Entomology Commons^™

Death Scene Insect Succession In Nebraska: A Guidebook, Erin Bauer, Larry Barksdale, Emma Sidel, Justine Laviolette

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Insect behavior can be helpful to law enforcement in determining time of death, manner of death, location, and environment related to human or other animal victims found at a death scene. They may also provide clues about other aspects associated with an investigation (i.e., fly specks, suspect DNA). The study of how insects and related arthropods can aid in legal investigations is known as forensic entomology. Although this includes both civil applications, such as urban (i.e., maggots in mortuaries or insect structural damage) or stored product (i.e., illness from food contamination) entomology, this manual focuses on criminal applications, such as …

Reduced Susceptibility Of Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Leconte) Populations To Cry34/35ab1‑Expressing Maize In Northeast Nebraska, Jordan D. Reinders, Lance J. Meinke

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The western corn rootworm (WCR; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) is a significant pest of maize (Zea mays L.) across the United States Corn Belt. Transgenic maize hybrids expressing insecticidal proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been used to manage WCR since 2003. Widespread resistance to Cry3Bb1 (and associated cross-resistance to mCry3A and eCry3.1Ab) has placed increased selection pressure on Cry34/35Ab1 in single-protein and pyramided transgenic maize hybrids. Data on the susceptibility of Nebraska WCR populations to Cry34/35Ab1 has not been published since 2015 and plant-based bioassays conducted in 2017–2018 confirmed resistance to Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35Ab1 maize, suggesting resistance …

Three New Species Of Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) From Amazonian Peru And A Checklist Of Cyclocephala Species In Peru, Fernando Paz, Brett C. Ratcliffe, Luis Figueroa

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The following new species of Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) are described from Peru: C. mateoi Paz & Ratcliffe, C. ukuku Paz & Ratcliffe, and C. hylaea Ratcliffe & Paz. A description, diagnosis, geographic distribution, notes on natural history, and illustrations are provided for each new species. Six Cyclocephala species are reported for the first time from Peru: C. emarginata Endrödi, 1964, C. guianae Endrödi, 1969, C. kuntzeniana Höhne, 1923, C. malyi Dupuis, 2014, C. ovulum Bates, 1888, and C. sylviae Dechambre, 1995. An updated, annotated list of the 81 Peruvian species of Cyclocephala is provided.

Increased Signal Complexity Is Associated With Increased Mating Success, Noori Choi, Matt Adams, Kasey Fowler-Finn, Elise Knowlton, Malcolm Rosenthal, Aaron Rundus, Roger D. Santer, Dustin J. Wilgers, Eileen Hebets

Eileen Hebets Publications

The evolution of complex signals has often been explored by testing multiple functional hypotheses regarding how independent signal components provide selective benefits to offset the costs of their production. In the present study, we take a different approach by exploring the function of complexity per se. We test the hypothesis that increased vibratory signal complexity— based on both proportional and temporal patterning—provides selective benefits to courting male Schizocosa stridulans wolf spiders. In support of this hypothesis, all of our quantified metrics of vibratory signal complexity predicted the mating success of male S. stridulans. The rate of visual signalling, which is …

Description Of The Courtship And Copulation Behaviours Of The Wall Spider Oecobius Concinnus (Oecobiidae), Diego Solano-Brenes, Laura Segura-Hernández, Gilbert Barrantes

Eileen Hebets Publications

Courtship and copulation behaviours are yet scantily described in many spider families, and this lack of information limits our understanding of the evolution of such behaviours within and across families. Here, we provide a detailed description of both courtship and copulation behaviour for Oecobius concinnus Simon, 1893. A striking characteristic of the male courtship is the construction of a tubular web (mating web) in which most courtship and copulation occurs. This web likely functions to restrain the female in a reduced space and as a substrate for male pheromones. The courtship consists of a complex web of interactions between both …

Effects Of Drought On Habitat Quality For Native Bees In Residential Gardens Of Claremont, Ca, Max Proctor

CMC Senior Theses

Over 1,500 of the 4000 bee species found in North America inhabit California. Native bees are declining however, largely due to climate change and agricultural intensification. Previous research shows that cities can sustain diverse bee communities, due to the diversity of ornamental flowers. Urban green space represents an opportunity for native bee conservation. Residential gardens provide lots of green space and are urban pollinator hotspots. Managing yards for increased floral resources and nesting habitat can benefit native bee communities. Turfgrass provides few floral or nesting resources and negatively correlates with bee diversity. The 2011-2017 California drought caused many homeowners to …

Urban Insect Biodiversity - Effects Of Native Landscaping, Caedmon Morgret, Dave Warners

Student Papers and Reports

Urban development comes with the cost of destroyed natural habitats. Urban infrastructure flattens entire ecosystems, replacing them with impervious, life-inhibiting constructions.

