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International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

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Articles 1 - 30 of 1129

Full-Text Articles in Entomology

Push-Pull Farming System Helps Insure Smallholder Maize Production Under Climate Change, Yann Clough, Wilhelm May, Timothy Luttermoser, Dickens Nyagol, Nikolaos Alexandridis, Frank Chidawanyika, Mattias Jonsson, Charles A.O. Midega, Katja Poveda, Zeyaur R. Khan Jan 2027

Push-Pull Farming System Helps Insure Smallholder Maize Production Under Climate Change, Yann Clough, Wilhelm May, Timothy Luttermoser, Dickens Nyagol, Nikolaos Alexandridis, Frank Chidawanyika, Mattias Jonsson, Charles A.O. Midega, Katja Poveda, Zeyaur R. Khan

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Agroecological approaches harnessing in-field biodiversity have been highlighted as a sustainable way to reduce yield gaps, but long-term assessments of their ability to buffer production from weather extremes and increasing interannual and intraseasonal climate variability are scarce. Here, we analyze a 12-year dataset from 642 control vs. push-pull maize field pairs in western Kenya, where long-term climate trends include increasing temperatures and intensifying drought and rainfall. In push-pull, maize is intercropped with a fodder legume that improves soil fertility, suppresses weeds, and deters pests, and is bordered with fodder grasses attracting and suppressing the pests. We assess interactions between push-pull …

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Harnessing Insect-Derived Oils For Enhanced Efficacy Of Plant-Based Repellents Against Disease-Transmitting Mosquitoes, John Bwire Ochola, Cynthia M. Mudalungu, Hosea O. Mokaya, Xavier Cheseto, Gilvian N. Onsomu, Subramanian Sevgan, Segenet Kelemu, Baldwyn Torto, Chrysantus M. Tanga Dec 2026

Harnessing Insect-Derived Oils For Enhanced Efficacy Of Plant-Based Repellents Against Disease-Transmitting Mosquitoes, John Bwire Ochola, Cynthia M. Mudalungu, Hosea O. Mokaya, Xavier Cheseto, Gilvian N. Onsomu, Subramanian Sevgan, Segenet Kelemu, Baldwyn Torto, Chrysantus M. Tanga

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Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever pose a growing global health threat, worsened by resistance to synthetic pesticides. This study evaluated insect oils from Schistocerca gregaria, Ruspolia differens, and Macrotermes spp. as adjuvants in plant-based mosquito repellents. The formulations were tested for complete protection time (CPT) against Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from treated volunteers were analyzed. Incorporating insect oils doubled CPT compared to essential oils alone. The most effective blend of Macrotermes oil with Cymbopogon nardus (1:1) achieved CPTs of 3.50 h for An. gambiae, 2.56 …

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Beyond Nutrients: Frass Fertilizer Legacy Effects For Sustainable Nematode Management In Potato–African Nightshade Rotation Systems, Emmanuel O. Anedo, Dennis Beesigamukama, Benson Mochoge, Nicholas K. Korir, Solveig Haukeland, Xavier Cheseto, Moses Nyongesa, Patrick Pwaipwai, Sevgan Subramanian, Abdou Tenkouano, Chrysantus M. Tanga Oct 2026

Beyond Nutrients: Frass Fertilizer Legacy Effects For Sustainable Nematode Management In Potato–African Nightshade Rotation Systems, Emmanuel O. Anedo, Dennis Beesigamukama, Benson Mochoge, Nicholas K. Korir, Solveig Haukeland, Xavier Cheseto, Moses Nyongesa, Patrick Pwaipwai, Sevgan Subramanian, Abdou Tenkouano, Chrysantus M. Tanga

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The utilization of insect frass fertilizer in crop production systems has recently gained significant global interest, but there has been limited evidence of its residual benefits in rotational cropping systems. The legacy effects of black soldier frass fertilizers (BSFFF), conventional organic fertilizer (SAFI), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), synthetic nematicide, and their combinations on potato cyst nematode (PCN) management under potato-African nightshade rotational farming systems were investigated. Eight treatments were evaluated: BSFFF, SAFI, chitin-fortified BSFFF (BSFFF+5chitin), NPK + nematicide, combination of BSFFF and NPK so that each supplies 50% of the nitrogen required by potato (50BSFFF+50NPK), combination of SAFI and NPK so …

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Remote Sensing Integrated Modeling Of Fall Armyworm Parasitoid Interactions In Africa Using Fractional Differential Equations, Marian Adan, Steeven Belvinos Affognon, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Klaus Greve, Christian Borgemeister, Georg Goergen Sep 2026

Remote Sensing Integrated Modeling Of Fall Armyworm Parasitoid Interactions In Africa Using Fractional Differential Equations, Marian Adan, Steeven Belvinos Affognon, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Klaus Greve, Christian Borgemeister, Georg Goergen

