Agricultural Entomology Research Papers/Topics

A global synthesis of the effects of diversified farming systems on arthropod diversity within fields and across agricultural landscapes

Abstract/Overview Agricultural intensification is a leading cause of global biodiversity loss, which can reduce the provisioning of ecosystem services in managed ecosystems. Organic farming and plant diversification are farm management schemes that may mitigate potential ecological harm by increasing species richness and boosting related ecosystem services to agroecosystems. What remains unclear is the extent to which farm management schemes affect biodiversity components other than speci...

Chemical Composition of the Neochetina eichhorniae and Neochetina bruchi and Their Potential for Use as Livestock Feed

Abstract/Overview Neochetina eichhorniae and Neochetina bruchi have been used for over four decades as Eichhorniae crassipes classical biological control agents globally. Despite the success of bio-control against the water hyacinth globally at different levels and environmental sustainability, biological control against water hyacinth seems to have overlooked the socio-economic sustainability in assisting the ravaged communities, gain resilience and adapt to the challenges of the invasiv...

Olfactory preferences of gravid femaile stable flies Stomoxys calcitrans L. (Diptera : muscidae) and their fitness consequences

Abstract: Oviposition decisions are a prominent example of behaviour directly affecting the fitness, abundance, distribution, and population dynamics of holometabolous insects. Due to eggs being immobile and adult insects often not practicing biparental and/or maternal care, gravid females, when ovipositing, should select substrate(s) that maximise fitness of their offspring. Studies have revealed that this selection is influenced by biotic (intra and interspecific competition, parasitism, l...

Dung beetle assemblages on reclaimed coal mines in eMalahleni (South Africa) their environmental associations and tunnelling ability on compacted soils

Abstract: Opencast coal mining operations are a major contributor to habitat destruction through the removal of soil, vegetation and fauna from an area. Habitat loss and fragmentation is known to adversely impact invertebrates because of their small size and limited dispersal range that also applies to local dung beetle assemblages. Dung beetles have the potential to aid in reclamation efforts through their beneficial activities in soil although there is little known about their assemblages ...

Genomics of West Nile viruses from South Africa

Abstract: West Nile Virus (WNV) forms part of the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex in the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. This enveloped positive single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA ) virus is the etiological agent of West Nile fever, and in more severe cases WNV neuroinvasive disease, in both humans and animals. WNV is distributed worldwide and is phylogenetically classified into five distinct lineages. The WNV genome is ~11 Kb in length and encodes a single open reading frame (ORF) that is...

Termite raiding by the Ponerine ant Pachycondyla analis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) : behavioural and chemical ecology

Abstract: The ant Pachycondyla analis (formerly Megaponera foetens, commonly known as the Matabele ant) is a widespread ponerine in sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds solely on termites of economic importance belonging to the sub-family Macrotermitinae. These termites are captured during organised raids on their nests and galleries. Previous studies mostly concentrated on certain aspects of the raiding behaviour and trail laying pheromones in this species. Thus the detailed raiding behaviour and c...

Ecology and Management of White Mango Scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in Ethiopia

Abstract: Mango is grown in more than 100 countries. However, many Arthropd insect pests attack mango, among which scale insects are the most devastating. Aulacuspis tubercularis Newstead (Homoptera: Diaspididae), commonly known as the white mango scale, is a serious insect pest of mango in many mango-growing countries, including Ethiopia. The ecology, host and cardinal direction preferences, presence of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids), and management aspects, including botanical...

Effect of Intercropping and Botanical Extract on Population abundance of Insect Pests and their Associated Natural Enemies on Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill.) in Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract: Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops grown in Ethiopia. Its production is constrained by arthropod pests and diseases. Fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera), Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), Aphids (Aphis spp), leafminer (Tuta absoluta), Serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza sp), Thrips sp and two spotted spidemites (Tetranchus urticae Koch) are the major economic pests recorded in the study area. The research was initiated to evaluate the potential of intercropping and plant ext...

ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS OF TWO-SPOTTED SPIDER MITE (TETRANYCHIDAE: Tetranychus urticae KOCH) ON POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L.) IN EASTERN HARARGHE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract: Potato is an important tuberous vegetable crop in Ethiopia. It is production is constrained by arthropod pests, nutrient depletion of soil and diseases. Among the arthropod pests, two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) is one of the major pests affecting potato production in eastern Hararghe, Ethiopia. To tackle this problem, the survey was undertaken to assess the status of TSSM on the irrigated potato. The data were collected from ninety-six potato producers from October to March in Hara...

STUDIES ON SOME ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS AND MANAGEMENT OF COTTON FLEA BEETLE, Podagrica puncticollis Weise (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) ON COTTON (Gossypium hirsutum L.) IN METEMA DISTRICT, NORT

Abstract: Cotton flea beetle, Podagrica puncticollis Weise is among the most chronic and economically damaging insect pests of cotton in Northwestern Ethiopia. Although this beetle is known to cause significant crop losses, the ecological aspects and management of this insect pest have not been adequately assessed and documented. Thus, five studies were conducted in the area. The first study was conducted in Metema district to assess the cotton growers’ perception and knowledge of cotton f...

EFFICACY OF PESTICIDES ON TWO-SPOTTED SPIDER MITE (Tetranychus urticae Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) AND ITS PERFORMANCE ON SOME HOSTS AT HARAMAYA, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract: The study was conducted in Plant Protection Laboratory and greenhouse (GH) at Haramaya University under 25±2 oC, 70±5% RH and 30±2 oC, 60±5% RH, respectively, during 2016. The objectives were to: 1) evaluate the efficacy of some pesticides on Tetranychus urticae in the laboratory and greenhouse; and 2) evaluate the performance of TSSM to six plants under GH conditions. The efficacy of five pesticides, viz. Amitraz, Profenofos, Chlorantrniliprole + λ-cyhalothrin, and Profenofos...

Response of Ground-dwelling Arthropods to a ‘Push–pull’ Habitat Management System: Spiders as an Indicator group

Abstract: Studies were conducted to assess the numerical response of grounddwelling arthropods to a habitat management system (‘push–pull’) developed to control maize stemborers using spiders (Araneae) as an indicator group. In this cropping system, maize is intercropped with a stemborer moth-repellent (push) plant while an attractant trap crop (pull) is planted around this intercrop. Two study sites in western Kenya and one site at the Grain Crops Institute of the Agricultural Researc...

Effect of Cropping Systems on Cereal Stemborers in the Cool-wet and Semi-arid Ecozones of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia

Abstract: 1 Field experiments were conducted on maize and sorghum at three locations in the Amhara state of Ethiopia to determine the effects of mixed cropping on stemborer infestation, borer natural enemies and grain yields. In the cool-wet ecozone of western Amhara, sole maize was compared with maize intercropped with faba bean, mustard, potatoes and cowpea. In the semi-arid ecozone of eastern Amhara, the trial was conducted on both maize and sorghum with the companion crops haricot bean, ...

Influence of feeding-damaged plants on the oviposition responses within a community of female moths

Abstract: Competitive or facilitative interactions characterise phytophagous insect ommunities that utilise the same resources. These interactions are often mediated by the host plant. Plant mediation influences the oviposition choices that a community of insects, sharing the same host plant make. In this context, the oviposition choices of females within a community of lepidopteran cereal stemborers namely Busseola fusca, Sesamia calamistis and Chilo partellus were studied in plant choice-e...

Direct and Indirect Adverse Effects of Tomato on the Predatory Mite Neoseiulus californicus Feeding on the Spider Mite Tetranychus evansi

Abstract: Plants may defend themselves against herbivores via morphological traits, chemical traits, or a combination of both. Herbivores that overcome the defensive echanisms of a plant tend to specialize on this plant due to enhanced protection from natural enemies. Well-known examples of plants possessing a suite of defensive mechanisms are found in nightshades (Solanaceae), especially in the tomato genus Lycopersicon . The spider mite Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard (Acari: Tetran...


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