Alleviating the impacts of urbanization is possible. Green infrastructure mitigates habitat loss by restoring native habitats within urbanized areas. One benefit of green infrastructure is the reestablishment of biodiversity, benefitting plants, animals, and insects alike. Biodiversity creates a healthier habitat and location than urban infrastructure –and lack of biodiversity –does.

To investigate this benefit we performed a pilot study, sampling lawns and curb-cut rain gardens (CCRGs). We compared biodiversity between restored and unrestored urban habitats.

Applying Resource Selection Probability Function (Rspf) To Understand Floral Resource Use By A Common Bumble Bee, Bombus Vancouverensis, Rebekah Brassfield

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Bombus) are important pollinators in temperate ecosystems worldwide with seasonal caste variations involving queens, workers, and drones. Like all organisms, they must meet their nutrient requirements for successful growth and development by using several floral resources over time. When resource use is in greater proportion to its abundance on a landscape, that use is considered selective. To examine resource use within the context of abundance, a resource selection probability function (RSPF) was applied to examine floral resource use through a flowering season by a common bumble bee, Bombus vancouverensis. The RSPF framework was used to examine 1) …

Amblyomma Quadricavum (Schulze, 1941) (Acari:Ixodidae): First Description Of The Nymphal Stage And Phylogenetic Assessment Of Its Taxonomic Status, Ashleigh V. Riggs

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The hard tick (Acari: Ixodidae) Amblyomma quadricavum (Schulze, 1941) is a parasite of snakes and is endemic to the Caribbean region. Morphological characters of this species, namely its rudimentary eye structures, have led to debate about its taxonomic status. The species was originally assigned to the genus Aponomma. However, with revisions of the genus Aponomma, and the recent creation of new genera created for some basal former-Aponomma, it has been suggested that perhaps Amblyomma quadricavum might be a close relative of Robertsicus elaphensis, the Trans-Pecos rat snake tick of the southwest United States and New Mexico, another eyeless former-Aponomma species …

Seek, Picture Insect, Google Lens: An Analysis Of Popular Insect Identification Apps Using Photos Of Realistic Quality, Morgan Manderfield

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Photo-based identification apps for mobile devices have grown in popularity across many fields of organismal biology. While studies have shown that these apps show promise in fields such as botany and ornithology, there is much skepticism surrounding their accuracy and usefulness in entomology. While providing these apps with photos of high quality will undoubtedly lead to the highest accuracy rates, often users submit photos of average quality, e.g., in poor lighting, out of focus, from far away, etc. To quantify realistic accuracy rates of photo-based insect identification apps, this study analyzed three popular apps – Seek, Picture Insect, and Google …

“One Bug, Two Bug, Good Bug, Bad Bug”, Ivy Grob

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic strategy for the management of pest species. It is a framework that relies on scientifically informed decisions to identify and remediate a pest problem in a way that minimizes harm to the environment, human health, and the economy (Dara, 2019). The term pest is broadly defined not just as a nuisance, but as any organism that has detrimental effects to a resource or public health and that exists at a population level that exceeds a threshold of economic damage. This encompasses invertebrates (such as insects, nematodes, and mites), vertebrates, plant pathogens, diseases, and …

Counting Butterflies In Yosemite: A Guide For Beginners, Christine Melvin

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Entomology is the study of insects. Insects are the most numerous animal group on the planet and therefore the field of entomology is further divided based upon insect groups. Butterflies and Moths belong to the insect group Lepidoptera. An entomologist who studies butterflies and/or moths is called a Lepidopterist. Butterflies are a special group of insects because they are not only studied by entomologists, but they are also studied by people called citizen scientists. Citizen science is the casual participation in gathering of data about anything relating to science. Anyone who uses the app iNaturalist is a citizen scientist because …

A Guide To Agricultural Insect Pests On The East Coast, Devan Mazza-Mcdonald

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

A Guide to Agricultural Insect Pests on the East Coast is a useful resource comprised of fact sheets of ten invasive pests that have been introduced to the United States. It also includes a fact sheet of three important pollinator species that are of economic and environmental importance. Most of the pests I selected are currently an issue in states on the East coast and in some instances, further west as well. Currently, the khapra beetle is not a problem pest in the United States but does have a possibility of becoming an issue, again. The invasive pests I chose …