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The invasion of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda; FAW) into Africa poses a major threat to agricultural systems, particularly maize production, necessitating effective biological control strategies. This study presents an ecological modelling framework that integrates temperature data with fractional differential equations (FDEs) to investigate interactions between FAW and its parasitoid natural enemies. By incorporating temperature-driven effects on life-history traits and ecological memory dynamics, the model captures key features of host–parasitoid interactions under variable environmental conditions. Equilibrium states corresponding to FAW extinction, parasitoid extinction, and coexistence were analytically derived, and sensitivity analysis of the FAW reproduction number highlighted its central role in …

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Machine Learning-Enabled Chemical Ecology For Integrated Pest Management: From Volatiles To Field Applications, Steve B.S. Baleba, Victor O. Omondi, Pascal Aigbedion-Atalor, Emmanuel Peter, Souleymane Diallo, Komi Mensah Agboka Sep 2026

Machine Learning-Enabled Chemical Ecology For Integrated Pest Management: From Volatiles To Field Applications, Steve B.S. Baleba, Victor O. Omondi, Pascal Aigbedion-Atalor, Emmanuel Peter, Souleymane Diallo, Komi Mensah Agboka

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Machine learning is transforming chemical ecology by accelerating the discovery and deployment of semiochemical-based tools for precision pest management. These advances are particularly important in the face of climate change, pesticide resistance, and the growing need for sustainable agricultural intensification. This review synthesizes how machine learning can be applied across the semiochemical discovery and implementation pipeline, from chemical signal detection to field deployment and decision support for integrated pest management. We review major machine learning approaches and demonstrate how they extract biologically relevant information from high-dimensional chemical, electrophysiological, behavioral, sensor, and field datasets. These methods accelerate semiochemical discovery, prioritize candidate …

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Visual Cues Attract Adult Tunga Penetrans (Siphonaptera: Tungidae), Ayako Hyuga, Paul Ouma, Lynne Elson, Kazuchiyo Miyamichi, Satoshi Kaneko, Kensuke Goto, Tullu Bukhari, Jürgen Krücken, Ulrike Fillinger Aug 2026

Visual Cues Attract Adult Tunga Penetrans (Siphonaptera: Tungidae), Ayako Hyuga, Paul Ouma, Lynne Elson, Kazuchiyo Miyamichi, Satoshi Kaneko, Kensuke Goto, Tullu Bukhari, Jürgen Krücken, Ulrike Fillinger

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Tunga penetrans (Linnaeus, 1758) (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) is an ectoparasitic flea whose adult females cause tungiasis by embedding into the host’s skin. Environmental, social and financial challenges in tungiasis endemic areas have left this disease neglected and lacking locally available control measures. One possible approach for controlling T. penetrans targets its off-host stages; however, surveillance tools for adult fleas are still lacking. Moreover, host-seeking cues and behaviour of adult T. penetrans remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that visual cues are attractive to adult T. penetrans. Newly emerged T.penetrans responded to light stimuli across a broad spectrum, ranging from …

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The Influence Of Ecological Pest Management Practices On Pests And Natural Enemies Under A Cabbage–Garden Pea Rotational System In Central Kenya, Peter Nyakundi Mageto, Milka Kiboi, Monicah Mucheru-Muna, Felix Matheri Aug 2026

The Influence Of Ecological Pest Management Practices On Pests And Natural Enemies Under A Cabbage–Garden Pea Rotational System In Central Kenya, Peter Nyakundi Mageto, Milka Kiboi, Monicah Mucheru-Muna, Felix Matheri

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Pest pressure is a major constraint on crop production in Sub-Saharan Africa, where smallholder farmers rely heavily on synthetic pesticides with potential environmental and health risks. Ecological pest management practices (EPMs) have been proposed as sustainable alternatives, although field-based evidence is limited. This study evaluated pest and natural-enemy responses to EPMs in a cabbage–garden pea rotation system over six years (2020–2025) in Central Kenya. Four treatments were assessed: homemade botanical extracts (Botanicals), coriander intercropping (Intercrop), botanical extracts combined with coriander intercropping (Botanicals + Intercrop), and a control. In cabbage, ecological treatments often recorded lower aphid and diamondback moth abundance and …

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Mechanistic And Spatio-Temporal Modelling Of Cassava Whitefly (Bemisia Tabaci) Risk Under Climate Change: Projections For Africa With Case Evidence From Malawi, Lumbani Benedicto Banda, Frank Thomas Ndjomatchoua, Ritter A. Guimapi, Komi Mensah Agboka, Abdelmutalab G.A. Azrag, Wezi G. Mhango, Trust Kasambala Donga, Chikondi Makwiza, Karl H. Thunes, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman Jul 2026

Mechanistic And Spatio-Temporal Modelling Of Cassava Whitefly (Bemisia Tabaci) Risk Under Climate Change: Projections For Africa With Case Evidence From Malawi, Lumbani Benedicto Banda, Frank Thomas Ndjomatchoua, Ritter A. Guimapi, Komi Mensah Agboka, Abdelmutalab G.A. Azrag, Wezi G. Mhango, Trust Kasambala Donga, Chikondi Makwiza, Karl H. Thunes, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman

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The cassava whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) greatly constrains cassava production across Africa due to its role as a vector of viral diseases that cause substantial yield losses. Effective management of this insect pest requires detailed knowledge of its spatio-temporal distribution, however long-term datasets are scarce. Mechanistic models circumvent these long-term data needs by modelling temperature-dependent processes that govern population dynamics. Nevertheless, their application to B. tabaci remains poorly explored. Here, we developed a mechanistic model to derive a risk index (RI) for B. tabaci across Africa, focusing on Malawi. The model integrates the effects of temperature on the life stages of …

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Modeling Framework To Demonstrate Elimination Of A Vector Population: Tsetse Elimination In Chad, John Hargrove, Mahamat Hissene Mahamat, Moukhtar Aldjibert, Wilfrid Yoni, Djoukzoumka Signaboubo, Justin Darnas, Ernest Salou, Inaki Tirados, Albert Mugenyi, Priscille Barreaux, Philippe Solano, Antoine Marc Gaby Barreaux Jun 2026

Modeling Framework To Demonstrate Elimination Of A Vector Population: Tsetse Elimination In Chad, John Hargrove, Mahamat Hissene Mahamat, Moukhtar Aldjibert, Wilfrid Yoni, Djoukzoumka Signaboubo, Justin Darnas, Ernest Salou, Inaki Tirados, Albert Mugenyi, Priscille Barreaux, Philippe Solano, Antoine Marc Gaby Barreaux

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Every year, over 700,000 people, particularly children under five, die from vector-borne diseases worldwide. Effectively controlling endemics and preventing new outbreaks requires an integrated approach that can lead to the elimination of both vectors and diseases. In the last two decades, integrating medical interventions and vector control has significantly reduced the incidence of Gambian Human African Trypanosomiasis (g-HAT), with the World Health Organization validating eight countries as having eliminated the disease as a public health problem. However, elimination of the tsetse vector has not been confirmed, leaving the possibility of re-emergence. We developed a six-step modeling framework to assess vector …

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Immune Suppression And Metabolic Reprogramming In Bactrocera Dorsalis Parasitized By Fopius Arisanus, Rehemah Gwokyalya, Jeremy Herren, Thomas Ogao Onchuru, Sahadatou Mama Sambo, Cassandra Purity Ronnie, Ndlela Shepard, Sunday Ekesi, Samira A. Mohamed Jun 2026

Immune Suppression And Metabolic Reprogramming In Bactrocera Dorsalis Parasitized By Fopius Arisanus, Rehemah Gwokyalya, Jeremy Herren, Thomas Ogao Onchuru, Sahadatou Mama Sambo, Cassandra Purity Ronnie, Ndlela Shepard, Sunday Ekesi, Samira A. Mohamed

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Abstract – Bactrocera dorsalis is a major horticultural pest. Biocontrol using parasitoids, such as Fopius arisanus, is a sustainable tool for managing this pest. However, the mechanisms enabling the successful parasitism of B. dorsalis are poorly understood. Using transcriptomic profiling, cellular bioassays, and targeted metabolite analyses, we investigated how F. arisanus modulates the immunity and metabolic activity of B. dorsalis to achieve a high parasitism rate. Our results revealed a weak and late encapsulation response of B. dorsalis towards F. arisanus. Additionally, parasitism reduced the number of circulating haemocytes by 35%, lowered constitutive granulocyte counts and inhibited phenoloxidase activity in …

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Life-Stage Specific Predatory Efficiency Of 2 Generalist Predators Of Bemisia Tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Itohan Aigbedion-Atalor, Abdelmutalab G. Azrag, Alvin M. Simmons, Jason M. Schmidt Jun 2026

Life-Stage Specific Predatory Efficiency Of 2 Generalist Predators Of Bemisia Tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Itohan Aigbedion-Atalor, Abdelmutalab G. Azrag, Alvin M. Simmons, Jason M. Schmidt

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Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is an economically damaging invasive pest to global vegetable production. Current management strategies rely heavily on insecticides, but increasing levels of resistance raise sustainability concerns. Therefore, strengthening integrated pest management (IPM) programs requires enhancing biocontrol through improved predator-pest interactions. Despite the well-established relevance of functional response modulation by multiple environmental factors, limited research has explored how plant traits and prey life stages interact to influence the efficiency of generalist predators in vegetable systems. To address this gap, we evaluated the functional responses of 2 adult generalist predators, Hippodamia convergens (Guérin-Méneville) and Geocoris punctipes (Say), against 3 nymphal …

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Partial Insect-Based Meal Inclusion In The Diets Of Ross® 308 Broilers Upregulates Growth And Immune Related Genes, Victor K. Rotich, Isaac M. Osuga, Mathew G. Gicheha, Shaphan Y. Chia, Jandouwe Villinger, Anderson N. Maina, Jinhua Xiao, Dennis Beesigamukama, Chrysantus M. Tanga Jun 2026

