of H. armigera on three host plant varieties including chickpea, tomato and faba bean and botanical ex...
Abstract: Experiments were carried out to investigate the response of two tick species Rhipicephalus pulchellus Gerstaker, 1873 and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann, 1901 to three different extracts (acetone, aqueous and oil) of the dried leaves of Calpurnia aurea (Aiton)Benth in both an inverted glass tube and a dual choice T-olfactometer. The oil extract at 50 and 100 mg/ml attracted 46.7% and 65.9% of R. appendiculatus, respectively, in the inverted glass tube assay, which was compara...
Abstract: Identification of specimens from Malaise trap collections and rearings of tephritids from native and cereal grasses confirm the presence in Kenya of Bistrispinaria magniceps, B. fortis, and B. woodi, of which the latter two species are recorded for the first time. Including an earlier, but uncertain, record of B. atlas, all four species of Bistrispinaria, the only genus of Tephritidae in the Afrotropical region known to breed in grass stems, have now been recorded from Kenya. Infor...
Abstract: Larval rearing of Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White (Diptera: Tephritidae) on artiÞcial diet is described. The adaptation process for this insect, when moved from whole mango, Mangifera indica L., fruit rearing to artiÞcial diet based on wheat bran, took between three and Þve generations to reach the plateau of quality control parameters observed for rearing the insect on whole mango fruit. Small-scale rearing on wheat, Triticum aestivum L.-, or carrot, Daucus corata-bas...
Abstract: Varroa-specific hygienic behavior is a hereditary trait of honey bee (Apis mellifera), which supports resistance to Varroa destructor. This study investigated the response of Apis mellifera scutellata to Varroa-infested worker brood cells in Kenya, East Africa. Uncapping, removal of the brood, and disappearance of the introduced mite were recorded in a total of 690 cells into which live mites were introduced. We recorded a high proportion of untouched cells in controls (median, 80%...
Abstract: 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 and survivorship of these flies, which is a prerequisite for mass production technologies. We evaluated the physiological requirements f...
Abstract: Abstract: Spoladea recurvalis F. is a major pest moth of amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) flowers worldwide,with a potential of causing complete foliage loss under severe outbreaks. Chemical insecticides are uneconomical for resource-poor farmers and pose health and environmental risks. Host plant resistance (HPR) to insects is an effective, economical and environmentally friendly alternative that is poorly understood and largely unexploited among traditional leafy vegetables. A total of...
Abstract: Avocado (Persea americana) fruits are an important source of income and a nutritious food for small-scale growers and other stakeholders involved in farming along the Afrotropical highlands of Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively. Avocado fruits are infested by several insect pests, namely the Asian invasive fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera:Tephritidae), and the false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortr...
Abstract: The effects of mixed cropping systems containing maize, sorghum, millet and beans on infestations of cereals by lepidopteran stemborers and on associated parasitoids, as well as on yields and land equivalent ratios (LER) were assessed during four consecutive rainy seasons at two sites in the semi-arid eastern region of Kenya. Systems containing the non-host bean were more efficient in reducing pest densities than those with millet or sorghum only. Higher parasitism in diversified s...
Abstract: The host recognition and acceptance behaviour of two braconid larval parasitoids (Cotesia sesamiae and C. flavipes) were studied using natural stemborer hosts (i.e., the noctuid Busseola fusca for C. sesamiae, and the crambid Chilo partellus for C. flavipes) and a non-host (the pyralid Eldana saccharina). A single larva was introduced into an arena together with a female parasitoid and the behaviour of the wasp recorded until it either stung the larva or for a maximum of 5 min if i...
Abstract: Bermuda grass (=Star grass), Cynodon dactylon, is a perennial plant of the family Poaceae that is native to the African Savannah but is now widely distributed over many warm countries of the world (Marcone et al., 1997). C. dactylon plants were observed at five locations in Mbita and two locations in Bungoma areas of western Kenya showing symptoms similar to Bermuda grass white leaf (BGWL) disease, caused by a phytoplasma (Marcone et al., 1997). Affected grasses exhibited whitening...
Abstract: The ability of the congeneric braconid parasitoids Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) and Cotesia flavipes Cameron to discriminate between stemborer larval cues upon contact was studied using their natural hosts,namely the noctuid Busseola fusca (Fuller) and the crambid Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), respectively, and the pyralid non-host Eldana saccharina (Walker). When the natural host larvae were washed in distilled water, parasitoid behavior was similar to that displayed when in contact wi...
Abstract: Host acceptability and suitability Psyttalia concolor (Sze´pligeti) is a koinobiont, larval parasitoid of tephritid fruit flies. Individuals of P. concolor were field-collected from coffee in the central highlands of Kenya, and cultured initially on editerranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). They were then examined for their ability to oviposit in and develop on five other tephritid species that are pests in Kenya. In addition to the medfly, acceptability for...