Revision Of The Endemic African Genus Dinapsis (Dinapsini, Megalyridae, Hymenoptera) With Description Of Seven New Species, Simon Van Noort, Scott Richard Shaw, Robert S. Copeland

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The endemic Afrotropical genus Dinapsis is revised, and seven new species are described and illustrated: D. bicolor van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D. gamka van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D. igneus van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D. spinitibia van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D. taita van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D. tricolor Shaw & van Noort, sp. nov., D. zulu Shaw & van Noort, sp. nov. The distribution of the Central African Republican species D. centralis Shaw & van Noort, 2009 is extended to include Cameroon, Kenya and Uganda. Dinapsis turneri Waterston, 1922, previously only …

Editorial: Insights In Vector Biology: 2021, Baldwyn Torto, David P. Tchouassi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This editorial summarizes collections on the Research Topic “Insights in Vector Biology’’. Vectors of four major tropical diseases including malaria, Chagas, dengue and West Nile were considered. The editorial discusses vectors contributing to residual malaria transmission that reside mainly outdoors and not targeted by indoor vector control interventions, notably, long lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying; the concept of paratransgenesis- a parasite transmission blocking strategy which uses genetically-modified microbes made to produce antimalarial effectors inside the vector for malaria control; assessment of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors; insecticide resistance in Chagas disease vectors; reproductive biology of the dengue vector; …

Potential Of Entomocomposting Toward Soil Pathogen Suppression, Dennis Beesigamukama, María Gómez-Brandón, Chrysantus Mbi Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Waste accumulation and microbial pollution are key environmental challenges in most developing countries. Land filling, the commonest waste disposal method, is not sustainable due to land scarcity and point source pollution. Thus, a large fraction of organic wastes is not properly disposed, yet the conventional methods of waste recycling are less effective. The degradation of waste using insect life stages (entomocomposting) has emerged as a novel tool that is fast, affordable, and sustainable in recycling organic wastes with maximum pathogen suppression. This bioconversion process also generates an organic fertilizer with potential to enhance soil remediation and provide additional benefits on …

Microsporidia: A Promising Vector Control Tool For Residual Malaria Transmission, Tullu Bukhari, Roland Pevsner, Jeremy Keith Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) have resulted in a major decrease in malaria transmission. However, it has become apparent that malaria can be effectively transmitted despite high coverage of LLINs/IRS. Residual transmission can occur due to Plasmodium-carrying Anopheles mosquitoes that are insecticide resistant and have feeding and resting behavior that reduces their chance of encountering the currently deployed indoor malaria control tools. Residual malaria transmission is likely to be the most significant hurdle to achieving the goal of malaria eradication and research and development towards new tools and strategies that can control residual malaria transmission is …

Evaluating The Growth And Cost–Benefit Analysis Of Feeding Improved Indigenous Chicken With Diets Containing Black Soldier Fly Larva Meal, Mwangi K. Waithaka, Isaac M. Osuga, Lucy W. Kabuage, Sevgan Subramanian, Beatrice Muriithi, Ann M. Wachira, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The high cost of feed has been the major hindrance to a hindrance to the growth, sustainability, profitability, and expansion of poultry production. Black soldier fly larva (BSFL) meal is one of the most promising alternative protein sources widely accepted globally. This study evaluated the growth performance of improved indigenous chicken (IIC)-fed diets containing different inclusion levels of BSFL meals. The BSFL meal inclusion rates included 0% (Diet0), 5% (Diet1), 10% (Diet2), 15% (Diet3), and 20% (Diet4) as replacement to the expensive fish meal in chick and grower diets. Our results showed that diet significantly affected the average daily feed …

Effect Of Desmodium Intortum And Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia Illucens) Based Meal On Sensory And Physicochemical Properties Of Broiler Chicken Meat In Kenya, M. M. Mutisya, S. B.S. Baleba, J. N. Kinyuru, C. M. Tanga, M. Gicheha, G. Hailu, D. Salifu, J. Egonyu, X. Cheseto, S. Niassy

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

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 control diet. On day 42, the chickens were slaughtered, and thigh muscles were used for sensory and physicochemical evaluations. T1 was preferred for its flavour and tenderness, T2 for its juiciness and T3 for its colour, flavour, taste and overall acceptability scores. In terms of physical properties, all three …

The Association Of The Development Of The Internal Reproductive Organs Of Male Desert Locusts, Schistocerca Gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae), With Age, Phase And The Effect Of Exposure To Pheromones, Satoshi Hiroyoshi, Takayuki Mitsunaga, Gadi V.P. Reddy