Partial Insect-Based Meal Inclusion In The Diets Of Ross® 308 Broilers Upregulates Growth And Immune Related Genes, Victor K. Rotich, Isaac M. Osuga, Mathew G. Gicheha, Shaphan Y. Chia, Jandouwe Villinger, Anderson N. Maina, Jinhua Xiao, Dennis Beesigamukama, Chrysantus M. Tanga

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This work investigated the effects of black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens L.) larvae meal (BSFLM) on growth- and immune-related gene expression in Ross 308 broilers. Birds were fed diets containing soybean meal (SBM), fishmeal (FM), combinations with BSFLM, or BSFLM alone. Growth, organ weights, immune genes [interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrotic factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)] and growth-related genes [chicken growth hormone (cGH), insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1)] expression were measured. Our results demonstrate that birds fed FM+BSFLM had significantly higher final liveweight, average daily weight gain (ADG), and low feed conversion ratio. Birds fed FM+BSFLM showed highest …

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Climate Change Reduces Pollination Services And Sunflower Yields Across Europe And Northern Africa, Stella Gachoki, Clémence Riva, Danilo Bevk, Yamina Haider, Noureddine Adjlane, Ioannis Manthos, Bojan Stipešević, Zlatko Puškadija, Marin Kovačić, Leonidas Charistos, Fani Hatjina, Fabrice Requier Jun 2026

Climate Change Reduces Pollination Services And Sunflower Yields Across Europe And Northern Africa, Stella Gachoki, Clémence Riva, Danilo Bevk, Yamina Haider, Noureddine Adjlane, Ioannis Manthos, Bojan Stipešević, Zlatko Puškadija, Marin Kovačić, Leonidas Charistos, Fani Hatjina, Fabrice Requier

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Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) productivity is highly dependent on pollinators, yet the effects of climate on pollination services and crop yield remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigate how temperature gradients influence flower-visiting communities, pollination services, and sunflower productivity across Europe and Northern Africa. We conducted standardized two-year (2022 and 2023) pollination exclusion experiments across 36 sunflower fields spanning a broad climatic gradient, from temperate regions in Slovenia to arid conditions in Algeria. We found that sunflower production (seed set, seed number, and oil content) relied heavily on insect pollination. However, this benefit declined with rising temperatures, likely due to …

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Invasion Patterns And Niche Dynamics Of The Pollinivorous Florida Calligrapher, Toxomerus Floralis (Diptera: Syrphidae) In The Afrotropical Region, Burgert Muller, John Midgley, Georg Goergen, Ali Al Jahdhami, Michelson Azo'o Ela, Terence Bellingan, Simon Cavaillès, Robert Copeland, Marc De Meyer, Martin Hauser, Allen Holmes, Ximo Mengual, Gabriel Nève, Menno Reemer, Jeff Skevington, Gunilla Ståhls, Eugène Sinzinkayo, John Smit, Axel Ssymank, Genevieve Theron, Kurt Jordaens Jun 2026

Invasion Patterns And Niche Dynamics Of The Pollinivorous Florida Calligrapher, Toxomerus Floralis (Diptera: Syrphidae) In The Afrotropical Region, Burgert Muller, John Midgley, Georg Goergen, Ali Al Jahdhami, Michelson Azo'o Ela, Terence Bellingan, Simon Cavaillès, Robert Copeland, Marc De Meyer, Martin Hauser, Allen Holmes, Ximo Mengual, Gabriel Nève, Menno Reemer, Jeff Skevington, Gunilla Ståhls, Eugène Sinzinkayo, John Smit, Axel Ssymank, Genevieve Theron, Kurt Jordaens

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The rapid spread of Toxomerus floralis (Fabricius, 1798) (Diptera: Syrphidae) within the Afrotropical region is described. We characterise and compare the climatic niches of T. floralis in its native (Southern North America, Central America and South America) and invaded (Afrotropical Region) range to assess the potential for further expansion across Africa and beyond, and included future global climate models and socioeconomic pathways as projections. Occurrence data for native and invaded ranges were obtained from field sampling by authors, major collections of Afrotropical Syrphidae, collections records and occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), including iNaturalist data. Single and …

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Gc-Ms-Based Comparative Analysis Of Compounds In Host Plants And Insect Gut Extracts, Rita Dill, Kimberly Smith, Shelia Okoth, Xavier Cheseto, Anne Osano Jun 2026

Gc-Ms-Based Comparative Analysis Of Compounds In Host Plants And Insect Gut Extracts, Rita Dill, Kimberly Smith, Shelia Okoth, Xavier Cheseto, Anne Osano

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Background/Objectives: Herbivorous insects feed on plant tissues to obtain nutrients necessary for growth and development while simultaneously ingesting diverse plant secondary metabolites. Understanding the fate of these compounds during digestion is important for advancing knowledge of insect nutritional physiology and diet-associated biochemical processes. This study aimed to comparatively profile metabolites in host plants and corresponding insect gut extracts to generate insights into compound transfer and compositional changes within these systems. Methods: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics was combined with Ultraviolet-Visible (UV–Vis) quantification of total phenols and flavonoids to compare host plant tissues and insect gut extracts in three systems: fall …

