Exploring the dynamic adult hard ticks-camel-pathogens interaction.

Unlabelled: The ability of ticks to interact and adapt to different ecologies and hosts determines their vectorial competence for various pathogens; however, ticks-livestock-pathogens interaction studies are limited. With our ticks-hosts-pathogens interface studies, we found 14 species of hard ticks feeding on various livestock. Ticks showed a strong preference for one-humped camels ().

Genome Editing in Apicomplexan Parasites: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Possibilities.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) technology has revolutionized genome editing across various biological systems, including the Apicomplexa phylum. This review describes the status, challenges, and applications of CRISPR-Cas9 editing technology in apicomplexan parasites, such as , , , , and . The discussion encompasses successfully implemented CRISPR-Cas9-based techniques in these parasites, highlighting the achieved milestones, from precise gene modifications to genome-wide screening.

Interactions between Two Parasitoids of Tephritidae: (Ashmead) and (Wilkinson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), under Laboratory Conditions.

The braconid wasp, (Ashmead), was introduced in Kenya from Hawaii for classical biological control of the invasive tephritid, Hendel. Following reports that had formed new associations with , laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the interaction between the introduced and the native parasitoid of ; (Wilkinson) under three scenarios: only, only and mixed populations of the two species. Parasitoids were introduced to the host as sole, sequential and simultaneous releases.

Species Composition, Phenotypic and Genotypic Resistance Levels in Major Malaria Vectors in Teso North and Teso South Subcounties in Busia County, Western Kenya.

Introduction: Knockdown resistance () is strongly linked to pyrethroid insecticide resistance in in Africa, which may have vital significance to the current increased use of pyrethroid-treated bed net programmes. The study is aimed at determining species composition, levels of insecticide resistance, and knockdown patterns in sensu lato in areas with and areas without insecticide resistance in Teso North and Teso South subcounties, Western Kenya.

Materials And Methods: For WHO vulnerability tests, mosquito larvae were sampled using a dipper, reared into 3-5-day-old female mosquitoes (4944 at 100 mosquitoes per insecticide) which were exposed to 0.

Impact of Insecticide Resistance on Vectors' Biting, Feeding, and Resting Behaviour in Selected Clusters in Teso North and South Subcounties in Busia County, Western Kenya.

Introduction: Behavioural resistance to insecticides restrains the efficacy of vector control tools against mosquito-transmitted diseases. The current study is aimed at determining the impact of insecticide resistance on major malaria vectors' biting, feeding, and resting behaviour in areas with and areas without insecticide resistance in Teso North and Teso South, Busia County, Western Kenya.

Methods: Mosquito larvae were sampled using a dipper, reared into 3-5-day-old female mosquitoes [4944] which were exposed to 0.

The Biology and Control of the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella.

The greater wax moth, Linnaeus is a ubiquitous pest of the honeybee, Linnaeus, and Fabricius The greater wax moth larvae burrow into the edge of unsealed cells with pollen, bee brood, and honey through to the midrib of honeybee comb. Burrowing larvae leave behind masses of webs which causes galleriasis and later absconding of colonies. The damage caused by larvae is severe in tropical and sub-tropical regions, and is believed to be one of the contributing factors to the decline in both feral and wild honeybee populations.

Vulnerable Habitats Alter African Meliponine Bee's (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Assemblages in an Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot.

Habitat degradation has over time formed synergy with other factors to contribute to dwindling populations of both fauna and flora by altering their habitats. The disturbance of natural habitats affects the diversity of both vertebrates and invertebrates by altering both feeding and nesting sites for which organisms are known to depend on for survival. Little is known of the extent to which vulnerable habitats could shape the diversity of most indigent pollinators such as African meliponine bee species in tropical ecosystems.

Rearing Method and Developmental Biology of the African Coffee White Stem Borer, Monochamus leuconotus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

Although the African coffee white stem borer, Monochamus leuconotus (Pascoe) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is a major insect pest of coffee in Africa, there is much to learn about its biology. The present paper describes an original rearing method for M. leuconotus and provides unpublished biological data for the pest.

Temperature-dependent phenology of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae): Simulation and visualization of current and future distributions along the Eastern Afromontane.

There is a scarcity of laboratory and field-based results showing the movement of the diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella (L.) across a spatial scale. We studied the population growth of the diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella (L.

Chemical communication in the honey bee scarab pest Oplostomus haroldi: role of (Z)-9-pentacosene.

Oplostomus haroldi Witte belongs to a unique genus of afro-tropical scarabs that have associations with honey bee colonies, from which they derive vital nutrients. Although the attributes of the honey bee nest impose barriers to communication among nest invaders, this beetle still is able to detect conspecific mates for reproduction. Here, we show, through behavioral studies, that cuticular lipids serve as mate discrimination cues in this beetle.

Pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metch) Sorok and Beauveria bassiana (Bals) Vuill to adult Phlebotomus duboscqi (Neveu-Lemaire) in the laboratory.

Background & Objectives: Biological control of sandflies using entomopathogenic fungi is a possible alternative to the expensive synthetic chemical control. It is potentially sustainable, less hazardous, and relatively inexpensive and merits further investigations. The objective of this study was to identify the most pathogenic fungal isolate(s) to sandflies in the laboratory.

Comparative performance of the Mbita trap, CDC light trap and the human landing catch in the sampling of Anopheles arabiensis, An. funestus and culicine species in a rice irrigation in western Kenya.

Background: Mosquitoes sampling is an important component in malaria control. However, most of the methods used have several shortcomings and hence there is a need to develop and calibrate new methods. The Mbita trap for capturing host-seeking mosquitoes was recently developed and successfully tested in Kenya.

Comparative field evaluation of the Mbita trap, the Centers for Disease Control light trap, and the human landing catch for sampling of malaria vectors in western Kenya.

The mosquito sampling efficiency of a new bed net trap (the Mbita trap) was compared with that of the Centers for Disease Control miniature light trap (hung adjacent to an occupied bed net) and the human landing catch in western Kenya. Overall, the Mbita trap caught 48.7 +/- 4.