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The regulation of the development of the male reproductive organs in insects is still an open question. Although the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, has been extensively examined, there is little information on the effects of phase and pheromones on the development of the male reproductive organs. This study clarifi ed the association of these two factors with reproductive development (length or width of each organ) of the testis, testicular follicles, accessory glands, and seminal vesicles in this locust. The width of the follicles and width and length of the accessory gland mass are signifi cantly associated with phase (solitary or …

Performance Of Black Soldier Fly Frass Fertiliser On Maize (Zea Mays L.) Growth, Yield, Nutritional Quality, And Economic Returns, C. M. Tanga, D. Beesigamukama, M. Kassie, P. J. Egonyu, Changeh J. Ghemoh, Kiatoko Nkoba, S. Subramanian, A. O. Anyega, S. Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

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 impact on maize production. This study evaluated the comparative impact of BSFFF, NPK and commercial organic fertiliser (Evergrow®) on growth, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, nutritional quality, and profitability of maize under greenhouse conditions. The treatments included: (1) sole application of BSFFF, conventional compost of brewers’ spent grain (BSG), Evergrow, and …

Characterization Of Honeys Produced By Sympatric Species Of Afrotropical Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera, Meliponini), Hosea O. Mokaya, Kiatoko Nkoba, Robert M. Ndunda, Nicolas J. Vereecken

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

We investigated the effect of bee species identity and harvesting methods on the chemical composition and antiradical activity of 53 honey samples, produced by six stingless bee species in western Kenya (Kakamega forest). Our results illustrate that none of the assayed parameters significantly varied between the honey samples harvested by “punching holes” (n = 25) and “squeezing” (n = 28) methods. By contrast, species identity drove significant differences in the assayed parameters. Positive correlations between the antiradical activity and the phytochemicals (phenols and flavonoids) were observed, and honeys from Liotrigona sp. exhibited the highest amounts of phenols (214 mg GAE/100 …

Survival Rate, Blood Feeding Habits And Sibling Species Composition Of Aedes Simpsoni Complex: Implications For Arbovirus Transmission Risk In East Africa, Winnie W. Kamau, Rosemary Sang, Edwin O. Ogola, Gilbert Rotich, Caroline Getugi, Sheila B. Agha, Nelson Menza, Baldwyn Torto, David P. Tchouassi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Aedes simpsoni complex has a wide distribution in Africa and comprises at least three described sub-species including the yellow fever virus (YFV) vector Ae. bromeliae. To date, the distribution and relative contributions of the sub-species and/or subpopulations including bionomic characteristics in relation to YF transmission dynamics remain poorly studied. In this study conducted in two areas with divergent ecosystems: peri-urban (coastal Rabai) and rural (Rift Valley Kerio Valley) in Kenya, survival rate was estimated by parity in Ae. simpsoni s.l. mosquitoes sampled using CO2-baited BG Sentinel traps. We then applied PCR targeting the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), region …

Intensity Of Adoption Of Integrated Pest Management Practices In Rwanda: A Fractional Logit Approach, Vincent Gadamba Misango, Jonathan Makau Nzuma, Patrick Irungu, Menale Kassie

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The push-pull technology (PPT) is considered as an alternative integrated pest management strategy for the control of fall armyworm and stemborer, among smallholder maize farmers in sub-Sahara African to conventional pesticides. However, the extent of PPT use in Rwanda where the technology was introduced in 2017 remains largely unexplored. This paper employed a fractional logit model to assess the factors influencing the intensity of adoption of PPT among smallholder maize farmers in Gatsibo and Nyagatare districts of Rwanda using survey data obtained from 194 PPT adopter households selected using a cluster sampling technique. While only 5 percent of smallholder farmers …

Economic And Ecological Values Of Frass Fertiliser From Black Soldier Fly Agro-Industrial Waste Processing, D. Beesigamukama, B. Mochoge, N. Korir, K. Menale, B. Muriithi, M. Kidoido, H. Kirscht, G. Diiro, C. J. Ghemoh, S. Sevgan, D. Nakimbugwe, M. W. Musyoka, S. Ekesi, C. M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

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 economic benefits of farming BSF for animal feeds and composted frass, called frass fertiliser (FF) production using experimental data. The BSF larvae were fed on brewery spent grain amended with sawdust, biochar, and gypsum to determine the cost-effective feed and other by-products production. The agronomic performance of FF on the …