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Climate-Driven Stochastic Modelling Of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Transmission In Uganda, P. G. Kpatchana, J. Aduda, K. M. Agboka Jun 2026

Climate-Driven Stochastic Modelling Of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Transmission In Uganda, P. G. Kpatchana, J. Aduda, K. M. Agboka

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Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a climate-sensitive tick-borne zoonosis that remains a significant public health concern in Uganda, where temperature and vapour pressure deficit influence tick ecology and consequently disease transmission. This study aimed to develop and analyse a climate-driven stochastic model for CCHF transmission among ticks, livestock, and humans under environmental variability in Uganda. A compartmental transmission model was formulated and extended into a stochastic differential equation framework by incorporating multiplicative environmental noise. Climate-dependent tick recruitment, development, and mortality were parameterized using district-level temperature and vapour pressure deficit data to capture spatial heterogeneity in transmission risk. Theoretical analyses based …

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Comparative Field Efficacy Of Synthetic Insecticides And Plant Extracts Against Tuta Absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) In Lubumbashi, Dr Congo, Sylvain Ntambo Mbuya, Onesime M. Kankonda, Nyumah Fallah, Komivi S. Akutse, Marcellin C. Cokola May 2026

Comparative Field Efficacy Of Synthetic Insecticides And Plant Extracts Against Tuta Absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) In Lubumbashi, Dr Congo, Sylvain Ntambo Mbuya, Onesime M. Kankonda, Nyumah Fallah, Komivi S. Akutse, Marcellin C. Cokola

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The invasive tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), is a very destructive pest that poses a major threat to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), causing extensive yield losses through larval feeding on leaves, stems, and fruits. Chemical insecticides remain the primary control method, but resistance development, biodiversity loss and environmental concerns necessitate alternative strategies. This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of synthetic and botanical insecticides against T. absoluta during two consecutive cropping seasons 2023-2024 in Lubumbashi, DRC, under both dry and rainy season conditions. Two tomato seedling varieties (Tanya F1 and Tovi Star …

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Climate Impacts Apple Pollination, Yield And Economic Outcomes Of Farmers, Clémence Riva, Stella Gachoki, Noureddine Adjlane, Danilo Bevk, Yamina Haider, Fani Hatjina, Šimun Kolega, Marin Kovačić, Ioannis Manthos, Zlatko Puškadija, Thomas Sotiropoulos, Bojan Stipešević, Fabrice Requier May 2026

Climate Impacts Apple Pollination, Yield And Economic Outcomes Of Farmers, Clémence Riva, Stella Gachoki, Noureddine Adjlane, Danilo Bevk, Yamina Haider, Fani Hatjina, Šimun Kolega, Marin Kovačić, Ioannis Manthos, Zlatko Puškadija, Thomas Sotiropoulos, Bojan Stipešević, Fabrice Requier

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Animal-mediated pollination is crucial to global food production but is increasingly threatened by environmental degradation, habitat loss and climate change. The extent to which temperature affects pollination services and crop yields is poorly understood. Using standardised monitoring in 33 apple orchards across Europe and Northern Africa over two years, this study assessed how ambient temperature affects flower visitors, fruit set, fruit quality and economic outcomes. Observation-time warm temperatures increased pollinator abundance, particularly of honey bees, while long-term mean annual temperatures enhanced pollination services for apple weight. Apple yield and the economic benefits to farmers increase with temperature, while the role …

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Pest Risk Modelling For Climate-Smart Vegetable Production In East Africa, Marc Marin Agbodjan, Komi Mensah Agboka, John Odindi, Elfatih Abdel-Rahman, Onisimo Mutanga, Frank Chidawanyika, Chrysantus Tanga, Daniel Munyao Mutyambai, Sevgan Subramanian, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame May 2026

Pest Risk Modelling For Climate-Smart Vegetable Production In East Africa, Marc Marin Agbodjan, Komi Mensah Agboka, John Odindi, Elfatih Abdel-Rahman, Onisimo Mutanga, Frank Chidawanyika, Chrysantus Tanga, Daniel Munyao Mutyambai, Sevgan Subramanian, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame

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Agricultural productivity in East Africa is increasingly threatened by climate-sensitive insect pests. This study investigates the occurrence of key vegetable pests: Brevicoryne brassicae, Plutella xylostella, Maruca vitrata, and Liriomyza mik. A comparative species distribution modelling evaluated pest risk projections under climate change. Four variable selection strategies were tested: case 1 (correlation and variance inflation factor [VIF] filtering across all predictors), case 2 (correlation and VIF filtering of bioclimatic variables merged with other predictors), case 3 (filtering based on environmental values at species occurrence point to approximate realized niches), and case 4 (dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis). These strategies were …

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Efficacy Of Homemade Botanical Insecticides Against Diamondback Moth (Plutella Xylostella) And Cabbage Aphids (Brevicoryne Brassicae) On Brassica Crops, Nancy Munyoki, Edward N. Karanja, Komivi S. Akutse, Noah Adamtey, Martha Musyoka, Komi K. Fiaboe, David Bautze, Edwin Nderitu, Felix Matheri, Dubois Thomas, Milka Kiboi, Chrysantus M. Tanga Apr 2026

Efficacy Of Homemade Botanical Insecticides Against Diamondback Moth (Plutella Xylostella) And Cabbage Aphids (Brevicoryne Brassicae) On Brassica Crops, Nancy Munyoki, Edward N. Karanja, Komivi S. Akutse, Noah Adamtey, Martha Musyoka, Komi K. Fiaboe, David Bautze, Edwin Nderitu, Felix Matheri, Dubois Thomas, Milka Kiboi, Chrysantus M. Tanga

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The growing need for accessible alternatives to synthetic insecticides has renewed interest in farmer-made botanical formulations for pest management. This study evaluated the efficacy of selected homemade botanical insecticides against diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) on cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) and kale (B. oleracea var. acephala) under laboratory and semi-field conditions. Three homemade formulations were assessed: a one-day-old multi-plant extract with neem (Azadirachta indica; PE + N), a one-day-old extract without neem (PE), and a fourteen-day-old, fermented extract without neem (PE14). These were compared with three commercial botanical products. In replicated leaf- and plant-based bioassays, …

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Semiochemicals And Odorant Receptors Underlying Potato Cultivar Susceptibility And Resistance To Potato Tuber Moth, Ruipeng Chen, Wangtao Hu, Qin Hu, Junjie Yan, Jiao Yin, Fathiya M. Khamis, Yulin Gao, Walter S. Leal Apr 2026

Semiochemicals And Odorant Receptors Underlying Potato Cultivar Susceptibility And Resistance To Potato Tuber Moth, Ruipeng Chen, Wangtao Hu, Qin Hu, Junjie Yan, Jiao Yin, Fathiya M. Khamis, Yulin Gao, Walter S. Leal

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Infestation of potato by the potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella) varies markedly among cultivars, yet the chemical and molecular mechanisms underlying this variation remain poorly understood. Here, we combine field surveys, chemical ecology, functional genomics, and structural modeling to reveal how cultivar-specific volatile profiles shape moth oviposition behavior and pest outcomes. Field and laboratory assays identified marked differences in adult attraction, oviposition, and larval damage among potato cultivars, which correlated with distinct blends of emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Behavioral analyses revealed that among other VOCs, trans-nerolidol and β-ionone act as attractants, whereas 3-carene and benzyl tiglate function as oviposition …

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Modelling The Temporal Dynamics Of Microsporidia Mb Prevalence In Anopheles Mosquitoes Under Environmental Variability, Charlène N. Mfangnia, Matteo Pedercini, Henri E. Tonnang, Jeremy K. Herren Apr 2026

Modelling The Temporal Dynamics Of Microsporidia Mb Prevalence In Anopheles Mosquitoes Under Environmental Variability, Charlène N. Mfangnia, Matteo Pedercini, Henri E. Tonnang, Jeremy K. Herren

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Releasing Microsporidia MB-positive mosquitoes is being investigated as a promising component of Integrated Vector Management (IVM) strategies for malaria control. In this study, we developed a System Dynamics model to replicate the observed interactions between humans, mosquitoes, the Plasmodium parasite, and the symbiont MB. The model accounts for the impact of environmental variables - such as humidity, rainfall, and temperature - on mosquitoes, Plasmodium, and MB, using exogenous inputs derived from daily climatic observations (rainfall, relative humidity, and temperature) recorded during the mosquito field surveys. We calibrate the model using data collected from Ahero in Kenya, available for 3 years …

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Land-Use Changes Shape Mosquito Assemblages, Host-Feeding And Arbovirus Infection In Baringo County, Kenya, Caroline Getugi, Elizabeth Kokwaro, Anthony Nyamache, Inga Slothouwer, Gilbert Rotich, Rosemary Sang, Sandra Junglen, David P. Tchouassi Apr 2026

Land-Use Changes Shape Mosquito Assemblages, Host-Feeding And Arbovirus Infection In Baringo County, Kenya, Caroline Getugi, Elizabeth Kokwaro, Anthony Nyamache, Inga Slothouwer, Gilbert Rotich, Rosemary Sang, Sandra Junglen, David P. Tchouassi

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Environmental transformation driven by human activity has profound implications for the ecology of mosquito vectors and the pathogens they transmit. This study investigated the influence of land-use change on mosquito assemblages, host-feeding patterns, and arbovirus infection across sylvatic-rural-peri-urban land-use types in Marigat subcounty, Rift Valley, Kenya. Adult mosquitoes were collected using CO₂-baited CDC light traps and BG-Sentinel traps across three sites: Kiborgoch conservancy (sylvatic), Ntepes village (rural) and Marigat town (peri-urban). Sampling was conducted during three sessions including September 2022, August 2023, and December 2023. The mosquitoes were morphologically identified to species, and indices of abundance, richness and diversity compared …