Integrated Pest Management Of Tuta Absoluta: Practical Implementations Across Different World Regions, Nicolas Desneux, Peng Han, Ramzi Mansour, Judit Arnó, Thierry Brévault, Mateus R. Campos, Anais Chailleux, Raul N.C. Guedes, Javad Karimi, Kouassi Arthur J. Konan, Anne Violette Lavoir, María G. Luna, Meritxell Perez-Hedo, Alberto Urbaneja, François J. Verheggen, Lucia Zappalà, Khaled Abbes, Abid Ali, Yunus Bayram, Fernando Cantor, Andrew G.S. Cuthbertson, Raf De Vis, Fedai Erler, Dnyaneshwar M. Firake, Khalid Haddi, M. Jamal Hajjar, Khasan Ismoilov, Coline C. Jaworski

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), has invaded most Afro-Eurasian countries and is threatening worldwide tomato production. Various strategies have been developed and implemented to manage this pest. Here, we present a timely review on the up-to-date development and practical implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) programs for tomato crops across different world regions infested by T. absoluta. While insecticide resistance is a growing concern, biological control via releasing or conserving arthropod natural enemies and sex pheromone-based biotechnical control are the most successful management practices. Agronomic control-related research is an emerging area where the soil fertilization …

Farmers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, And Practices On Animal Trypanosomosis And The Tsetse Fly Vector: A Cross-Sectional Study Around Kenya’S Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve At The Livestock-Wildlife Interface, Erick K. Serem, Joel L. Bargul, Moses M. Ngari, Osman A. Abdullahi, David M. Mburu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Animal African trypanosomosis (AAT) is a veterinary disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted cyclically by tsetse flies. AAT causes huge agricultural losses in sub-Saharan Africa. Both tsetse flies and trypanosomosis (T&T) are endemic in the study area inhabited by smallholder livestock farmers at the livestock-wildlife interface around Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve (ASFR) in Kilifi County on the Kenyan coast. We assessed farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and control practices towards T&T. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during November and December 2017 to collect data from 404 randomly selected cattle-rearing households using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to determine farmers’ knowledge, …

Efficacy Of Metarhizium Anisopliae And (E)–2–Hexenal Combination Using Autodissemination Technology For The Management Of The Adult Greenhouse Whitefly, Trialeurodes Vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Vongai M. Paradza, Fathiya M. Khamis, Abdullahi A. Yusuf, Sevgan Subramanian, Komivi S. Akutse

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The efficiency of an autodissemination technique in controlling adult whiteflies, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on tomato, Solunum lycopersicum was investigated with previously identified potent fungal isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 18, ICIPE 62 and ICIPE 69 under screenhouse or semi-field conditions. The autodissemination device was inoculated with dry conidia of the M. anisopliae isolates, while control insects were exposed to a fungus–free device. Sampling for conidia uptake, conidial viability and persistence, and insect mortality was done at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 days post–exposure, and collected insects were monitored for mortality over ten days. Overall, mortality was higher …

The Potential Economic Benefits Of Insect-Based Feed In Uganda, Zewdu Abro, Ibrahim Macharia, Kelvin Mulungu, Sevgan Subramanian, Chrysantus Mbi Tanga, Menale Kassie

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Black soldier fly farming is gaining traction globally as a strategy for recycling organic waste into high-quality proteins and fat for feed and organic fertilizer for crop production. The support of governments in East Africa to integrate insect meal in livestock feed has opened opportunities for commercializing insect products. Understanding the potential value of Black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) is paramount to inform policies and practices to promote insect farming and insect-based feed for livestock production. This paper uses the economic surplus method to generate evidence on the potential socioeconomic impact of replacing conventional soybean and fish meal protein …

Agrochemical Contaminants In Six Species Of Edible Insects From Uganda And Kenya, Simon Labu, Sevgan Subramanian, Xavier Cheseto, Perpetra Akite, Patrice Kasangaki, Moses Chemurot, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Daisy Salifu, James P. Egonyu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Edible insects are currently promoted worldwide as an alternative animal protein source, but they are mostly still harvested from the wild where they are predisposed to contamination with agrochemicals. This study analysed six species of edible insects (Ruspolia differens, Rhynchophorus phoenicis, Schistocerca gregaria, Oryctes sp, Pachnoda ephippiata and Acanthoplus sp) collected from different habitats and/or reared in the laboratory in Kenya and Uganda for safety from agrochemical contaminants using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The residue levels were statistically compared with the Codex Alimentarius Commission maximum residue limits (MRLs). Residues of only nine agrochemicals were detected in the insects out …