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Spider Mite Response, Agronomic Performance, And Stability Of A Urochloa Spp. Diversity Panel Under Field Conditions, Adrian Mating’I Kimani, David Kariuki Muruu, Paula Espitia-Buitrago, Sylvia Henga, Catherine Muui, Frank Chidawanyika, Rosa Noemi Jauregui Apr 2026

Spider Mite Response, Agronomic Performance, And Stability Of A Urochloa Spp. Diversity Panel Under Field Conditions, Adrian Mating’I Kimani, David Kariuki Muruu, Paula Espitia-Buitrago, Sylvia Henga, Catherine Muui, Frank Chidawanyika, Rosa Noemi Jauregui

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Spider mites (Oligonychus trichardti) are emerging as a major constraint to Urochloa forage productivity in East Africa; however, knowledge of genotypic variation and tolerance remains limited. Herein, 55 Urochloa genotypes were evaluated under field-infested and non-infested conditions across two seasons using an alpha-lattice design. Agronomic and physiological traits, including plant height (PH), tiller number (TN), the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), total dry weight (TDW), and mite damage indices (visual severity index (VSI) and stress tolerance index (STI)) were assessed. Infestation reduced biomass by 22.4% on average, with reductions of up to 45% in susceptible genotypes. Significant genotypic variation was …

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Is The Long-Horned Grasshopper Ruspolia Differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) A Novel, Nutritious, Functional, And Safe Alternative Food Product? A Review, Margaret Kababu, Collins Mweresa, Dorothy Nakimbugwe, Geoffrey Ssepuuya, Karlmax Rutaro, Nicodemus Matojo, Faith Nyamu, Robert Mbeche, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Chrysantus Tanga Mar 2026

Is The Long-Horned Grasshopper Ruspolia Differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) A Novel, Nutritious, Functional, And Safe Alternative Food Product? A Review, Margaret Kababu, Collins Mweresa, Dorothy Nakimbugwe, Geoffrey Ssepuuya, Karlmax Rutaro, Nicodemus Matojo, Faith Nyamu, Robert Mbeche, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Chrysantus Tanga

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Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) is among the most widely consumed edible insect in Eastern and Central Africa, where it contributes to both household nutrition and income generation. As a nutrient-dense food source, it offers a promising alternative to curb food insecurity and malnutrition. Despite this, the consumption and use of the grasshopper is limited to its seasonal availability when it is collected from the wild. Coupled with this, is limited evidence on its domestication despite research advances to optimize conditions for mass production. This review was conducted to highlight research advances and gaps on production, processing, nutritional profile, and …

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Identification And Full Genome Sequencing Of Previously Unknown Sandfly-Borne Phleboviruses Using A Newly Established Capture-Based Next-Generation Sequencing Approach, Edwin O. Ogola, Inga Slothouwer, Gilbert Rotich, Anne Kopp, Armanda D. Bastos, Caroline Getugi, Julia Melchert, Terence C. Jones, Dorcus C. Omoga, Rosemary Sang, Baldwyn Torto, David P. Tchouassi, Sandra Junglen Mar 2026

Identification And Full Genome Sequencing Of Previously Unknown Sandfly-Borne Phleboviruses Using A Newly Established Capture-Based Next-Generation Sequencing Approach, Edwin O. Ogola, Inga Slothouwer, Gilbert Rotich, Anne Kopp, Armanda D. Bastos, Caroline Getugi, Julia Melchert, Terence C. Jones, Dorcus C. Omoga, Rosemary Sang, Baldwyn Torto, David P. Tchouassi, Sandra Junglen

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Sandfly-borne phleboviruses cause febrile illness and neuroinvasive disease in humans. While infections are reported in the Mediterranean region, the discovery of previously unknown phleboviruses in sandflies from Kenya suggests a wider geographic distribution. Detection and characterization of novel phleboviruses are often hindered by low-quality and low-viral-load samples. We developed a capture-based target enrichment next-generation sequencing approach that showed a 99%-100% fold enrichment of viral genomes from primary material and provides a robust tool for generating complete genomes of both known and previously unknown viruses. From a collection of 15,652 sandflies in Kenya, we recovered seven complete coding sequences of Embossos, …

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A Haplotype Reference Panel And Genotype Imputation Framework For The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens), Peter Muchina, Johnson Kinyua, Fathiya Khamis, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Maria Altaf Satti, Grum Gebreyesus, Goutam Sahana, Zexi Cai Mar 2026

A Haplotype Reference Panel And Genotype Imputation Framework For The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens), Peter Muchina, Johnson Kinyua, Fathiya Khamis, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Maria Altaf Satti, Grum Gebreyesus, Goutam Sahana, Zexi Cai

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Low-coverage whole genome sequencing (lcWGS) combined with genotype imputation provides a cost-efficient alternative to high-coverage sequencing for large-scale genotyping. Although widely implemented in human and livestock genomics, this strategy has not yet been systematically optimized for insects of industrial importance. The black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens ) is increasingly used in global waste bioconversion and sustainable protein production, but genomic resources remain limited. Here, we develop the first BSF haplotype reference panel, containing ∼29.8 million high-quality SNPs from 168 high-coverage genomes, and benchmark imputation performance using a validation experiment in which 33 high-coverage individuals were down-sampled to low coverage …

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Resurgence Of Visceral And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In Kajiado County, Kenya: A Coordinated Response And Entomological Survey, Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Barrack O. Owino, Steve Kiplagat, Hannah N. Mwangi, Johnstone M. Ingonga, Daniel Njenga, Benny B. Septer, Mwatela Kitondo, Daniel Mwiti, Charles Magiri, Hellen Nyakundi, Juliet Onditi, Sarah Weihl, Catherine Wenger, Abhay Satoskar, Jandouwe Villinger, Shaden Kamhawi, Joseph Ndungu, Richard Wamai, Daniel K. Masiga Mar 2026

Resurgence Of Visceral And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In Kajiado County, Kenya: A Coordinated Response And Entomological Survey, Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Barrack O. Owino, Steve Kiplagat, Hannah N. Mwangi, Johnstone M. Ingonga, Daniel Njenga, Benny B. Septer, Mwatela Kitondo, Daniel Mwiti, Charles Magiri, Hellen Nyakundi, Juliet Onditi, Sarah Weihl, Catherine Wenger, Abhay Satoskar, Jandouwe Villinger, Shaden Kamhawi, Joseph Ndungu, Richard Wamai, Daniel K. Masiga

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OBJECTIVES: This study investigated emergence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in 2021, in Kajiado County in Kenya, representing a newly recognized region of endemic transmission. METHODS: The investigation involved community sensitization, medical camps, and entomological surveys across eight villages. We screened 100 individuals with indicative symptoms of leishmaniasis, and also carried out an entomological survey. RESULTS: We found 10 patients of VL, predominantly in children under 15. Of 22 suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases, eight were confirmed with Leishmania tropica. Entomological surveys identified 4781 sandflies, with Sergentomyia species being most abundant. DNA of Leishmania donovani was detected in multiple Sergentomyia species …

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Role Of Developmental Plasticity In Tethered Flight Performance Of The Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera Dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), Thabang P. Moropa, Steve B.S. Baleba, Christopher W. Weldon Feb 2026

Role Of Developmental Plasticity In Tethered Flight Performance Of The Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera Dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), Thabang P. Moropa, Steve B.S. Baleba, Christopher W. Weldon

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This study investigated the effect of nutrition on development of wings and adult body condition of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), an exotic pest of Asian origin and a species of economic importance in South Africa. Six host fruit types were used to rear B. dorsalis: mango, guava, orange, grapefruit, papaya and apple. One day after emergence, adults were used for tethered flight assessments using computerised flight mills. Additional flies were assessed in terms of wing morphology using geometric morphometrics, flight muscle mass, and lipid content. There were significant differences in the larval and pupal developmental time as well as larval and …

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Human Versus Machine: Can Generative Ai Anticipate Insect Biological Control Outcomes?, Kris A.G. Wyckhuys, Komivi S. Akutse, Divina M. Amalin, Salah Eddin Araj, Marie Joy B. Beltran, Ibtissem Ben Fekih, Paul André Calatayud, Lizette Cicero, Marcellin C. Cokola, Yelitza C. Colmenarez, Kenza Dessauvages, Thomas Dubois, Léna Durocher-Granger, José L. Fernández-Triana, Frederic Francis, Khalid Haddi, Rhett D. Harrison, Muhammad Haseeb, Natasha S.A. Iwanicki Feb 2026

Human Versus Machine: Can Generative Ai Anticipate Insect Biological Control Outcomes?, Kris A.G. Wyckhuys, Komivi S. Akutse, Divina M. Amalin, Salah Eddin Araj, Marie Joy B. Beltran, Ibtissem Ben Fekih, Paul André Calatayud, Lizette Cicero, Marcellin C. Cokola, Yelitza C. Colmenarez, Kenza Dessauvages, Thomas Dubois, Léna Durocher-Granger, José L. Fernández-Triana, Frederic Francis, Khalid Haddi, Rhett D. Harrison, Muhammad Haseeb, Natasha S.A. Iwanicki

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Generative artificial intelligence (AI) could transform evidence synthesis and revolutionize the global scientific enterprise, yet its agricultural applications are understudied. Here, we systematically assess the performance of three web-grounded AI engines (ChatGPT, ScholarAI and DeepSeek) in synthesizing the global literature on biological control of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, and benchmark their outputs against a recent, near-exhaustive human review. Though all engines rapidly screened vast literature corpora, they exhibited shortcomings in factual accuracy, reporting reliability and data consistency. In machine-run syntheses, natural enemy prevalence and performance data often diverged from published records while the level of agreement in enumerating top-performing …

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